The Project Gutenberg eBook of The 2010 CIA World Factbook
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Title: The 2010 CIA World Factbook
Author: United States. Central Intelligence Agency
Release date: April 11, 2011 [eBook #35830]
Most recently updated: October 3, 2025
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Al Haines
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE 2010 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK ***
THE CIA WORLD FACTBOOK 2010
CONTENTS
What's New?
Did You Know?
Guide to Country Profiles
Countries and Locations
Field Listings
Rank Orders
Appendixes
Notes and Definitions
History of the CIA Factbook
Contributors and Copyright Information
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
======================================================================
THE WORLD FACTBOOK :: WHAT'S NEW
January 31, 2011
What do the initials ESA stand for? Check out Appendix A:
Abbreviations to find out. New space-based photos have been uploaded
for Australia, China, Namibia, Mexico, and the US.
January 25, 2011
What country enjoyed the lowest unemployment rate in 2010? Find out
by checking "Unemployment rate" under the Country Comparison feature
(in the References tab). The entire Economy category has been
updated to reflect data for years 2010 and earlier.
January 14, 2011
Did you know that the highest elevation in the Netherlands is not in
Europe? Where is it? Find out by checking the "Elevation extremes"
field in the Geography section. New space-based photos have been
added for Iran and Russia.
January 07, 2011
What country flag is only one color? To find out visit the Flags of
the World page.
December 30, 2010
What airport handles the most passengers annually? Find out by going
to the World entry, Transportation category, "Airports" field, and
locating the top ten airports by passengers and by cargo.
December 23, 2010
If it's noon in Washington, DC, what time is it in Nairobi, Kenya?
The answer may be found in the Government section, under "Capital,"
where the time difference is specified. New photos from Kenya have
been uploaded.
December 17, 2010
How many rare earth elements (REEs) are there? Find the answer in
the "Definitions and Notes" (below the References tab). These
critical elements, necessary in so many of today's high-tech
industries, are now listed in the "Natural resources" field, under
Geography, for countries that are producing REEs or initializing
mining operations (including Australia, China, Russia, South Africa,
and the US).
December 10, 2010
Quick! What's the national anthem of Australia? Now you can find the
name, lyricist, composer, and additional basic anthem info for every
country in the world by visiting the new "National anthems" field in
the Government section of the Factbook.
November 30, 2010
Since 2004, The World Factbook Web site has been updated on a
bi-weekly schedule. Culminating a three-month trial effort, we are
pleased to announce that the Factbook will now be updated on a
weekly basis.
November 19, 2010
Significant updates entered under the People, Government, and
Communications categories.
November 11, 2010
In the Geography category, a new subfield, "volcanism," has been
added under the "Natural hazards" field for countries with
historically active volcanoes. The Economy section has been updated
to reflect the most recent data for 2009 and earlier years.
November 05, 2010
In the Economy category, the "Oil - exports," "Oil - imports," "Oil
- proved reserves," and "Natural gas - proved reserves" fields have
been updated with the most recent estimates available.
October 29, 2010
In the People category, significant updates have been made to the
"School life expectancy" and "Education expenditures" fields. In the
Economy category, the "Stock of domestic credit" field has been
updated to include data for 2009. In addition, the definition has
been expanded to include credit provided by all financial
institutions, not just banks, as had been The World Factbook
practice until now. For some countries this change significantly
broadens the coverage.
October 22, 2010
The dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles has resulted in two new
World Factbook entries: the autonomous entities of Curacao and Sint
Maarten (the remaining three islands - Bonaire, Saba, and Sint
Eustatius - have joined the Netherlands as special municipalities).
The number of entities in The World Factbook now stands at 267.
October 13, 2010
In the Economy category, the "Stock of money" and "Stock of quasi
money" fields have been updated and renamed as "Stock of narrow
money" and "Stock of broad money" in keeping with the International
Monetary Fund's new presentation of monetary data. This new format
provides greater standardization of reporting and permits more
consistent comparisons across countries. Please see "Definitions and
Notes" (under the References tab) for descriptions of the new fields.
October 08, 2010
In the Communications category, the "Internet hosts" field has been
updated with 2010 data; significant updates entered in the
Geography, Government, and Military categories.
October 01, 2010
In the Transportation category, the "Merchant marine" field has been
updated with the latest available data; substantial updates also
entered in fields of the Government and Economy categories.
September 24, 2010
In the Economy category, new data have been added for 2009 in the
fields for "Central bank discount rate" and "Commercial bank prime
lending rate."
September 17, 2010
In the Transportation category, the "Roadways" field has been
updated with the latest available data; significant updates also
entered in fields of the Government and Military categories.
September 13, 2010
In the Government category, the amplification of flag descriptions -
to include explanations of colors and symbols - has been completed
for all of the country entries.
September 03, 2010
In addition to various population, governmental, and military
updates, new photos have been added for Burma, Canada, Poland, the
United Kingdom, and the United States.
August 23, 2010
In the Communications category, the former "Radio broadcast
stations" and "Television broadcast stations" entries have been
replaced by a new "Broadcast media" field that provides information
on the approximate number of public and private TV and radio
stations in a country, as well as basic information on the
availability of satellite and cable TV services. Malawi's recently
unveiled new flag may be viewed either in the Flags of the World
link or under the Malawi country entry. In the Economy category, GDP
statistics have been updated and revised.
August 06, 2010
In the Transportation category, the "Airports," "Airports - with
paved runways," "Airports with unpaved runways," and "Heliports"
fields have all been updated with the latest available data.
July 29, 2010
The "International Court of Justice (ICJ)" entry listed under
International Organizations and Groups in Appendix B has been
expanded considerably and now includes countries adherent to
jurisdiction. Several fields in the Economy category covering trade
as well as oil and natural gas have been updated with the latest
available annual data.
July 23, 2010
Under the References tab, in the Definitions and Notes, the entry
for "Legal system" has been significantly expanded; it now includes
descriptions, origins, and features of the most common legal systems.
July 01, 2010
Many fields in the Economy category have been updated with the
latest available annual data, including "Labor force," "Unemployment
rate," "Budget - revenues and expenditures," "Public debt,"
"Inflation rate," "Current account balance," "Exports," "Imports,"
"Reserves of foreign exchange," and "Direct foreign investment."
June 18, 2010
The fields in the Economy category for "Stock of money," "Stock of
quasi-money," "and "Market value of publicly traded shares" have
been updated with the latest available data.
June 04, 2010
Significant updates entered under the Government, Economy, and
Military categories. The Country Comparisons function now also
appears in the 'World' entry to allow users to quickly view how
countries rank in 58 different Factbook fields.
May 21, 2010
Dozens of new photos uploaded for Central and Eastern European
countries, most notably Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Latvia,
Poland, and Russia.
May 07, 2010
Major updates made to fields in the People, Government, and Military
categories. New photos appear under China, Romania, and Ukraine.
April 23, 2010
The 'World' entry continues to accrue "top ten" rankings; recent
additions in the Geography category include the world's ten highest
mountains and largest islands. The Transportation category lists the
top ten airports (both by passengers and cargo) and container ports,
as well as the ten longest rivers.
April 09, 2010
The ongoing expansion of flag descriptions - to also include
explanations of colors and symbols - is now complete for over
two-thirds of the Factbook entries.
March 26, 2010
The fields in the Economy category have been updated with the latest
available data. New photos introduced for the World, the Holy See
(Vatican City), and the Philippines.
March 05, 2010
In the Government category, a link to the World Leaders website
under the "Executive branch: cabinet" entry allows users to find a
listing of a country's major officials.
February 19, 2010
Significant updates introduced in the Government, Communications,
and Transportation categories. New photos appear under France and
Germany.
January 26, 2010
In the Economy category, information has been updated and now covers
the year 2009. New photos added for Egypt and Italy.
January 08, 2010
The introductory Background statements have been updated or revised
for dozens of countries. New images introduced for Argentina, China,
the Czech Republic, South Africa, Svalbard, and Turkey.
December 04, 2009
In addition to various governmental and military updates, new photos
have been introduced for Germany, Greenland, Italy, Malaysia,
Maldives, and the United Kingdom.
November 13, 2009
Recent elections and governmental changes recorded for Afghanistan,
Aruba, Fiji, Germany, Haiti, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Tunisia,
and Uruguay. In the Economy category, some 20 macro-economic fields
have been updated with the latest data. New NASA space photos added
for the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, as well as for
Montserrat and the World; new ground photos added for Cambodia,
France, and Luxembourg.
October 30, 2009
In the Economy category, all the energy-related fields have been
updated with the latest data; new photos added for Norway and Poland.
October 14, 2009
In addition to regular informational updates, new photos have been
added for Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Russia, and Sweden.
October 02, 2009
In the Transportation category, updates have been made to the
"Airports" and "Heliports" fields; new photos added for Libya,
Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
September 17, 2009
NASA images taken from space have been introduced to enhance various
country photo presentations. Significant numbers of high altitude
photos appear under China, Egypt, Spain, Australia, and New Zealand,
but can also be found scattered among other country entries. In the
Economy category, statistics for "Distribution of family income -
Gini index," "Public debt," and "Debt - external" now include two
year's worth of data.
September 03, 2009
In the Economy category, statistics for "Current Account Balance,"
"Exports," "Imports," "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold,"
"Stock of direct foreign investment - at home," and "Stock of direct
foreign investment - abroad" now include two year's worth of data;
statistics for "Market value of publicly traded shares" now include
three year's worth of data. New photos added for Austria, France,
Monaco, Netherlands, and Netherlands Antilles.
August 17, 2009
Various rail gauge line lengths have been updated for all countries
in the Railways entry; selected economic and political entries also
updated.
July 31, 2009
In the Economy category, statistics for "Central bank discount
rate," "Commercial bank prime lending rate," "Stock of money,"
"Stock of quasi money," and "Stock of domestic credit" now include
two year's worth of data.
July 20, 2009
Latest updates include changes to the chief of state or head of
government in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Lithuania, and
Panama. New photographs have been added for Spain, Portugal,
Gibraltar, and South Africa.
July 01, 2009
With the launch of the new Web site, the former "Rank Order"
function was renamed "Country Comparisons." The link to Country
Comparisons may be found under the References tab. In addition, many
of the regional reference maps now incorporate both elevation and
vegetation on landmasses, and bathymetry for ocean areas. Statistics
for "Unemployment rate" and "Inflation rate (consumer prices)" now
include two year's worth of data.
June 08, 2009
Completely redesigned website - presenting a cleaner look, improved
navigation, and a host of added features - launched on the World
Wide Web. Among the major enhancements are downloadable and
printable photos for nearly 100 countries, a "Did You Know?" section
explaining the impact of the Factbook around the world, and built-in
world rankings for many of the Factbook information fields.
Government sections reflect the results of recent parliamentary
elections in Kuwait - where women were elected for the first time -
and India, as well as presidential elections in Lithuania, Mongolia,
Panama, and South Africa.
April 27, 2009
Significant updates made to the People and Economy categories;
statistics for "GDP - real growth rate" and "GDP - per capita" (at
purchasing power parity) now include three year's worth of data, in
2008 dollars. The Urbanization entry under People expanded to
include all countries.
April 03, 2009
In addition to regular country updates, statistics for "GDP
(purchasing power parity)" now include three year's worth of data,
in 2008 dollars.
March 20, 2009
Recent major leadership changes in Guinea-Bissau, Latvia, and
Madagascar included in the Government sections of those countries.
March 02, 2009
Latest US Census Bureau figures - updating basic demographic data
for all countries - entered into the database. Entries on religions,
languages, ethnic groups, and literacy also updated.
February 06, 2009
Country information updated across all categories. Economic data now
includes 2008 estimates where available.
November 05, 2008
In order to provide more information on the nature and global
dimensions of the current financial crisis, five additional fields
appended to the Economy category: "Central bank discount rate,"
"Commercial bank prime lending rate," "Stock of money," "Stock of
quasi money," and "Stock of domestic credit."
August 06, 2008
In the People category, two new fields provide information on
education in terms of opportunity and resources: "School Life
Expectancy" and "Education expenditures."
November 06, 2007
In the Geography category, two new fields focus on the vital
resource of water: "Total renewable water resources" and "Freshwater
withdrawal."
October 31, 2007
Three new fields added to the Economy category: "Stock of direct
foreign investment - abroad," "Stock of direct foreign investment -
at home," "Market value of publicly traded shares."
Ongoing
Revision of some individual country maps, first introduced in the
2001 edition, continues. Several regional maps have been updated to
reflect boundary changes and place name spelling changes.
======================================================================
About :: DID YOU KNOW?
The World Factbook is one of the US Government's most accessed
publications.
The World Factbook, produced for US policymakers and coordinated
throughout the US Intelligence Community, presents the basic
realities about the world in which we live. We share these facts
with the people of all nations in the belief that knowledge of the
truth underpins the functioning of free societies.
Who uses The World Factbook?
A wide variety of folks including US Government officials,
researchers, news organizations, corporations, geographers,
teachers, professors, librarians, and students. In short, anyone
looking for an expansive body of international data on a recently
updated Web site.
The World Factbook is a one-stop reference site.
Although many of the facts presented in The Factbook may be found in
various other publications, they are conveniently gathered together
in one place only at The World Factbook Web site.
The World Factbook is a unique reference in that it is updated
continuously - on average, every week.
Information in The Factbook is collected from - and coordinated with
- a wide variety of US Government agencies, as well as from hundreds
of published sources.
======================================================================
References :: Guide to Country Profiles
These are the Categories, Fields, and subfields of information
generally recorded for each country. Links are to the Definitions
and Notes about each entry.
Introduction ::
Background:
Geography ::
Location:
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Area:
total
land
water
Area - comparative:
Land boundaries:
total
border countries
Coastline:
Maritime claims:
territorial sea
contiguous zone
exclusive economic zone
continental shelf
exclusive fishing zone
Climate:
Terrain:
Elevation extremes:
lowest point
highest point
Natural resources:
Land use:
arable land
permanent crops
other
Irrigated land:
Total Renewable Water Resources:
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total
per capita
Natural hazards:
volcanism
Environment - current issues:
Environment - international agreements:
party to
signed, but not ratified
Geography - note:
People ::
Population:
Age structure:
0-14 years
15-64 years
65 years and over
Median Age:
total
male
female
Population growth rate:
Birth rate:
Death rate:
Net migration rate:
Sex ratio:
at birth
under 15 years
15-64 years
65 years and over
total population
Infant mortality rate:
total
male
female
Life expectancy at birth:
total population
male
female
Total fertility rate:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk
food or waterborne diseases
vectorborne diseases
water contact diseases
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease
respiratory disease
animal contact disease
Nationality:
noun
adjective
Ethnic groups:
Religions:
Languages:
Literacy:
definition
total population
male
female
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary):
Education expenditures:
People - note:
Government ::
Country name:
conventional long form
conventional short form
local long form
local short form
former
abbreviation
Dependency status:
Government type:
Capital:
name
geographic coordinates
time difference
daylight saving time
Administrative divisions:
Dependent areas:
Independence:
National holiday:
Constitution:
Legal system:
Suffrage:
Executive branch:
chief of state
head of government
cabinet
elections
election results
Legislative branch:
elections
election results
Judicial branch:
Political parties and leaders:
Political pressure groups and leaders:
International organization participation:
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission
chancery
telephone
FAX
consulate(s) general
consulate(s)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission
embassy
mailing address
telephone
FAX
consulate(s) general
consulate(s)
branch office(s)
Flag description:
Government - note:
Economy ::
Economy - overview:
GDP (purchasing power parity):
GDP (official exchange rate):
GDP - real growth rate:
GDP - per capita (PPP):
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture
industry
services
Labor force:
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture
industry
services
Unemployment rate:
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%
highest 10%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Investment (gross fixed):
Budget:
revenues
expenditures
Public debt:
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Central bank discount rate:
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Stock of money:
Stock of quasi money:
Stock of domestic credit:
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Agriculture - products:
Industries:
Industrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:
Electricity - consumption:
Electricity - exports:
Electricity - imports:
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:
Exports - commodities:
Exports - partners:
Imports:
Imports - commodities:
Imports - partners:
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Debt - external:
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Exchange rates:
Communications ::
Telephones - main lines in use:
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Telephone system:
general assessment
domestic
international
Broadcast media:
Internet country code:
Internet hosts:
Internet users:
Communications - note:
Transportation ::
Airports:
Airports - with paved runways:
total
over 3,047 m
2,438 to 3,047 m
1,524 to 2,437 m
914 to 1,530 m
under 914 m
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total
over 3,047 m
2,438 to 3,047 m
1,524 to 2,437 m
914 to 1,530 m
under 914 m
Heliports:
Pipelines:
Railways:
total
broad gauge
standard gauge
narrow gauge
dual gauge
Roadways:
total
paved
unpaved
Waterways:
Merchant marine:
total
ships by type
foreign-owned
registered in other countries
Ports and terminals:
Transportation - note:
Military ::
Military branches:
Military service age and obligation:
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49
females age 16-49
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49
females age 16-49
Manpower reaching military age annually:
males
females
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Military - note:
Transnational Issues ::
Disputes - international:
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees
IDPs
Trafficking in persons:
current situation
tier rating
Illicit drugs:
======================================================================
The World Factbook (2010) - 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
Bangladesh
Barbados
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
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
F
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Polynesia
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
G
Gabon
Gambia, The
Gaza Strip
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
H
Haiti
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Holy See (Vatican City)
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
I
Iceland
India
Indian Ocean
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Isle of Man
Israel
Italy
J
Jamaica
Jan Mayen
Japan
Jersey
Jordan
K
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Korea, North
Korea, South
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
L
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
M
Macau
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia, Federated States of
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
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paracel Islands
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn Islands
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Q
Qatar
R
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
S
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
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 South Sandwich Islands
Southern Ocean
Spain
Spratly Islands
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
T
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
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
T
Taiwan
E
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)
2005 Affiliation
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
2014
2015 Television broadcast stations
2016
2018 Sex ratio
2019 Heliports
2020 Elevation extremes
2021 Natural hazards
2022 People - note
2023 Area - comparative
2024 Military service age and obligation
2025 Manpower fit for military service
2026 Manpower reaching militarily significant age
2028 Background
2030 Airports - with paved runways
2031 Airports - with unpaved runways
2032 Environment - current issues
2033 Environment - international agreements
2034 Military expenditures
2038 Electricity - production
2042 Electricity - consumption
2043 Electricity - imports
2044 Electricity - exports
2045 Electricity - production by source
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
2055 Military branches
2056 Budget
2057 Capital
2058 Imports - commodities
2059 Climate
2060 Coastline
2061 Imports - partners
2062
2063 Constitution
2064
2065
2066 Death rate
2068 Dependent areas
2070 Disputes - international
2075 Ethnic groups
2076 Exchange rates
2077 Executive branch
2078 Exports
2079 Debt - external
2080
2081 Flag description
2085 Roadways
2086 Illicit drugs
2087 Imports
2088 Independence
2089 Industrial production growth rate
2090 Industries
2091 Infant mortality rate
2092 Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2093 Waterways
2094 Judicial branch
2095 Labor force
2096 Land boundaries
2097 Land use
2098 Languages
2100 Legal system
2101 Legislative branch
2102 Life expectancy at birth
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
2113 Geography - note
2115 Political pressure groups and leaders
2116 Economy - overview
2117 Pipelines
2118 Political parties and leaders
2119 Population
2120 Ports and terminals
2121 Railways
2122 Religions
2123 Suffrage
2124 Telephone system
2125 Terrain
2127 Total fertility rate
2128 Government type
2129 Unemployment rate
2137 Military - note
2138 Communications - note
2140 Government - note
2141 Group
2142 Country name
2144 Location
2145 Map references
2146 Irrigated land
2147 Area
2149 Diplomatic representation in the US
2150 Telephones - main lines in use
2151 Telephones - mobile cellular
2152
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
2158
2172 Distribution of family income - Gini index
2173 Oil - production
2174 Oil - consumption
2175 Oil - imports
2176 Oil - exports
2177 Median age
2178 Oil - proved reserves
2179 Natural gas - proved reserves
2180 Natural gas - production
2181 Natural gas - consumption
2182 Natural gas - imports
2183 Natural gas - exports
2184 Internet hosts
2185 Investment (gross fixed)
2186 Public debt
2187 Current account balance
2188 Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
2189 Union name
2190 Political structure
2191 Member states
2192 Preliminary statement
2193 Major infectious diseases
2194 Refugees and internally displaced persons
2195 GDP (official exchange rate)
2196 Trafficking in persons
2198 Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
2199 Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
2200 Market value of publicly traded shares
2201 Total renewable water resources
2202 Freshwater withdrawal
2203 Geographic overview
2204 Economy of the area administered by Turkish Cypriots
2205 School life expectancy (primary to tertiary
2206 Education expenditures
2207 Central bank discount rate
2208 Commercial bank prime lending rate
2209 Stock of money
2210 Stock of quasi money
2211 Stock of domestic credit
2212 Urbanization
2213 Broadcast media
2214 Stock of narrow money
2215 Stock of broad money
======================================================================
References :: Guide to Country Comparisons
Country Comparison pages are presorted lists of data from selected
Factbook data fields. Country Comparison 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. Country
Comparison pages are available for the following 58 fields in six of
the nine Factbook categories.
Geography ::
Area:
total
People ::
Population:
Population growth rate:
Birth rate:
Death rate:
Net migration rate:
Infant mortality rate:
Life expectancy at birth:
Total fertility rate:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Education expenditures:
Economy ::
GDP (purchasing power parity):
GDP real growth rate:
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Labor force:
Unemployment rate:
Distribution of family income - Gini Index:
Investment (gross fixed):
Public debt:
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Central bank discount rate:
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Stock of money:
Stock of quasi money:
Stock of domestic credit:
Market value of publicly traded shares:
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:
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
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 - percent of GDP:
Not all Country Comparisons 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 Country Comparisons, 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.
All of the Country Comparisons' pages can be downloaded as
tab-delimited data files and can be opened in other applications
such as spreadsheets and databases. To save a Country Comparisons
page in a spreadsheet, first click on the 'Download Datafile' choice
above the Country Comparisons 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.
======================================================================
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
======================================================================
References :: Definitions and Notes
A
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 (ICC for International Chamber of
Commerce and ICCt for International Criminal Court).
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 the 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) and 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
accommodations 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 (over 10,000 ft), (2)
2,438 to 3,047 m (8,000 to 10,000 ft), (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m (5,000
to 8,000 ft), (4) 914 to 1,523 m (3,000 to 5,000 ft), and (5) under
914 m (under 3,000 ft). Only airports with usable runways are
included in this listing. Not all airports have facilities for
refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control. The type aircraft
capable of operating from a runway of a given length is dependent
upon a number of factors including elevation of the runway, runway
gradient, average maximum daily temperature at the airport, engine
types, flap settings, and take-off weight of the aircraft.
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 (over 10,000 ft),
(2) 2,438 to 3,047 m (8,000 to 10,000 ft), (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m
(5,000 to 8,000 ft), (4) 914 to 1,523 m (3,000 to 5,000 ft), and (5)
under 914 m (under 3,000 ft). Only airports with usable runways are
included in this listing. Not all airports have facilities for
refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control. The type aircraft
capable of operating from a runway of a given length is dependent
upon a number of factors including elevation of the runway, runway
gradient, average maximum daily temperature at the airport, engine
types, flap settings, and take-off weight of the aircraft.
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).
B
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.
Broadcast media
This entry provides information on the approximate number of public
and private TV and radio stations in a country, as well as basic
information on the availability of satellite and cable TV services.
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.
C
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.
Central bank discount rate
This entry provides the annualized interest rate a country's central
bank charges commercial, depository banks for loans to meet
temporary shortages of funds.
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.
Commercial bank prime lending rate
This entry provides a simple average of annualized interest rates
commercial banks charge on new loans, denominated in the national
currency, to their most credit-worthy customers.
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 (0 deg. 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.
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.
D
Data codes
This information is presented in This information is presented in <a
href = "../appendix/appendix-d.html"Appendix D: Cross-Reference List
of Country Data Codes and and <a href =
"../appendix/appendix-e.html" Appendix E: Cross-Reference List of
Hydrographic Data Codes.
Date of information
In general, information available as of January in a given year is
used in the preparation of the printed 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 internationally accepted currencies,
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 189 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 2 independent states that are
not in the UN, the Holy See and Kosovo, 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.
E
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.
Education expenditures
This entry provides the public expenditure on education as a percent
of GDP.
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 266 separate geographic entities in
The World Factbook that may be categorized as follows:
INDEPENDENT STATES
194 Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,
Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia,
Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kosovo, 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,
Timor-Leste, 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
9 France - Clipperton Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and
Antarctic Lands, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint
Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna
3 Netherlands - Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten
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
267 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 roughly 150,000
Inuits of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Russia 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.
Waterborne 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 This information is presented in <a
href = "../appendix/appendix-c.html"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. The International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) 4217 alphabetic currency code
for the national medium of exchange is presented in parenthesis.
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 listing of the highest-valued exported
products; 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.
F
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.
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
This entry provides the annual quantity of water in cubic kilometers
removed from available sources for use in any purpose. Water
drawn-off is not necessarily entirely consumed and some portion may
be returned for further use downstream. Domestic sector use refers
to water supplied by public distribution systems. Note that some of
this total may be used for small industrial and/or limited
agricultural purposes. Industrial sector use is the quantity of
water used by self-supplied industries not connected to a public
distribution system. Agricultural sector use includes water used for
irrigation and livestock watering, and does not account for
agriculture directly dependent on rainfall. Included are figures for
total annual water withdrawal and per capita water withdrawal.
G
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 official 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-a-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 artificially 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 differences between
the OER- and PPP-denominated GDP values for most of the wealthy
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 provide 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.
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.
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 locations provided in the Geographic Names
Server (GNS), maintained by the National Geospatial-Intelligence
Agency on behalf of the US Board on Geographic Names.
Geographic names
This information is presented in This information is presented in <a
href = "../appendix/appendix-f.html"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
GNP
Gross national product (GNP) is the value of all final goods and
services produced within a nation in a given year, plus income
earned by its citizens abroad, minus income earned by foreigners
from domestic production. The Factbook, following current practice,
uses GDP rather than GNP to measure national production. However,
the user must realize that in certain countries net remittances from
citizens working abroad may be important to national well-being.
Government
This category includes the entries dealing with the system for the
adoption and administration of public policy.
Government - 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. (Note that for some
countries more than one definition applies.):
Absolute monarchy - a form of government where the monarch rules
unhindered, i.e., without any laws, constitution, or legally
organized opposition.
Anarchy - a condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought
about by the absence of governmental authority.
Authoritarian - a form of government in which state authority is
imposed onto many aspects of citizens' lives.
Commonwealth - a nation, state, or other political entity founded on
law and united by a compact of the people for the common good.
Communist - 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 (Federation) - 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 adopted 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).
Presidential - a system of government where the executive branch
exists separately from a legislature (to which it is generally not
accountable).
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
GWP
This entry gives the gross world product (GWP) or aggregate value of
all final goods and services produced worldwide in a given year.
H
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.
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.
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
I
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, Robitussin 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 listing of the highest-valued imported
products; 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. For a number of countries,
the establishment of statehood was a lengthy evolutionary process
occurring over decades or even centuries. In such cases, several
significant dates are cited. 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 This information is presented in <a
href = "../appendix/appendix-b.html"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
investment 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.
J
Judicial branch
This entry contains the name(s) of the highest court(s) and a brief
description of the selection process for members.
L
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 and may range from 99-101 percent due to
rounding.
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 provides the description of a country's legal system; it
also includes information on acceptance of International Court of
Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction. The legal systems of nearly all
countries are generally modeled upon elements of five main types:
civil law (including French law, the Napoleonic Code, Roman law,
Roman-Dutch law, and Spanish law); common law (including United
State law); customary law; mixed or pluralistic law; and religious
law (including Islamic law). An additional type of legal system -
international law, which governs the conduct of independent nations
in their relationships with one another - is also addressed below.
The following list describes these legal systems, the countries or
world regions where these systems are enforced, and a brief
statement on the origins and major features of each.
Civil Law - The most widespread type of legal system in the world,
applied in various forms in approximately 150 countries. Also
referred to as European continental law, the civil law system is
derived mainly from the Roman Corpus Juris Civilus, (Body of Civil
Law), a collection of laws and legal interpretations compiled under
the East Roman (Byzantine) Emperor Justinian I between A.D. 528 and
565. The major feature of civil law systems is that the laws are
organized into systematic written codes. In civil law the sources
recognized as authoritative are principally legislation - especially
codifications in constitutions or statutes enacted by governments -
and secondarily, custom. The civil law systems in some countries are
based on more than one code.
Common Law - A type of legal system, often synonymous with "English
common law," which is the system of England and Wales in the UK, and
is also in force in approximately 80 countries formerly part of or
influenced by the former British Empire. English common law reflects
Biblical influences as well as remnants of law systems imposed by
early conquerors including the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, and Normans.
Some legal scholars attribute the formation of the English common
law system to King Henry II (r.1154-1189). Until the time of his
reign, laws customary among England's various manorial and
ecclesiastical (church) jurisdictions were administered locally.
Henry II established the king's court and designated that laws were
"common" to the entire English realm. The foundation of English
common law is "legal precedent" - referred to as stare decisis,
meaning "to stand by things decided." In the English common law
system, court judges are bound in their decisions in large part by
the rules and other doctrines developed - and supplemented over time
- by the judges of earlier English courts.
Customary Law - A type of legal system that serves as the basis of,
or has influenced, the present-day laws in approximately 40
countries - mostly in Africa, but some in the Pacific islands,
Europe, and the Near East. Customary law is also referred to as
"primitive law," "unwritten law," "indigenous law," and "folk law."
There is no single history of customary law such as that found in
Roman civil law, English common law, Islamic law, or the Napoleonic
Civil Code. The earliest systems of law in human society were
customary, and usually developed in small agrarian and
hunter-gatherer communities. As the term implies, customary law is
based upon the customs of a community. Common attributes of
customary legal systems are that they are seldom written down, they
embody an organized set of rules regulating social relations, and
they are agreed upon by members of the community. Although such law
systems include sanctions for law infractions, resolution tends to
be reconciliatory rather than punitive. A number of African states
practiced customary law many centuries prior to colonial influences.
Following colonization, such laws were written down and incorporated
to varying extents into the legal systems imposed by their colonial
powers.
European Union Law - A sub-discipline of international law known as
"supranational law" in which the rights of sovereign nations are
limited in relation to one another. Also referred to as the Law of
the European Union or Community Law, it is the unique and complex
legal system that operates in tandem with the laws of the 27 member
states of the European Union (EU). Similar to federal states, the EU
legal system ensures compliance from the member states because of
the Union's decentralized political nature. The European Court of
Justice (ECJ), established in 1952 by the Treaty of Paris, has been
largely responsible for the development of EU law. Fundamental
principles of European Union law include: subsidiarity - the notion
that issues be handled by the smallest, lowest, or least centralized
competent authority; proportionality - the EU may only act to the
extent needed to achieve its objectives; conferral - the EU is a
union of member states, and all its authorities are voluntarily
granted by its members; legal certainty - requires that legal rules
be clear and precise; and precautionary principle - a moral and
political principle stating that if an action or policy might cause
severe or irreversible harm to the public or to the environment, in
the absence of a scientific consensus that harm would not ensue, the
burden of proof falls on those who would advocate taking the action.
French Law - A type of civil law that is the legal system of France.
The French system also serves as the basis for, or is mixed with,
other legal systems in approximately 50 countries, notably in North
Africa, the Near East, and the French territories and dependencies.
French law is primarily codified or systematic written civil law.
Prior to the French Revolution (1789-1799), France had no single
national legal system. Laws in the northern areas of present-day
France were mostly local customs based on privileges and exemptions
granted by kings and feudal lords, while in the southern areas Roman
law predominated. The introduction of the Napoleonic Civil Code
during the reign of Napoleon I in the first decade of the 19th
century brought major reforms to the French legal system, many of
which remain part of France's current legal structure, though all
have been extensively amended or redrafted to address a modern
nation. French law distinguishes between "public law" and "private
law." Public law relates to government, the French Constitution,
public administration, and criminal law. Private law covers issues
between private citizens or corporations. The most recent changes to
the French legal system - introduced in the 1980s - were the
decentralization laws, which transferred authority from centrally
appointed government representatives to locally elected
representatives of the people.
International Law - The law of the international community, or the
body of customary rules and treaty rules accepted as legally binding
by states in their relations with each other. International law
differs from other legal systems in that it primarily concerns
sovereign political entities. There are three separate disciplines
of international law: public international law, which governs the
relationship between provinces and international entities and
includes treaty law, law of the sea, international criminal law, and
international humanitarian law; private international law, which
addresses legal jurisdiction; and supranational law - a legal
framework wherein countries are bound by regional agreements in
which the laws of the member countries are held inapplicable when in
conflict with supranational laws. At present the European Union is
the only entity under a supranational legal system. The term
"international law" was coined by Jeremy Bentham in 1780 in his
Principles of Morals and Legislation, though laws governing
relations between states have been recognized from very early times
(many centuries B.C.). Modern international law developed alongside
the emergence and growth of the European nation-states beginning in
the early 16th century. Other factors that influenced the
development of international law included the revival of legal
studies, the growth of international trade, and the practice of
exchanging emissaries and establishing legations. The sources of
International law are set out in Article 38-1 of the Statute of the
International Court of Justice within the UN Charter.
Islamic Law - The most widespread type of religious law, it is the
legal system enforced in over 30 countries, particularly in the Near
East, but also in Central and South Asia, Africa, and Indonesia. In
many countries Islamic law operates in tandem with a civil law
system. Islamic law is embodied in the sharia, an Arabic word
meaning "the right path." Sharia covers all aspects of public and
private life and organizes them into five categories: obligatory,
recommended, permitted, disliked, and forbidden. The primary sources
of sharia law are the Qur'an, believed by Muslims to be the word of
God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel, and the
Sunnah, the teachings of the Prophet and his works. In addition to
these two primary sources, traditional Sunni Muslims recognize the
consensus of Muhammad's companions and Islamic jurists on certain
issues, called ijmas, and various forms of reasoning, including
analogy by legal scholars, referred to as qiyas. Shia Muslims reject
ijmas and qiyas as sources of sharia law.
Mixed Law - Also referred to as pluralistic law, mixed law consists
of elements of some or all of the other main types of legal systems
- civil, common, customary, and religious. The mixed legal systems
of a number of countries came about when colonial powers overlaid
their own legal systems upon colonized regions but retained elements
of the colonies' existing legal systems.
Napoleonic Civil Code - A type of civil law, referred to as the
Civil Code or Code Civil des Francais, forms part of the legal
system of France, and underpins the legal systems of Bolivia, Egypt,
Lebanon, Poland, and the US state of Louisiana. The Civil Code was
established under Napoleon I, enacted in 1804, and officially
designated the Code Napoleon in 1807. This legal system combined the
Teutonic civil law tradition of the northern provinces of France
with the Roman law tradition of the southern and eastern regions of
the country. The Civil Code bears similarities in its arrangement to
the Roman Body of Civil Law (see Civil Law above). As enacted in
1804, the Code addressed personal status, property, and the
acquisition of property. Codes added over the following six years
included civil procedures, commercial law, criminal law and
procedures, and a penal code.
Religious Law - A legal system which stems from the sacred texts of
religious traditions and in most cases professes to cover all
aspects of life as a seamless part of devotional obligations to a
transcendent, imminent, or deep philosophical reality. Implied as
the basis of religious law is the concept of unalterability, because
the word of God cannot be amended or legislated against by judges or
governments. However, a detailed legal system generally requires
human elaboration. The main types of religious law are sharia in
Islam, halakha in Judaism, and canon law in some Christian groups.
Sharia is the most widespread religious legal system (see Islamic
Law), and is the sole system of law for countries including Iran,
the Maldives, and Saudi Arabia. No country is fully governed by
halakha, but Jewish people may decide to settle disputes through
Jewish courts and be bound by their rulings. Canon law is not a
divine law as such because it is not found in revelation. It is
viewed instead as human law inspired by the word of God and applying
the demands of that revelation to the actual situation of the
church. Canon law regulates the internal ordering of the Roman
Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican
Communion.
Roman Law - A type of civil law developed in ancient Rome and
practiced from the time of the city's founding (traditionally 753
B.C.) until the fall of the Western Empire in the 5th century A.D.
Roman law remained the legal system of the Byzantine (Eastern
Empire) until the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Preserved
fragments of the first legal text, known as the Law of the Twelve
Tables, dating from the 5th century B.C., contained specific
provisions designed to change the prevailing customary law. Early
Roman law was drawn from custom and statutes; later, during the time
of the empire, emperors asserted their authority as the ultimate
source of law. The basis for Roman laws was the idea that the exact
form - not the intention - of words or of actions produced legal
consequences. It was only in the late 6th century A.D. that a
comprehensive Roman code of laws was published (see Civil Law
above). Roman law served as the basis of law systems developed in a
number of continental European countries.
Roman-Dutch Law - A type of civil law based on Roman law as applied
in the Netherlands. Roman-Dutch law serves as the basis for legal
systems in seven African countries, as well as Guyana, Indonesia,
and Sri Lanka. This law system, which originated in the province of
Holland and expanded throughout the Netherlands (to be replaced by
the French Civil Code in 1809), was instituted in a number of
sub-Saharan African countries during the Dutch colonial period. The
Dutch jurist/philosopher Hugo Grotius was the first to attempt to
reduce Roman-Dutch civil law into a system in his Jurisprudence of
Holland (written 1619-20, commentary published 1621). The Dutch
historian/lawyer Simon van Leeuwen coined the term "Roman-Dutch law"
in 1652.
Spanish Law - A type of civil law, often referred to as the Spanish
Civil Code, it is the present legal system of Spain and is the basis
of legal systems in 12 countries mostly in Central and South
America, but also in southwestern Europe, northern and western
Africa, and southeastern Asia. The Spanish Civil Code reflects a
complex mixture of customary, Roman, Napoleonic, local, and modern
codified law. The laws of the Visigoth invaders of Spain in the 5th
to 7th centuries had the earliest major influence on Spanish legal
system development. The Christian Reconquest of Spain in the 11th
through 15th centuries witnessed the development of customary law,
which combined canon (religious) and Roman law. During several
centuries of Hapsburg and Bourbon rule, systematic recompilations of
the existing national legal system were attempted, but these often
conflicted with local and regional customary civil laws. Legal
system development for most of the 19th century concentrated on
formulating a national civil law system, which was finally enacted
in 1889 as the Spanish Civil Code. Several sections of the code have
been revised, the most recent of which are the penal code in 1989
and the judiciary code in 2001. The Spanish Civil Code separates
public and private law. Public law includes constitutional law,
administrative law, criminal law, process law, financial and tax
law, and international public law. Private law includes civil law,
commercial law, labor law, and international private law.
United States Law - A type of common law, which is the basis of the
legal system of the United States and that of its island possessions
in the Caribbean and the Pacific. This legal system has several
layers, more possibly than in most other countries, and is due in
part to the division between federal and state law. The United
States was founded not as one nation but as a union of 13 colonies,
each claiming independence from the British Crown. The US
Constitution, implemented in 1789, began shifting power away from
the states and toward the federal government, though the states
today retain substantial legal authority. US law draws its authority
from four sources: constitutional law, statutory law, administrative
regulations, and case law. Constitutional law is based on the US
Constitution and serves as the supreme federal law. Taken together
with those of the state constitutions, these documents outline the
general structure of the federal and state governments and provide
the rules and limits of power. US statutory law is legislation
enacted by the US Congress and is codified in the United States
Code. The 50 state legislatures have similar authority to enact
state statutes. Administrative law is the authority delegated to
federal and state executive agencies. Case law, also referred to as
common law, covers areas where constitutional or statutory law is
lacking. Case law is a collection of judicial decisions, customs,
and general principles that began in England centuries ago, that
were adopted in America at the time of the Revolution, and that
continue to develop today.
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 the 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.
M
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 a country (defined as being ages 16-49) 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 a country (defined as being ages 16-49) 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 militarily significant age annually
This entry gives the number of males and females entering the
military manpower pool (i.e., reaching age 16) in any given year and
is a measure of the availability of military-age young adults.
Map references
This entry includes the name of the Factbook reference map on which
a country may be found. Note that boundary representations on these
maps are not necessarily authoritative. 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 mean 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.
Market value of publicly traded shares
This entry gives the value of shares issued by publicly traded
companies at a price determined in the national stock markets on the
final day of the period indicated. It is simply the latest price per
share multiplied by the total number of outstanding shares,
cumulated over all companies listed on the particular exchange.
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
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 service obligation.
Money figures
All money figures are expressed in contemporaneous US dollars unless
otherwise indicated.
N
National anthem
A generally patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a
song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history,
traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems
can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's
constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although
most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.
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. For countries where
volcanic activity is common, a volcanism subfield highlights
historically active volcanoes.
Natural resources
This entry lists a country's mineral, petroleum, hydropower, and
other resources of commercial importance, such as rare earth
elements (REEs).
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. The net migration rate does not
distinguish between economic migrants, refugees, and other types of
migrants nor does it distinguish between lawful migrants and
undocumented migrants.
O
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.
P
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.
Piracy
Piracy is defined by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea as any illegal act of violence, detention, or depredation
directed against a ship, aircraft, persons, or property in a place
outside the jurisdiction of any State. Such criminal acts committed
in the territorial waters of a littoral state are generally
considered to be armed robbery against ships. Information on piracy
may be found, where applicable, in the Transportation - note.
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 a country's political, social,
labor, or religious organizations that are involved in politics, or
that exert political pressure, but whose leaders do not stand for
legislative election. International movements or organizations are
generally not listed.
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 cumulative 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.
R
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.
Rare earth elements
Rare earth elements or REEs are 17 chemical elements that are
critical in many of today's high-tech industries. They include
lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium,
europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium,
ytterbium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium. Typical applications for
REEs include batteries in hybrid cars, fiber optic cables, flat
panel displays, and permanent magnets, as well as some defense and
medical products.
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. The core characteristics and beliefs of the world's
major religions are described below.
Baha'i - Founded by Mirza Husayn-Ali (known as Baha'u'llah) in Iran
in 1852, Baha'i faith emphasizes monotheism and believes in one
eternal transcendent God. Its guiding focus is to encourage the
unity of all peoples on the earth so that justice and peace may be
achieved on earth. Baha'i revelation contends the prophets of major
world religions reflect some truth or element of the divine,
believes all were manifestations of God given to specific
communities in specific times, and that Baha'u'llah is an additional
prophet meant to call all humankind. Bahais are an open community,
located worldwide, with the greatest concentration of believers in
South Asia.
Buddhism - Religion or philosophy inspired by the 5th century B.C.
teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (also known as Gautama Buddha "the
enlightened one"). Buddhism focuses on the goal of spiritual
enlightenment centered on an understanding of Gautama Buddha's Four
Noble Truths on the nature of suffering, and on the Eightfold Path
of spiritual and moral practice, to break the cycle of suffering of
which we are a part. Buddhism ascribes to a karmic system of
rebirth. Several schools and sects of Buddhism exist, differing
often on the nature of the Buddha, the extent to which enlightenment
can be achieved - for one or for all, and by whom - religious orders
or laity.
Basic Groupings
Theravada Buddhism: The oldest Buddhist school, Theravada is
practiced mostly in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, and Thailand,
with minority representation elsewhere in Asia and the West.
Theravadans follow the Pali Canon of Buddha's teachings, and believe
that one may escape the cycle of rebirth, worldly attachment, and
suffering for oneself; this process may take one or several
lifetimes.
Mahayana Buddhism, including subsets Zen and Tibetan Buddhism:
Forms of Mahayana Buddhism are common in East Asia and Tibet, and
parts of the West. Mahayanas have additional scriptures beyond the
Pali Canon and believe the Buddha is eternal and still teaching.
Unlike Theravada Buddhism, Mahayana schools maintain the
Buddha-nature is present in all beings and all will ultimately
achieve enlightenment.
Christianity - Descending from Judaism, Christianity's central
belief maintains Jesus of Nazareth is the promised messiah of the
Hebrew Scriptures, and that his life, death, and resurrection are
salvific for the world. Christianity is one of the three
monotheistic Abrahamic faiths, along with Islam and Judaism, which
traces its spiritual lineage to Abraham of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Its sacred texts include the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament (or
the Christian Gospels).
Basic Groupings
Catholicism (or Roman Catholicism): This is the oldest
established western Christian church and the world's largest single
religious body. It is supranational, and recognizes a hierarchical
structure with the Pope, or Bishop of Rome, as its head, located at
the Vatican. Catholics believe the Pope is the divinely ordered head
of the Church from a direct spiritual legacy of Jesus' apostle
Peter. Catholicism is comprised of 23 particular Churches, or Rites
- one Western (Roman or Latin-Rite) and 22 Eastern. The Latin Rite
is by far the largest, making up about 98% of Catholic membership.
Eastern-Rite Churches, such as the Maronite Church and the Ukrainian
Catholic Church, are in communion with Rome although they preserve
their own worship traditions and their immediate hierarchy consists
of clergy within their own rite. The Catholic Church has a
comprehensive theological and moral doctrine specified for believers
in its catechism, which makes it unique among most forms of
Christianity.
Mormonism (including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints): Originating in 1830 in the United States under Joseph
Smith, Mormonism is not characterized as a form of Protestant
Christianity because it claims additional revealed Christian
scriptures after the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. The Book of
Mormon maintains there was an appearance of Jesus in the New World
following the Christian account of his resurrection, and that the
Americas are uniquely blessed continents. Mormonism believes earlier
Christian traditions, such as the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and
Protestant reform faiths, are apostasies and that Joseph Smith's
revelation of the Book of Mormon is a restoration of true
Christianity. Mormons have a hierarchical religious leadership
structure, and actively proselytize their faith; they are located
primarily in the Americas and in a number of other Western countries.
Orthodox Christianity: The oldest established eastern form of
Christianity, the Holy Orthodox Church, has a ceremonial head in the
Bishop of Constantinople (Istanbul), also known as a Patriarch, but
its various regional forms (e.g., Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox,
Serbian Orthodox, Ukrainian Orthodox) are autocephalous (independent
of Constantinople's authority, and have their own Patriarchs).
Orthodox churches are highly nationalist and ethnic. The Orthodox
Christian faith shares many theological tenets with the Roman
Catholic Church, but diverges on some key premises and does not
recognize the governing authority of the Pope.
Protestant Christianity: Protestant Christianity originated in
the 16th century as an attempt to reform Roman Catholicism's
practices, dogma, and theology. It encompasses several forms or
denominations which are extremely varied in structure, beliefs,
relationship to state, clergy, and governance. Many protestant
theologies emphasize the primary role of scripture in their faith,
advocating individual interpretation of Christian texts without the
mediation of a final religious authority such as the Roman Pope. The
oldest Protestant Christianities include Lutheranism, Calvinism
(Presbyterians), and Anglican Christianity (Episcopalians), which
have established liturgies, governing structure, and formal clergy.
Other variants on Protestant Christianity, including Pentecostal
movements and independent churches, may lack one or more of these
elements, and their leadership and beliefs are individualized and
dynamic.
Hinduism - Originating in the Vedic civilization of India (second
and first millennium B.C.), Hinduism is an extremely diverse set of
beliefs and practices with no single founder or religious authority.
Hinduism has many scriptures; the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the
Bhagavad-Gita are among some of the most important. Hindus may
worship one or many deities, usually with prayer rituals within
their own home. The most common figures of devotion are the gods
Vishnu, Shiva, and a mother goddess, Devi. Most Hindus believe the
soul, or atman, is eternal, and goes through a cycle of birth,
death, and rebirth (samsara) determined by one's positive or
negative karma, or the consequences of one's actions. The goal of
religious life is to learn to act so as to finally achieve
liberation (moksha) of one's soul, escaping the rebirth cycle.
Islam - The third of the monotheistic Abrahamic faiths, Islam
originated with the teachings of Muhammad in the 7th century.
Muslims believe Muhammad is the final of all religious prophets
(beginning with Abraham) and that the Qu'ran, which is the Islamic
scripture, was revealed to him by God. Islam derives from the word
submission, and obedience to God is a primary theme in this
religion. In order to live an Islamic life, believers must follow
the five pillars, or tenets, of Islam, which are the testimony of
faith (shahada), daily prayer (salah), giving alms (zakah), fasting
during Ramadan (sawm), and the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj).
Basic Groupings
The two primary branches of Islam are Sunni and Shia, which split
from each other over a religio-political leadership dispute about
the rightful successor to Muhammad. The Shia believe Muhammad's
cousin and son-in-law, Ali, was the only divinely ordained Imam
(religious leader), while the Sunni maintain the first three caliphs
after Muhammad were also legitimate authorities. In modern Islam,
Sunnis and Shia continue to have different views of acceptable
schools of Islamic jurisprudence, and who is a proper Islamic
religious authority. Islam also has an active mystical branch,
Sufism, with various Sunni and Shia subsets.
Sunni Islam accounts for over 75% of the world's Muslim
population. It recognizes the Abu Bakr as the first caliph after
Muhammad. Sunni has four schools of Islamic doctrine and law -
Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali - which uniquely interpret the
Hadith, or recorded oral traditions of Muhammad. A Sunni Muslim may
elect to follow any one of these schools, as all are considered
equally valid.
Shia Islam represents 10-20% of Muslims worldwide, and its
distinguishing feature is its reverence for Ali as an infallible,
divinely inspired leader, and as the first Imam of the Muslim
community after Muhammad. A majority of Shia are known as
"Twelvers," because they believe that the 11 familial successor
imams after Muhammad culminate in a 12th Imam (al-Mahdi) who is
hidden in the world and will reappear at its end to redeem the
righteous.
Variants
Ismaili faith: A sect of Shia Islam, its adherents are also known
as "Seveners," because they believe that the rightful seventh Imam
in Islamic leadership was Isma'il, the elder son of Imam Jafar
al-Sadiq. Ismaili tradition awaits the return of the seventh Imam as
the Mahdi, or Islamic messianic figure. Ismailis are located in
various parts of the world, particularly South Asia and the Levant.
Alawi faith: Another Shia sect of Islam, the name reflects
followers' devotion to the religious authority of Ali. Alawites are
a closed, secretive religious group who assert they are Shia
Muslims, although outside scholars speculate their beliefs may have
a syncretic mix with other faiths originating in the Middle East.
Alawis live mostly in Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey.
Druze faith: A highly secretive tradition and a closed community
that derives from the Ismaili sect of Islam; its core beliefs are
thought to emphasize a combination of Gnostic principles believing
that the Fatimid caliph, al-Hakin, is the one who embodies the key
aspects of goodness of the universe, which are, the intellect, the
word, the soul, the preceder, and the follower. The Druze have a key
presence in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel.
Jainism - Originating in India, Jain spiritual philosophy believes
in an eternal human soul, the eternal universe, and a principle of
"the own nature of things." It emphasizes compassion for all living
things, seeks liberation of the human soul from reincarnation
through enlightenment, and values personal responsibility due to the
belief in the immediate consequences of one's behavior. Jain
philosophy teaches non-violence and prescribes vegetarianism for
monks and laity alike; its adherents are a highly influential
religious minority in Indian society.
Judaism - One of the first known monotheistic religions, likely
dating to between 2000-1500 B.C., Judaism is the native faith of the
Jewish people, based upon the belief in a covenant of responsibility
between a sole omnipotent creator God and Abraham, the patriarch of
Judaism's Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh. Divine revelation of principles
and prohibitions in the Hebrew Scriptures form the basis of Jewish
law, or halakhah, which is a key component of the faith. While there
are extensive traditions of Jewish halakhic and theological
discourse, there is no final dogmatic authority in the tradition.
Local communities have their own religious leadership. Modern
Judaism has three basic categories of faith: Orthodox, Conservative,
and Reform/Liberal. These differ in their views and observance of
Jewish law, with the Orthodox representing the most traditional
practice, and Reform/Liberal communities the most accommodating of
individualized interpretations of Jewish identity and faith.
Shintoism - A native animist tradition of Japan, Shinto practice is
based upon the premise that every being and object has its own
spirit or kami. Shinto practitioners worship several particular
kamis, including the kamis of nature, and families often have
shrines to their ancestors' kamis. Shintoism has no fixed tradition
of prayers or prescribed dogma, but is characterized by individual
ritual. Respect for the kamis in nature is a key Shinto value. Prior
to the end of World War II, Shinto was the state religion of Japan,
and bolstered the cult of the Japanese emperor.
Sikhism - Founded by the Guru Nanak (born 1469), Sikhism believes in
a non-anthropomorphic, supreme, eternal, creator God; centering
one's devotion to God is seen as a means of escaping the cycle of
rebirth. Sikhs follow the teachings of Nanak and nine subsequent
gurus. Their scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib - also known as the
Adi Granth - is considered the living Guru, or final authority of
Sikh faith and theology. Sikhism emphasizes equality of humankind
and disavows caste, class, or gender discrimination.
Taoism - Chinese philosophy or religion based upon Lao Tzu's Tao Te
Ching, which centers on belief in the Tao, or the way, as the flow
of the universe and the nature of things. Taoism encourages a
principle of non-force, or wu-wei, as the means to live harmoniously
with the Tao. Taoists believe the esoteric world is made up of a
perfect harmonious balance and nature, while in the manifest world -
particularly in the body - balance is distorted. The Three Jewels of
the Tao - compassion, simplicity, and humility - serve as the basis
for Taoist ethics.
Zoroastrianism - Originating from the teachings of Zoroaster in
about the 9th or 10th century B.C., Zoroastrianism may be the oldest
continuing creedal religion. Its key beliefs center on a
transcendent creator God, Ahura Mazda, and the concept of free will.
The key ethical tenets of Zoroastrianism expressed in its scripture,
the Avesta, are based on a dualistic worldview where one may prevent
chaos if one chooses to serve God and exercises good thoughts, good
words, and good deeds. Zoroastrianism is generally a closed religion
and members are almost always born to Zoroastrian parents. Prior to
the spread of Islam, Zoroastrianism dominated greater Iran. Today,
though a minority, Zoroastrians remain primarily in Iran, India, and
Pakistan.
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.
S
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
School life expectancy (SLE) is the total number of years of
schooling (primary to tertiary) that a child can expect to receive,
assuming that the probability of his or her being enrolled in school
at any particular future age is equal to the current enrollment
ratio at that age. Caution must be maintained when utilizing this
indicator in international comparisons. For example, a year or grade
completed in one country is not necessarily the same in terms of
educational content or quality as a year or grade completed in
another country. SLE represents the expected number of years of
schooling that will be completed, including years spent repeating
one or more grades.
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.
Stock of broad money
This entry covers all of "Narrow money," plus the total quantity of
time and savings deposits, credit union deposits, institutional
money market funds, short-term repurchase agreements between the
central bank and commercial deposit banks, and other large liquid
assets held by nonbank financial institutions, state and local
governments, nonfinancial public enterprises, and the private sector
of the economy. National currency units have been converted to US
dollars at the closing exchange rate for the date of the
information. Because of exchange rate movements, changes in money
stocks measured in national currency units may vary significantly
from those shown in US dollars, and caution is urged when making
comparisons over time in US dollars. In addition to serving as a
medium of exchange, broad money includes assets that are slightly
less liquid than narrow money and the assets tend to function as a
"store of value" - a means of holding wealth.
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
This entry gives the cumulative US dollar value of all investments
in foreign countries made directly by residents - primarily
companies - of the home country, as of the end of the time period
indicated. Direct investment excludes investment through purchase of
shares.
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
This entry gives the cumulative US dollar value of all investments
in the home country made directly by residents - primarily companies
- of other countries as of the end of the time period indicated.
Direct investment excludes investment through purchase of shares.
Stock of domestic credit
This entry is the total quantity of credit, denominated in the
domestic currency, provided by financial institutions to the central
bank, state and local governments, public non-financial
corporations, and the private sector. The national currency units
have been converted to US dollars at the closing exchange rate on
the date of the information.
Stock of narrow money
This entry, also know as "M1," comprises the total quantity of
currency in circulation (notes and coins) plus demand deposits
denominated in the national currency held by nonbank financial
institutions, state and local governments, nonfinancial public
enterprises, and the private sector of the economy, measured at a
specific point in time. National currency units have been converted
to US dollars at the closing exchange rate for the date of the
information. Because of exchange rate movements, changes in money
stocks measured in national currency units may vary significantly
from those shown in US dollars, and caution is urged when making
comparisons over time in US dollars. Narrow money consists of more
liquid assets than broad money and the assets generally function as
a "medium of exchange" for an economy.
Suffrage
This entry gives the age at enfranchisement and whether the right to
vote is universal or restricted.
T
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.
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.
Total renewable water resources
This entry provides the long-term average water availability for a
country in cubic kilometers of precipitation, recharged ground
water, and surface inflows from surrounding countries. The values
have been adjusted to account for overlap resulting from surface
flow recharge of groundwater sources. Total renewable water
resources provides the water total available to a country but does
not include water resource totals that have been reserved for
upstream or downstream countries through international agreements.
Note that these values are averages and do not accurately reflect
the total available in any given year. Annual available resources
can vary greatly due to short-term and long-term climatic and
weather variations.
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 (i.e., the current situation) 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 2010 Trafficking in Persons Report as Tier 2
Watch List or Tier 3 based on the following tier rating 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 high or significantly increasing number of 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 trafficking 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.
U
Unemployment rate
This entry contains the percent of the labor force that is without
jobs. Substantial underemployment might be noted.
Urbanization
This entry provides two measures of the degree of urbanization of a
population. The first, urban population, describes the percentage of
the total population living in urban areas, as defined by the
country. The second, rate of urbanization, describes the projected
average rate of change of the size of the urban population over the
given period of time. Additionally, the World entry includes a list
of the ten largest urban agglomerations. An urban agglomeration is
defined as comprising the city or town proper and also the suburban
fringe or thickly settled territory lying outside of, but adjacent
to, the boundaries of the city.
UTC (Coordinated Universal Time)
See entry for Coordinated Universal Time.
W
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 This information is presented in <a
href = "../appendix/appendix-g.html"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.
Y
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 complied from
material in the public domain and does not represent Intelligence
Community estimates.
======================================================================
About :: History
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 2010
marks the 63rd anniversary of the establishment of the Central
Intelligence Agency and the 67th year of continuous basic
intelligence support to the US Government by The World Factbook and
its two predecessor programs.
The Evolution of The World Factbook
National Basic Intelligence Factbook produced semiannually until
1980. Country entries include sections on Land, Water, People,
Government, Economy, Communications, and Defense Forces.
1981
Publication becomes an annual product and is renamed The World
Factbook. A total of 165 nations are covered on 225 pages.
1983
Appendices (Conversion Factors, International Organizations) first
introduced.
1984
Appendices expanded; now include: A. The United Nations, B. Selected
United Nations Organizations, C. Selected International
Organizations, D. Country Membership in Selected Organizations, E.
Conversion Factors.
1987
A new Geography section replaces the former separate Land and Water
sections. UN Organizations and Selected International Organizations
appendices merged into a new International Organizations appendix.
First multi-color-cover Factbook.
1988
More than 40 new geographic entities added to provide complete world
coverage without overlap or omission. Among the new entities are
Antarctica, oceans (Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific), and the
World. The front-of-the-book explanatory introduction expanded and
retitled to Notes, Definitions, and Abbreviations. Two new
Appendices added: Weights and Measures (in place of Conversion
Factors) and a Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names. Factbook
size reaches 300 pages.
1989
Economy section completely revised and now includes an Overview
briefly describing a country's economy. New entries added under
People, Government, and Communications.
1990
The Government section revised and considerably expanded with new
entries.
1991
A new International Organizations and Groups appendix added.
Factbook size reaches 405 pages.
1992
Twenty new successor state entries replace those of the Soviet Union
and Yugoslavia. New countries are respectively: Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia,
Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,
Uzbekistan; and Bosnia and Hercegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia
and Montenegro, Slovenia. Number of nations in the Factbook rises to
188.
1993
Czechoslovakia's split necessitates new Czech Republic and Slovakia
entries. New Eritrea entry added after it secedes from Ethiopia.
Substantial enhancements made to Geography section.
1994
Two new appendices address Selected International Environmental
Agreements. The gross domestic product (GDP) of most developing
countries changed to a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis rather
than an exchange rate basis. Factbook size up to 512 pages.
1995
The GDP of all countries now presented on a PPP basis. New appendix
lists estimates of GDP on an exchange rate basis. Communications
category split; Railroads, Highways, Inland waterways, Pipelines,
Merchant marine, and Airports entries now make up a new
Transportation category. The World Factbook is first produced on
CD-ROM.
1996
Maps accompanying each entry now present more detail. Flags also
introduced for nearly all entities. Various new entries appear under
Geography and Communications. Factbook abbreviations consolidated
into a new Appendix A. Two new appendices present a Cross-Reference
List of Country Data Codes and a Cross-Reference List of
Hydrogeographic Data Codes. Geographic coordinates added to Appendix
H, Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names. Factbook size expands
by 95 pages in one year to reach 652.
1997
The World Factbook introduced onto the Internet. A special printed
edition prepared for the CIA's 50th anniversary. A schema or Guide
to Country Profiles introduced. New color maps and flags now
accompany each country profile. Category headings distinguished by
shaded backgrounds. Number of categories expanded to nine - the
current number - with the addition of an Introduction (for only a
few countries) and Transnational Issues (which includes
Disputes-international and Illicit drugs).
1998
The Introduction category with two entries, Current issues and
Historical perspective, expanded to more countries. Last year for
the production of CD-ROM versions of the Factbook.
1999
Historical perspective and Current issues entries in the
Introduction category combined into a new Background statement.
Several new Economy entries introduced. A new physical map of the
world added to the back-of-the-book reference maps.
2000
A new "country profile" added on the Southern Ocean. The Background
statements dramatically expanded to over 200 countries and
possessions. A number of new Communications entries added.
2001
Background entries completed for all 267 entities in the Factbook.
Several new HIV/AIDS entries introduced under the People category.
Revision begun on individual country maps to include elevation
extremes and a partial geographic grid. Weights and Measures
appendix deleted.
2002
New entry on Distribution of Family income - Gini index added.
Revision of individual country maps continued (process still
ongoing).
2003
In the Economy category, petroleum entries added for oil production,
consumption, exports, imports, and proved reserves, as well as
natural gas proved reserves.
2004
Bi-weekly updates launched on The World Factbook Web site.
Additional petroleum entries included for natural gas production,
consumption, exports, and imports. In the Transportation category,
under Merchant marine, subfields added for foreign-owned vessels and
those registered in other countries. Descriptions of the many forms
of government mentioned in the Factbook incorporated into the
Definitions and Notes.
2005
In the People category, a Major infectious diseases field added for
countries deemed to pose a higher risk for travelers. In the Economy
category, entries included for Current account balance, Investment,
Public debt, and Reserves of foreign exchange and gold. The
Transnational issues category expanded to include Refugees and
internally displaced persons. Category headings receive distinctive
colored backgrounds. These distinguishing colors are used in both
the printed and online versions of the Factbook. Size of the printed
Factbook reaches 702 pages.
2006
In the Economy category, national GDP figures now presented at
Official Exchange Rates (OER) in addition to GDP at purchasing power
parity (PPP). Entries in the Transportation section reordered;
Highways changed to Roadways, and Ports and harbors to Ports and
terminals.
2007
In the Government category, the Capital entry significantly expanded
with up to four subfields, including 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 is
added to highlight those countries with multiple time zones. A
Trafficking in persons entry added to the Transnational issues
category. A new appendix, Weights and Measures, (re)introduced to
the online version of the Factbook.
2008
In the Geography category, two fields focus on the increasingly
vital resource of water: Total renewable water resources and
Freshwater withdrawal. In the Economy category, three fields added
for: Stock of direct foreign investment - at home, Stock of direct
foreign investment - abroad, and Market value of publicly traded
shares. Concise descriptions of all major religions included in the
Definitions and Notes. Responsibility for printing of The World
Factbook turned over to the Government Printing Office.
2009
The online Factbook site completely redesigned with many new
features. In the People category, two new fields provide information
on education in terms of opportunity and resources: School Life
Expectancy and Education expenditures. Additionally, the
Urbanization entry expanded to include all countries. In the Economy
category, five fields added: Central bank discount rate, Commercial
bank prime lending rate, Stock of money, Stock of quasi money, and
Stock of domestic credit.
2010
In order to facilitate comparisons over time, dozens of the entries
in the Economy category expanded to include two (and in some cases
three) years' worth of data. A variety of enhancements introduced on
the Factbook Web site.
2011
Weekly updates inaugurated on the The World Factbook Web site. The
dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles results in two new listings:
Curacao and Sint Maarten. A Broadcast media field replaces the
former Radio broadcast stations and TV broadcast stations entries.
Concise descriptions of all major Legal systems incorporated into
the Definitions and Notes. In the Geography section, under Natural
hazards, a Volcanism subfield added for countries with historically
active volcanoes. In the Government category, a new National anthems
field introduced.
======================================================================
About :: Copyright and Contributors
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.
Citation model:
The World Factbook 2009. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence
Agency, 2009.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html
Comments and queries are welcome and may be addressed to:
Central Intelligence Agency
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
======================================================================
About :: Purchasing
Printed copies of The World Factbook may be obtained from the
following:
US Government Printing Office
732 N. Capitol St.
Washington, DC 20401
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:00 AM-6:30 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Telephone: [1] (202) 512-1800; toll free: [1] (866) 512-1800
FAX: [1] (202) 512-2104
http://bookstore.gpo.gov/
National Technical Information Service
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Springfield, VA 22161
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-6:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Telephone: [1] (800) 553-6847 (only in the US);
[1] (703) 605-6000 (for outside US)
FAX: [1] (703) 605-6900
http://www.ntis.gov/
The World Factbook can be accessed on the Internet at:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html
======================================================================
Frequently Asked Questions(by category)
Answers to many frequently asked questions (FAQs) are explained in
the Definitions and Notes section inThe 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.
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. In November 2001, we began more frequent online updating
and for many years bi-weekly updates were the norm. In late 2010 we
began to update the online Factbook on a weekly schedule. The CIA
discontinued publishing the printed Factbook after the 2007 edition;
subsequent annual editions have been published by the US Government
Printing Office.
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
(Section 403m) prohibits use of the CIA seal in a manner which
implies that the CIA approved, endorsed, or authorized such use. For
any questions about your intended use, you should consult with legal
counsel. Further information on use of The World Factbook is
described on the Contributors and Copyright Information page. As a
courtesy, please cite The World Factbook when used.
Why are there discrepancies between The World Factbook's demographic
statistics and other sources?
Although estimates and projections start with the same basic data
from censuses, surveys, and registration systems, final estimates
and projections can differ as a result of factors including data
availability, assessment, and methods and protocols.
Data availability Researchers may obtain specific country data at
different times. Estimates or projections developed before the
results of a census have been released will not be as accurate as
those that take into account new census results.
Assessment Researchers can differ in their assessment of data
quality and in their estimates based on the available country data.
They often need to adjust their estimates due to such factors as
undercounting in a census or underregistration of births or deaths.
Methods and protocols Differences in methods and protocols can
shape the way estimates and projections are made of fertility,
mortality, and international migration, and how these data are
integrated with the population data. For example, the US Census
Bureau uses a model that projects the population ahead by single
years of age, a single year at a time (population statistics used in
the Factbook are based on this model), whereas the United Nations
model projects five-year age groups forward, five years at a time.
Why doesn't The World Factbook include information on states,
departments, provinces, etc., for each country?
The World Factbook provides national-level information on countries,
territories, and dependencies, but not subnational administrative
units within a country. A comprehensive encyclopedia might be a
source for state/province-level information.
Is it possible to access older editions of The World Factbook to do
comparative research and trend analysis?
Previous editions of the Factbook , beginning with 2000, are
available for downloading - but not browsing - on the CIA Web site.
Rehosted versions of earlier editions of the Factbook are available
for browsing, as well as for downloading, at other Internet web
sites. We urge caution, however, in attempting to create time series
by stringing together economic data - especially dollar values -
from previous editions of the Factbook . Over time, data sources,
definitions, and economic accounting methods have changed. We
occasionally have made these changes ourselves in order to provide
our readers with the best information available. Also, in the case
of dollar values, changes in relative exchange rates and prices may
make trends difficult to comprehend. Therefore, individuals should
consult additional resources when doing comparative research or
trend analysis.
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 ::
Why can't I find a geographic name for a particular country?
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
(Appendix F), 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 A-Z country 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
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======================================================================
@Afghanistan (South Asia)
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,
touching off a long and destructive war. The USSR withdrew in 1989
under relentless pressure by internationally supported
anti-Communist mujahedin rebels. A series of subsequent civil wars
saw Kabul finally fall in 1996 to the Taliban, a hardline
Pakistani-sponsored movement that emerged in 1994 to end the
country's civil war and anarchy. Following the 11 September 2001
terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., a US,
Allied, and anti-Taliban Northern Alliance military action toppled
the Taliban for sheltering Osama BIN LADIN. The UN-sponsored Bonn
Conference in 2001 established a process for political
reconstruction that included the adoption of a new constitution, a
presidential election in 2004, and National Assembly elections in
2005. In December 2004, Hamid KARZAI became the first democratically
elected president of Afghanistan and the National Assembly was
inaugurated the following December. Karzai was re-elected in August
2009 for a second term. Despite gains toward building a stable
central government, a resurgent Taliban and continuing provincial
instability - particularly in the south and the east - remain
serious challenges for the Afghan Government.
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: 652,230 sq km
country comparison to the world: 41
land: 652,230 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: Noshak 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)
Total renewable water resources:
65 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 23.26 cu km/yr (2%/0%/98%)
per capita: 779 cu m/yr (2000)
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, Ozone Layer
Protection
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:
29,121,286
country comparison to the world: 41
note: this is a significantly revised figure; the previous estimate
of 33,609,937 was extrapolated from the last Afghan census held in
1979, which was never completed because of the Soviet invasion; a
new Afghan census is scheduled to take place in 2010 (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.6% (male 6,343,611/female 6,036,673)
15-64 years: 54% (male 7,864,422/female 7,470,617)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 326,873/female 353,520) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 18 years
male: 17.9 years
female: 18 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.471% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Birth rate:
38.11 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Death rate:
17.65 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Net migration rate:
4.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Urbanization:
urban population: 24% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 5.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 151.5 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 2
male: 155.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 147.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 44.65 years
country comparison to the world: 221
male: 44.45 years
female: 44.87 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.5 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.01% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
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
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
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%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Languages:
Afghan Persian or Dari (official) 50%, Pashto (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: 28.1%
male: 43.1%
female: 12.6% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male: 11 years
female: 5 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
NA
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 11 E
time difference: UTC+4.5 (9.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
34 provinces (welayat, singular - welayat); Badakhshan, Badghis,
Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Daykundi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghor,
Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khost, Kunar,
Kunduz, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Nuristan, Paktika,
Paktiya, Panjshir, Parwan, Samangan, Sar-e Pul, Takhar, Uruzgan,
Wardak, Zabul
Independence:
19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 19 August (1919)
Constitution:
constitution drafted 14 December 2003-4 January 2004; signed 16
January 2004; ratified 26 January 2004
Legal system:
based on mixed civil and sharia law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); First Vice President Mohammad
FAHIM Khan (since 19 November 2009); Second Vice President Abdul
Karim KHALILI (since 7 December 2004); note - the president is both
the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); First Vice President Mohammad
FAHIM Khan (since 19 November 2009); Second Vice President Abdul
Karim KHALILI (since 7 December 2004)
cabinet: 25 ministers; note - ministers are appointed by the
president and approved by the National Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the president and two vice presidents 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; election last held on 20 August 2009 (next to be held
in 2014)
election results: Hamid KARZAI reelected president; percent of vote
(first round) - Hamid KARZAI 49.67%, Abdullah ABDULLAH 30.59%,
Ramazan BASHARDOST 10.46%, Ashraf GHANI 2.94%; other 6.34%; note -
ABDULLAH conceded the election to KARZAI following the first round
vote
Legislative branch:
the bicameral National Assembly consists of the Meshrano Jirga or
House of Elders (102 seats, one-third of members elected from
provincial councils for four-year terms, one-third elected from
local district councils for three-year terms, and one-third
nominated by the president for five-year terms) and the Wolesi Jirga
or House of People (no more than 250 seats); members directly
elected for five-year terms
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 on 18 September 2010 (next election expected in
2015)
election results: NA
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; 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:
Afghanistan Peoples' Treaty Party [Sayyed Amir TAHSEEN];
Afghanistan's Islamic Mission Organization [Abdul Rasoul SAYYAF];
Afghanistan's Islamic Nation Party [Toran Noor Aqa Ahmad ZAI];
Afghanistan's National Islamic Party [Rohullah LOUDIN];
Afghanistan's Welfare Party [Meer Asef ZAEEFI]; Afghan Social
Democratic Party [Anwarul Haq AHADI]; Afghan Society for the Call to
the Koran and Sunna [Mawlawee Samiullah NAJEEBEE]; Comprehensive
Movement of Democracy and Development of Afghanistan Party [Sher
Mohammad BAZGAR]; Democratic Party of Afghanistan [Al-hajj Mohammad
Tawos ARAB]; Democratic Party of Afghanistan [Abdul Kabir RANJBAR];
Elites People of Afghanistan Party [Abdul Hamid JAWAD]; Freedom and
Democracy Movement of Afghanistan [Abdul Raqib Jawid KOHISTANEE];
Freedom Party of Afghanistan [Abdul MALEK]; Freedom Party of
Afghanistan [Dr. Ghulam Farooq NEJRABEE]; Hizullah-e-Afghanistan
[Qari Ahmad ALI]; Human Rights Protection and Development Party of
Afghanistan [Baryalai NASRATI]; Islamic Justice Party of Afghanistan
[Mohammad Kabir MARZBAN]; Islamic Movement of Afghanistan [Mohammad
Ali JAWID]; Islamic Movement of Afghanistan Party [Mohammad Mukhtar
MUFLEH]; Islamic Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad Khalid FAROOQI,
Abdul Hadi ARGHANDIWAL]; Islamic Party of the Afghan Land [Mohammad
Hassan FEROZKHEL]; Islamic People's Movement of Afghanistan [Al-haj
Said Hussain ANWARY]; Islamic Society of Afghanistan [Ustad
RABBANI]; Islamic Unity of the Nation of Afghanistan Party [Qurban
Ali URFANI]; Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad Karim
KHALILI]; Islamic Unity Party of the People of Afghanistan [Haji
Mohammad MOHAQQEQ]; Labor and Progress of Afghanistan Party
[Zulfiqar OMID]; Muslim People of Afghanistan Party [Besmellah
JOYAN]; Muslim Unity Movement Party of Afghanistan [Wazir Mohammad
WAHDAT]; National and Islamic Sovereignty Movement Party of
Afghanistan [Ahmad Shah AHMADZAI]; National Congress Party of
Afghanistan [Abdul Latif PEDRAM]; National Country Party [Ghulam
MOHAMMAD]; National Development Party of Afghanistan [Dr. Assef
BAKTASH]; National Freedom Seekers Party [Abdul Hadi DABEER];
National Independence Party of Afghanistan [Taj Mohammad WARDAK];
National Islamic Fighters Party of Afghanistan [Amanat NINGARHAREE];
National Islamic Front of Afghanistan [Pir Sayed Ahmad GAILANEE];
National Islamic Moderation Party of Afghanistan [Qara Baik
IZADYAR]; National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan [Sayed NOORULLAH]
National Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad AKBAREE];
National Movement of Afghanistan [Ahmad Wali MASOOUD]; National
Party of Afghanistan [Abdul Rashid ARYAN]; National Patch of
Afghanistan Party [Sayed Kamal SADAT]; National Peace Islamic Party
of Afghanistan [Shah Mohammood Popal ZAI]; National Peace & Islamic
Party of the Tribes of Afghanistan [Abdul Qaher SHARIATEE]; National
Peace & Unity Party of Afghanistan [Abdul Qader IMAMI]; National
Prosperity and Islamic Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad Osman
SALEKZADA]; National Prosperity Party [Mohammad Hassan JAHFAREE];
National Solidarity Movement of Afghanistan [Pir Sayed Eshaq
GAILANEE]; National Solidarity Party of Afghanistan [Sayed Mansoor
NADREEI]; National Sovereignty Party [Sayed Mustafa KAZEMI];
National Stability Party [Mohammad Same KHAROTI]; National Stance
Party [Habibullah JANEBDAR]; National Tribal Unity Islamic Party of
Afghanistan [Mohammad Shah KHOGYANI]; National Unity Movement
[Sultan Mohammad GHAZI]; National Unity Movement of Afghanistan
[Mohammad Nadir AATASH]; National Unity Party of Afghanistan [Abdul
Rashid JALILI]; New Afghanistan Party [Mohammad Yunis QANUNI]; Peace
and National Welfare Activists Society [Shamsul al-Haq Noor SHAMS];
Peace Movement [Shahnawaz TANAI]; People's Aspirations Party of
Afghanistan [Ilhaj Saraj-u-din ZAFAREE]; People's Freedom Seekers
Party of Afghanistan [Feda Mohammad EHSAS]; People's Liberal Freedom
Seekers Party of Afghanistan [Ajmal SUHAIL]; People's Message Party
of Afghanistan [Noor Aqa WAINEE]; People's Movement of the National
Unity of Afghanistan [Abdul Hakim NOORZAI]; People's Party of
Afghanistan [Ahmad Shah ASAR]; People's Prosperity Party of
Afghanistan [Ustad Mohammad ZAREEF]; People's Sovereignty Movement
of Afghanistan [Hayatullah SUBHANEE]; People's Uprising Party of
Afghanistan [Sayed Zahir Qayedam Al-BELADI]; People's Welfare Party
of Afghanistan [Miagul WASIQ]; People's Welfare Party of Afghanistan
[Mohammad Zubair PAIROZ]; Progressive Democratic Party of
Afghanistan [Mohammad Wali ARYA]; Republican Party [Sebghatullah
SANJAR]; Solidarity Party of Afghanistan [Abdul Khaleq NEMAT]; The
Afghanistan's Mujahid Nation's Islamic Unity Movement [Saeedullah
SAEED]; The People of Afghanistan's Democratic Movement [Mohammad
Sharif NAZARI]; Tribes Solidarity Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad
Zarif NASERI]; Understanding and Democracy Party of Afghanistan
[Ahamad SHAHEEN]
United Afghanistan Party [Mohammad Wasil RAHIMEE]; United Islamic
Party of Afghanistan [Wahidullah SABAWOON]; Young Afghanistan's
Islamic Organization [Sayed Jawad HUSSINEE]; Youth Solidarity Party
of Afghanistan [Mohammad Jamil KARZAI]; note - includes only
political parties approved by the Ministry of Justice
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: religious groups; tribal leaders; ethnically based groups;
Taliban
International organization participation:
ADB, CICA, CP, ECO, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner),
SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Khojesta F.
EBRAHIMKHEL
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 Karl W. EIKENBERRY
embassy: The Great Masood Road, Kabul
mailing address: U.S. Embassy Kabul, APO, AE 09806
telephone: [93] 0700 108 001
FAX: [93] 0700 108 564
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), red, and green,
with the national emblem in white centered on the red band and
slightly overlapping the other two bands; the center of the emblem
features a mosque with pulpit and flags on either side, below the
mosque are numerals for the solar year 1298 (1919 in the Gregorian
calendar, the year of Afghan independence from the UK); this central
image is circled by a border consisting of sheaves of wheat on the
left and right, in the upper-center is an Arabic inscription of the
Shahada (Muslim creed) below which are rays of the rising sun over
the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great"), and at bottom
center is a scroll bearing the name Afghanistan; black signifies the
past, red is for the blood shed for independence, and green can
represent either hope for the future, agricultural prosperity, or
Islam
note: Afghanistan had more changes to its national flag in the 20th
century than any other country; the colors black, red, and green
appeared on most of them
National anthem:
name: "Milli Surood" (National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Abdul Bari JAHANI/Babrak WASA
note: adopted 2006; the 2004 constitution of the post-Taliban
government mandated that a new national anthem should be written
containing the phrase "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great) and mentioning
the names of Afghanistan's ethnic groups
Economy ::Afghanistan
Economy - overview:
Afghanistan's economy is recovering from decades of conflict. The
economy has improved significantly since the fall of the Taliban
regime in 2001 largely because of the infusion of international
assistance, the recovery of the agricultural sector, and service
sector growth. Despite the progress of the past few years,
Afghanistan is extremely poor, landlocked, and highly dependent on
foreign aid, agriculture, and trade with neighboring countries. Much
of the population continues to suffer from shortages of housing,
clean water, electricity, medical care, and jobs. Criminality,
insecurity, weak governance, and the Afghan Government's inability
to extend rule of law to all parts of the country pose challenges to
future economic growth. Afghanistan's living standards are among the
lowest in the world. While the international community remains
committed to Afghanistan's development, pledging over $67 billion at
four donors' conferences since 2002, the Government of Afghanistan
will need to overcome a number of challenges, including low revenue
collection, anemic job creation, high levels of corruption, weak
government capacity, and poor public infrastructure.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$29.81 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$27.38 billion (2009 est.)
$22.34 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$16.63 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
8.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
22.5% (2009 est.)
3.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
$1,000 (2009 est.)
$800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 31%
industry: 26%
services: 43%
note: data exclude opium production (2008 est.)
Labor force:
15 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 78.6%
industry: 5.7%
services: 15.7% (FY08/09 est.)
Unemployment rate:
35% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
40% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
36% (FY08/09)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
13.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
20.7% (2008 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
14.92% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$3.943 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 100
$2.819 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$4.149 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 125
$2.915 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$363.6 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
$20.06 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
opium, wheat, fruits, nuts; wool, mutton, sheepskins, lambskins
Industries:
small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes,
fertilizer, apparel, food-products, non-alcoholic beverages, mineral
water, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
285.5 million kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Electricity - consumption:
231.1 million kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
230 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Oil - imports:
4,404 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Natural gas - production:
30 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Natural gas - consumption:
30 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Natural gas - proved reserves:
49.55 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Current account balance:
-$2.475 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
$85 million (2008 est.)
Exports:
$547 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
$603 million (2008 est.); note - not including illicit exports or
reexports
Exports - commodities:
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and
pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
Exports - partners:
US 26.47%, India 23.09%, Pakistan 17.36%, Tajikistan 12.51% (2009)
Imports:
$5.3 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$4.5 billion (2007)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and other capital goods, food, textiles, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Pakistan 26.78%, US 24.81%, India 5.15%, Germany 5.06%, Russia 4.04%
(2009)
Debt - external:
$2.7 billion (2008/2009)
country comparison to the world: 134
$8 billion (2004)
Exchange rates:
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 50.23 (2009), 50.25 (2008), 50
(2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004)
Communications ::Afghanistan
Telephones - main lines in use:
129,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 139
Telephones - mobile cellular:
12 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 57
Telephone system:
general assessment: limited fixed-line telephone service; an
increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks
domestic: aided by the presence of multiple providers,
mobile-cellular telephone service continues to improve rapidly
international: country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide
international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-owned broadcaster, Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA),
operates a series of radio and television stations in Kabul and the
provinces; an estimated 50 private radio stations, 8 TV networks,
and about a dozen international broadcasters are available; more
than 30 community-based radio stations broadcasting (2007)
Internet country code:
.af
Internet hosts:
46 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 211
Internet users:
1 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 98
Communications - note:
Internet access is growing through Internet cafes as well as public
"telekiosks" in Kabul (2005)
Transportation ::Afghanistan
Airports:
53 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 89
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 34
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 9 (2010)
Heliports:
11 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 466 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 42,150 km
country comparison to the world: 87
paved: 12,350 km
unpaved: 29,800 km (2006)
Waterways:
1,200 km; (chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT)
(2008)
country comparison to the world: 59
Ports and terminals:
Kheyrabad, Shir Khan
Military ::Afghanistan
Military branches:
Afghan Armed Forces: Afghan National Army (ANA, includes Afghan
National Army Air Force, ANAAF) (2010)
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 16-49: 6,800,888
females age 16-49: 6,413,647 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,888,358
females age 16-49: 3,641,998 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 378,996
female: 357,822 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 75
Transnational Issues ::Afghanistan
Disputes - international:
Pakistan has built fences in some portions of its border with
Afghanistan which remains open in some areas to foreign terrorists
and other illegal activities
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 132,246 (mostly Pashtuns and Kuchis displaced in south and
west due to drought and instability) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
world's largest producer of opium; poppy cultivation decreased 22%
to 157,000 hectares in 2008 but remains at a historically high
level; less favorable growing conditions in 2008 reduced potential
opium production to 5,500 metric tons, down 31 percent from 2007; if
the entire opium crop were processed, 648 metric tons of pure heroin
potentially could be produced; the Taliban and other antigovernment
groups participate in and profit from the opiate trade, which is a
key source of revenue for the Taliban inside Afghanistan; widespread
corruption and instability impede counterdrug efforts; most of the
heroin consumed in Europe and Eurasia is derived from Afghan opium;
vulnerable to drug money laundering through informal financial
networks; regional source of hashish (2008)
page last updated on January 13, 2011
======================================================================
@Akrotiri (Europe)
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:
Eastern Mediterranean, peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus
Geographic coordinates:
34 37 N, 32 58 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 123 sq km
country comparison to the world: 223
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:
hunting 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; of the Sovereign Base Area
(SBA) land, 60% is privately owned and farmed, 20% is owned by the
Ministry of Defense, and 20% is SBA Crown land
People ::Akrotiri
Population:
approximately 15,700 live on the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri
and Dhekelia including 7,700 Cypriots, 3,600 Service and UK-based
contract personnel, and 4,400 dependents
country comparison to the world: 219
Languages:
English, Greek
Government ::Akrotiri
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Akrotiri
Dependency status:
a special form of UK overseas territory; administered by an
administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus
Capital:
name: Episkopi Cantonment (base administrative center for Akrotiri
and 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, functions as a basic legal document
Legal system:
the Sovereign Base Area Administration has its own court system to
deal with civil and criminal matters; laws applicable to the Cypriot
population are, as far as possible, the same as the laws of the
Republic of Cyprus
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Administrator Major General Jamie GORDON (since
October 2008); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defense
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; the 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:
the flag of the UK is used
National anthem:
note: as a United Kingdom area of special sovereignty, "God Save the
Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
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.
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7338 (2009), 0.6827
(2008)
note: on 1 January 2008 Akrotiri and Dhekelia adopted the euro along
with the rest of Cyprus
Communications ::Akrotiri
Broadcast media:
British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel
satellite TV service as well as BFBS radio broadcasts to the
Akrotiri Sovereign Base (2009)
Military ::Akrotiri
Military - note:
Akrotiri has a full RAF base, Headquarters for British Forces
Cyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Albania (Europe)
Introduction ::Albania
Background:
Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912,
but was conquered by Italy in 1939. Communist partisans took over
the country in 1944. Albania allied itself first with the USSR
(until 1960), and then with China (to 1978). In the early 1990s,
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; however, there have been claims
of electoral fraud in every one of Albania's post-communist
elections. In the 2005 general elections, the Democratic Party and
its allies won a decisive victory on pledges to reduce crime and
corruption, promote economic growth, and decrease the size of
government. The election, and particularly the orderly transition of
power, was considered an important step forward. Albania joined NATO
in April 2009 and is a potential candidate for EU accession.
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.
Geography ::Albania
Location:
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea,
between Greece in the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north
Geographic coordinates:
41 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 28,748 sq km
country comparison to the world: 144
land: 27,398 sq km
water: 1,350 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 717 km
border countries: Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Montenegro 172
km, Kosovo 112 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)
Total renewable water resources:
41.7 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.71 cu km/yr (27%/11%/62%)
per capita: 546 cu m/yr (2000)
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: Air Pollution, 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:
strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to
Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
People ::Albania
Population:
2,986,952 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.1% (male 440,528/female 400,816)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,251,001/female 1,190,841)
65 years and over: 9.8% (male 165,557/female 190,710) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 30 years
male: 28.9 years
female: 31.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.249% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Birth rate:
11.88 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Death rate:
6.04 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Net migration rate:
-3.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Urbanization:
urban population: 47% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.123 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.11 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 123
male: 16.79 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.22 years
country comparison to the world: 59
male: 74.65 years
female: 80.11 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.47 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
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: 98.7%
male: 99.2%
female: 98.3% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
2.9% of GDP (2002)
country comparison to the world: 148
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:
republic
Capital:
name: Tirana (Tirane)
geographic coordinates: 41 19 N, 19 49 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); Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan,
Fier, Gjirokaster, Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane, Vlore
Independence:
28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 November (1912)
Constitution:
approved by parliament on 21 October 1998; adopted by popular
referendum on 22 November 1998; promulgated 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 Bamir TOPI (since 24 July
2007)
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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by the Assembly for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); four election rounds held between 8
and 20 July 2007 (next election to be held in 2012); prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: Bamir TOPI elected president; Assembly vote,
fourth round (three-fifths majority, 84 votes, required): Bamir TOPI
85 votes, Neritan CEKA 5 votes
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Kuvendi (140 deputies; 100 deputies
elected directly in single member electoral zones with an
approximate number of voters; 40 deputies elected from multi-name
lists of parties or party coalitions according to their respective
order)
elections: last held on 28 June 2009 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PD
68, PS 65, LSI 4, other 3
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:
Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Party for Justice and
Integration or PDI [Tahir MUCHEDINI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir
MEDIU]; Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI [Ilir META];
Socialist Party or PS [Edi RAMA]; Unity for Humen 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 [Elton
KACIDHJA]; Omonia [Ligorag KARAMELO]; Union of Independent Trade
Unions of Albania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA]
International organization participation:
BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, SECI,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gilbert GALANXHI
chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942
FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alexander ARVIZU
embassy: Rruga e Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana
mailing address: US Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles,
VA 20189-9510
telephone: [355] (4) 2247285
FAX: [355] (4) 2232222
Flag description:
red with a black two-headed eagle in the center; the design is
claimed to be that of 15th-century hero George Castriota
SKANDERBERG, who led a successful uprising against the Turks that
resulted in a short-lived independence for some Albanian regions
(1443-1478); an unsubstantiated explanation for the eagle symbol is
the tradition that Albanians see themselves as descendants of the
eagle; they refer to themselves as "Shkypetars," which translates as
"sons of the eagle"
National anthem:
name: "Hymni i Flamurit" (Hymn to the Flag)
lyrics/music: Aleksander Stavre DRENOVA/Ciprian PORUMBESCU
note: adopted 1912
Economy ::Albania
Economy - overview:
Albania, a formerly closed, centrally-planned state, is making the
difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy.
Macroeconomic growth averaged around 6% between 2004-08, but
declined to about 3% in 2009-10. Inflation is low and stable. The
government has taken measures to curb violent crime, and recently
adopted a fiscal reform package aimed at reducing the large gray
economy and attracting foreign investment. The economy is bolstered
by annual remittances from abroad representing about 15% of GDP,
mostly from Albanians residing in Greece and Italy; this helps
offset the towering trade deficit. The agricultural sector, which
accounts for over half of employment but only about one-fifth of
GDP, is limited primarily to small family operations and subsistence
farming because of lack of modern equipment, unclear property
rights, and the prevalence of small, inefficient plots of land.
Energy shortages because of a reliance on hydropower, and antiquated
and inadequate infrastructure contribute to Albania's poor business
environment and lack of success in attracting new foreign investment
needed to expand the country's export base. The completion of a new
thermal power plant near Vlore has helped diversify generation
capacity, and plans to upgrade transmission lines between Albania
and Montenegro and Kosovo would help relieve the energy shortages.
Also, with help from EU funds, the government is taking steps to
improve the poor national road and rail network, a long-standing
barrier to sustained economic growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$23.95 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$23.23 billion (2009 est.)
$22.49 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
Albania has an informal, and unreported, sector that may be as large
as 50% of official GDP
GDP (official exchange rate):
$11.58 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
3.3% (2009 est.)
7.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$7,800 (2009 est.)
$7,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 21.2%
industry: 19.5%
services: 59.3% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.1 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 58%
industry: 15%
services: 27% (September 2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
12.8% (2009 est.)
note: these are official rates, but actual rates may exceed 30% due
to preponderance of near-subsistence farming
Population below poverty line:
25% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 25.9% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26.7 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 126
Investment (gross fixed):
29.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Public debt:
59.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
58.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
2.2% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
5.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 71
6.25% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.66% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
13.02% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$2.708 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 113
$2.995 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$9.096 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 105
$9.279 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$7.701 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
$8.231 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
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% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Electricity - production:
2.888 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Electricity - consumption:
3.603 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
2.475 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
5,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Oil - consumption:
36,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Oil - exports:
749 bbl/day (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Oil - imports:
24,080 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Oil - proved reserves:
199.1 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Natural gas - production:
30 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Natural gas - consumption:
30 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Natural gas - proved reserves:
849.5 million cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Current account balance:
-$1.245 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
-$1.845 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.339 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
$1.048 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil;
vegetables, fruits, tobacco
Exports - partners:
Italy 58.75%, Greece 9.69%, Austria 6.73%, China 5.68% (2009)
Imports:
$4.337 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
$4.264 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Italy 29.94%, Greece 14.05%, Turkey 7.1%, Germany 6.9%, China 5.39%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.992 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
$2.37 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.55 billion (2004)
country comparison to the world: 143
Exchange rates:
leke (ALL) per US dollar - 106.5 (2010), 94.979 (2009), 79.546
(2008), 92.668 (2007), 98.384 (2006)
Communications ::Albania
Telephones - main lines in use:
363,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 107
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.162 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 102
Telephone system:
general assessment: despite new investment in fixed lines
teledensity remains low with roughly 10 fixed lines per 100 people;
mobile-cellular telephone use is widespread and generally effective;
combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is now exceeds
100 per 100 persons
domestic: offsetting the shortage of fixed line capacity,
mobile-cellular phone service has been available since 1996; by
2003, two companies were providing mobile services at a greater
teledensity than some of Albania's neighbors; Internet broadband
services initiated in 2005; Internet cafes are popular in Tirana and
have started to spread outside the capital
international: country code - 355; submarine cable provides
connectivity to Italy, Croatia, and Greece; the Trans-Balkan Line, a
combination submarine cable and land fiber-optic system, provides
additional connectivity to Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Turkey;
international traffic carried by fiber-optic cable and, when
necessary, by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to
Italy and Greece (2009)
Broadcast media:
2 public television networks, one of which transmits by satellite to
Albanian-language communities in neighboring countries; more than 60
private television stations operating; many viewers can pick up
Italian and Greek TV broadcasts via terrestrial reception; cable TV
service is available; 2 public radio networks and roughly 50 private
radio stations; several international broadcasters are available
(2008)
Internet country code:
.al
Internet hosts:
15,098 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 117
Internet users:
1.3 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 90
Transportation ::Albania
Airports:
5 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 177
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 896 km
country comparison to the world: 96
standard gauge: 896 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 18,000 km
country comparison to the world: 117
paved: 7,020 km
unpaved: 10,980 km (2002)
Waterways:
43 km (on the Bojana River) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 105
Merchant marine:
total: 25
country comparison to the world: 92
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 23, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1)
registered in other countries: 4 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Panama 3)
(2010)
Ports and terminals:
Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore
Military ::Albania
Military branches:
Joint Force Command (includes Land, Naval, and Aviation Brigade
Commands), Joint Support Command (includes Logistic Command),
Training and Doctrine Command (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
19 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 947,446
females age 16-49: 910,145 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 802,097
females age 16-49: 768,953 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 35,249
female: 31,855 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.49% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
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; the mass emigration of
unemployed Albanians remains a problem for developed countries,
chiefly Greece and Italy
Illicit drugs:
increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates,
hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to a lesser
extent - cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe;
limited opium and expanding 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
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Algeria (Africa)
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), was
established in 1954 as part of the struggle for independence and has
largely dominated politics since. The Government of Algeria in 1988
instituted a multi-party system in response to public unrest, but
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 crackdown on the FIS that spurred
FIS supporters to begin attacking government targets, and fighting
escalated into an insurgency, which saw intense violence between
1992-98 resulting 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. Abdelaziz
BOUTEFLIKA, with the backing of the military, won the presidency in
1999 in an election widely viewed as fraudulent, was reelected to a
second term in 2004, and overwhelmingly won a third term in 2009
after the government amended the constitution in 2008 to remove
presidential term limits. Longstanding problems continue to face
BOUTEFLIKA, including large-scale unemployment, a shortage of
housing, unreliable electrical and water supplies, government
inefficiencies and corruption, and the continuing activities of
extremist militants. The Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat
(GSPC) in 2006 merged with al-Qai'da to form al-Qai'da in the Lands
of the Islamic Maghreb, which has launched an ongoing series of
kidnappings and bombings targeting the Algerian Government and
Western interests.
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: 2,381,741 sq km
country comparison to the world: 11
land: 2,381,741 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)
Total renewable water resources:
14.3 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 6.07 cu km/yr (22%/13%/65%)
per capita: 185 cu m/yr (2000)
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:
34,586,184 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.4% (male 4,436,591/female 4,259,729)
15-64 years: 69.5% (male 11,976,965/female 11,777,618)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 798,576/female 928,709) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.1 years
male: 26.8 years
female: 27.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.177% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Birth rate:
16.71 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Death rate:
4.66 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Net migration rate:
-0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Urbanization:
urban population: 65% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 26.75 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 81
male: 29.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.26 years
country comparison to the world: 98
male: 72.57 years
female: 76.04 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.76 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1%; note - no country specific models provided (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
21,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
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: 69.9%
male: 79.6%
female: 60.1% (2002 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
4.3% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 98
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 45 N, 3 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, 28 November 1996,
10 April 2002, and 12 November 2008
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)
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; a November 2008 constitutional amendment separated the
position of head of government from that of the prime minister
head of government: President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April
1999)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
note - a November 2008 constitutional amendment abolished
presidential term limits; election last held on 9 April 2009 (next
to be held in April 2014)
election results: Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA was reelected president for a
third term; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA 90.2%, Louisa
HANOUNE 4.2%, Moussa TOUATI 2.3%, Djahid YOUNSI 1.4%, Ali Fawzi
REBIANE less than 1%, Mohamed SAID less than 1%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Council of the Nation (upper
house; 144 seats; one-third of the members appointed by the
president, two-thirds elected by indirect vote to serve six-year
terms; the constitution requires half the Council to be renewed
every three years) and the National People's Assembly (lower house;
389 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Council of the Nation - last held on 29 December 2009
(next to be held in December 2012); National People's Assembly -
last held on 17 May 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: Council of the Nation - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - NA; National People's Assembly - percent of
vote by party - NA; seats by party - FLN 136, RND 61, MSP 52, PT 26,
RCD 19, FNA 13, other 49, independents 33;
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Ahd 54 [Ali Fauzi REBAINE]; Algerian National Front or FNA [Moussa
TOUATI]; National Democratic Rally (Rassemblement National
Democratique) or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA]; National Liberation Front or
FLN [Abdelaziz BELKHADEM, secretary general]; National Reform
Movement or Islah [Ahmed ABDESLAM] (formerly MRN); Rally for Culture
and Democracy or RCD [Said SADI]; Renaissance Movement or EnNahda
Movement [Fatah RABEI]; Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Hocine Ait
AHMED]; Society of Peace Movement or MSP [Boudjerra SOLTANI];
Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUNE]
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 LADDH [Hocine ZEHOUANE]; SOS
Disparus [Nacera DUTOUR]
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BIS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA,
MONUSCO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE
(partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Abdallah BAALI
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 David D. PEARCE
embassy: 05 Chemin Cheikh Bachir, El-Ibrahimi, El-Biar 16000 Algiers
mailing address: B. P. 408, Alger-Gare, 16030 Algiers
telephone: [213] 770-08-2000
FAX: [213] 21-60-7355
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 colors represent Islam (green), purity and peace
(white), and liberty (red); the crescent and star are also Islamic
symbols, but the crescent is more closed than those of other Muslim
countries because the Algerians believe the long crescent horns
bring happiness
National anthem:
name: "Kassaman" (We Pledge)
lyrics/music: Mufdi ZAKARIAH/Mohamed FAWZI
note: adopted 1962; ZAKARIAH wrote "Kassaman" as a poem while
imprisoned in Algiers by French colonial forces
Economy ::Algeria
Economy - overview:
Algeria's economy remains dominated by the state, a legacy of the
country's socialist post-independence development model. Gradual
liberalization since the mid-1990s has opened up more of the
economy, but in recent years Algeria has imposed new restrictions on
foreign involvement in its economy and largely halted the
privatization of state-owned industries. Hydrocarbons have long been
the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 60% of budget
revenues, 30% of GDP, and over 95% of export earnings. Algeria has
the eighth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the
fourth-largest gas exporter. It ranks 16th in oil reserves. Thanks
to strong hydrocarbon revenues, Algeria has a cushion of $150
billion in foreign currency reserves and a large hydrocarbon
stabilization fund. In addition, Algeria's external debt is
extremely low at about 1% of GDP. Algeria has struggled to develop
industires outside of hydrocarbons in part because of high costs and
an inert state bureaucracy.The government's efforts to diversify the
economy by attracting foregin and domestic investment outside the
energy sector have done little to reduce high poverty and youth
unemployment rates. In 2010, Algeria began a five-year, $286 billion
development program to update the country's infrastructure and
provide jobs. The costly program will boost Algeria's economy in
2011 but worsen the country's budget deficit. Long-term economic
challenges include diversification from hydrocarbons, relaxing state
control of the economy, and providing adequate jobs for youger
Algerians.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$254.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$244.6 billion (2009 est.)
$239.4 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$159 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
2.2% (2009 est.)
2.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
$7,200 (2009 est.)
$7,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.3%
industry: 61.5%
services: 30.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
9.877 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
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:
9.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
10.2% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
23% (2006 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)
country comparison to the world: 86
Investment (gross fixed):
27.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Public debt:
25.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
20% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
5.7% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 107
4% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
8% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$79.07 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 36
$68.13 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$109.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$98.82 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$12.29 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
$21.71 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
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:
4.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Electricity - production:
34.98 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Electricity - consumption:
28.34 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Electricity - exports:
273 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
279 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
2.125 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Oil - consumption:
325,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Oil - exports:
1.891 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Oil - imports:
14,320 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Oil - proved reserves:
13.42 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Natural gas - production:
86.5 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Natural gas - consumption:
26.83 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Natural gas - exports:
59.67 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Natural gas - proved reserves:
4.502 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Current account balance:
$3.959 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
-$4.185 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$52.66 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$43.69 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%
Exports - partners:
US 23.2%, Italy 17.23%, Spain 10.83%, France 7.97%, Canada 7.65%,
Netherlands 5.19%, Turkey 4.22% (2009)
Imports:
$37.07 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$39.1 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
France 19.7%, China 11.72%, Italy 10.19%, Spain 8.13%, Germany
5.77%, Turkey 5.05% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$150.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$149.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.138 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
$5.413 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$19.34 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$17.34 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.844 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$1.644 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Algerian dinars (DZD) per US dollar - 76 (2010), 72.6474 (2009),
63.25 (2008), 69.9 (2007), 72.647 (2006)
Communications ::Algeria
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.576 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 51
Telephones - mobile cellular:
32.73 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 30
Telephone system:
general assessment: privatization of Algeria's telecommunications
sector began in 2000; three mobile cellular licenses have been
issued and, in 2005, a consortium led by Egypt's Orascom Telecom won
a 15-year license to build and operate a fixed-line network in
Algeria; the license will allow Orascom to develop high-speed data
and other specialized services and contribute to meeting the large
unfulfilled demand for basic residential telephony; Internet
broadband services began in 2003
domestic: a limited network of fixed lines with a teledensity of
less than 10 telephones per 100 persons is offset by the rapid
increase in mobile-cellular subscribership; in 2009, combined
fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity was roughly 100
telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 213; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-4
fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe,
the Middle East, and Asia; 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) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-run Radio-Television Algerienne operates the broadcast media
and carries programming in Arabic, Berber dialects, and French; use
of satellite dishes is widespread, providing easy access to European
and Arab satellite stations; state-run radio operates several
national networks and roughly 40 regional radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.dz
Internet hosts:
572 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 176
Internet users:
4.7 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 49
Transportation ::Algeria
Airports:
143 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 39
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 57
over 3,047 m: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 86
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 41
under 914 m: 23 (2010)
Heliports:
2 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 1,937 km; gas 14,648 km; liquid petroleum gas 2,933 km;
oil 7,579 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 3,973 km
country comparison to the world: 43
standard gauge: 2,888 km 1.435-m gauge (283 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,085 km 1.055-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 108,302 km
country comparison to the world: 39
paved: 76,028 km (includes 645 km of expressways)
unpaved: 32,274 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
total: 35
country comparison to the world: 80
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 8, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas
9, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 12 (UK 12) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djendjene, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran,
Skikda
Military ::Algeria
Military branches:
People's National Army (Armee Nationale Populaire, ANP), Land Forces
(Forces Terrestres, FT), Navy of the Republic of Algeria (Marine de
la Republique Algerienne, MRA), Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya
al-Jaza'eriya, QJJ), Territorial Air Defense Force (2009)
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 16-49: 10,113,472
females age 16-49: 9,959,693 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,481,036
females age 16-49: 8,508,245 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 365,503
female: 352,009 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 37
Transnational Issues ::Algeria
Disputes - international:
Algeria, and many other states, rejects Moroccan administration of
Western Sahara; the Polisario Front, exiled in Algeria, represents
the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic; Algeria's border with Morocco
remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each nation accusing the
other of harboring militants and arms smuggling; 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): 90,000 (Western Saharan Sahrawi,
mostly living in Algerian-sponsored camps in the southwestern
Algerian town of Tindouf)
IDPs: undetermined (civil war during 1990s) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Algeria is a transit country for men and women
trafficked from sub-Saharan Africa to Europe for the purposes of
commercial sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude; criminal
networks of sub-Saharan nationals in southern Algeria facilitate
transit by arranging transportation, forged documents, and promises
of employment
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Algeria is placed on the Tier 2
Watch List because it does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking, however, it is making
significant efforts to do so; in January 2009, the government
approved new legislation that criminalizes trafficking in persons
for the purposes of labor and sexual exploitation representing an
important step toward complying with international standards;
despite these efforts, the government did not show overall progress
in punishing trafficking crimes and protecting trafficking victims
and continued to lack adequate measures to protect victims and
prevent trafficking (2009)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@American Samoa (Australia-Oceania)
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
country comparison to the world: 215
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
volcanism: American Samoa experiences limited volcanic activity on
the Ofu and Olosega Islands, neither has erupted since the 19th
century
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:
66,432 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.4% (male 11,159/female 10,768)
15-64 years: 62.7% (male 20,848/female 20,271)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 1,211/female 1,371) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.4 years
male: 23.3 years
female: 23.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.212% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Birth rate:
23.05 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Death rate:
4.09 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Net migration rate:
-6.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Urbanization:
urban population: 92% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.061 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.91 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 152
male: 12.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.97 years
country comparison to the world: 104
male: 71.04 years
female: 77.08 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.22 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
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 91.6%, Asian 2.8%, white 1.1%, mixed 4.2%,
other 0.3% (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.)
Education expenditures:
NA
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 on 2 June 1966; effective 1 July 1967
Legal system:
NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009);
Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
head of government: Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet made up of 12 department directors
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as American Samoa, do not vote in elections for US
president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic
and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and
lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for
four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held on
4 and 18 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: Togiola TULAFONO reelected governor; percent of
vote - Togiola TULAFONO 56.5%, Afoa Moega LUTU 43.5%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (18
seats; members are elected from local chiefs to serve four-year
terms)and the House of Representatives (21 seats; 20 members are
elected by popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate
from Swains Island; members serve two-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held on 4 November 2008
(next to be held in November 2010); Senate - last held on 4 November
2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
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 on 2 November 2010
(next to be held in November 2012); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA
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:
Population Pressure LAS (addresses the growing population pressures)
International organization participation:
AOSIS, 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 fly
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 war club known as a "Fa'alaufa'i"
(upper; left talon), and a coconut fiber fly whisk known as a "Fue"
(lower; right talon); the combination of symbols broadly mimics that
seen on the US Great Seal and reflects the relationship between the
United States and American Samoa
National anthem:
name: "Amerika Samoa" (American Samoa)
lyrics/music: Mariota Tiumalu TUIASOSOPO/Napoleon Andrew
TUITELELEAPAGA
note: local anthem adopted 1950; as a territory of the United
States, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States)
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 commerce. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the
backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export.
The two tuna canneries account for 80% of employment. In late
September 2009, an earthquake and the resulting tsunami devastated
American Samoa and nearby Samoa, disrupting transportation and power
generation, and resulting in about 200 deaths. The US Federal
Emergency Management Agency is overseeing a relief program of nearly
$25 million. 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):
$575.3 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
$510.1 million (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$462.2 million (2005)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 119
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
$5,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
17,630 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 210
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 34%
industry: 33%
services: 33% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
29.8% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 176
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
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:
185 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Electricity - consumption:
172.1 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Oil - imports:
4,140 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Exports:
$445.6 million (FY04 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Exports - commodities:
canned tuna 93%
Imports:
$308.8 million (FY04 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Imports - commodities:
raw materials for canneries 56%, food, petroleum products, machinery
and parts
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications ::American Samoa
Telephones - main lines in use:
10,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 200
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,200 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 214
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 - 1-684; satellite earth station - 1
(Intelsat-Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast media:
3 television stations broadcasting; multi-channel pay-per-view
television services are available; about a dozen radio stations,
some of which are repeater stations (2009)
Internet country code:
.as
Internet hosts:
1,676 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 157
Internet users:
NA
Transportation ::American Samoa
Airports:
3 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 190
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 241 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 205
Ports and terminals:
Pago Pago
Military ::American Samoa
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 14,230
females age 16-49: 13,842 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 810
female: 796 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues ::American Samoa
Disputes - international:
Tokelau periodically asserts claims to American Samoa's Swains
Island (Olohega), such as in its 2006 draft independence constitution
page last updated on December 8, 2010
======================================================================
@Andorra (Europe)
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 Seu
d'Urgell). In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular
heads of state retained, but the government transformed into a
parliamentary democracy. For decades Andorra enjoyed its status as a
small refuge of fiscal and banking freedom and benefitted from
Spanish and French tourists attracted to the country's duty-free
shopping. The situation has changed in recent years as Andorra
started to tax foreign investment and other sectors. Tourism
accounts for over 80% of Andorra's gross domestic product.
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
country comparison to the world: 194
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: Pic de 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: Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the
Pyrenees
People ::Andorra
Population:
84,525 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.5% (male 6,710/female 6,305)
15-64 years: 72.2% (male 31,604/female 28,925)
65 years and over: 12.3% (male 5,113/female 5,231) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.9 years
male: 40.2 years
female: 39.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.382% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Birth rate:
10.03 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Death rate:
6.21 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Urbanization:
urban population: 89% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.066 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.84 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 207
male: 3.79 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 82.36 years
country comparison to the world: 4
male: 80.3 years
female: 84.55 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.34 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
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%
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.2% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 141
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 Seu d'Urgell, Spain, who are represented in
Andorra by the coprinces' representatives
Capital:
name: Andorra la Vella
geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 31 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 Seu d'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 28 April 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 Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007);
represented by Christian FREMONT (since September 2008) and Spanish
Coprince Bishop Joan-Enric VIVES i Sicilia (since 12 May 2003);
represented by Nemesi MARQUES i Oste (since 30 July 2003)
head of government: Executive Council President Jaume BARTUMEU
Cassany (since 5 June 2009)
cabinet: Executive Council or Govern designated by the Executive
Council president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: Executive Council president elected by the General
Council and formally appointed by the coprinces for a four-year
term; election last held on 26 April 2009 (next to be held in
April-May 2013)
election results: Jaume BARTUMEU CASSANY 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; to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 26 April 2009 (next to be held in
March-April 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - PS 45%, Reformist
Coaliton 32%, Andorra for Change 19%, Andorran Green 4%; seats by
party - PS 14, Reformist Coalition 11, Andorra for Change 3
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; Constitutional Tribunal or Tribunal
Constitucional
Political parties and leaders:
Andorra for Change [Juan Eusebio NOMEN CALVET]; Greens of Andorra
[Isabel LOZANO MUNOZ]; Liberal Party of Andorra or PLA [Joan GABRIEL
i ESTANY] (formerly Liberal Union or UL); New Center [Vicenc MATEU]
(formerly Andorran Democratic Center Party); Reformist Coalition
[Joan GABRIEL i ESTANY] (includes the Liberal Party and New Center);
Social Democratic Party or PS [Jaume BARTUMEU CASSANY] (formerly
part of National Democratic Group or AND)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, OIF,
OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Narcis CASAL Fonsdeviela
chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th 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 US Consulate General's office in Barcelona
(Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada, 23,
08034 Barcelona, Spain; telephone: [34] (93) 280-2227; FAX: [34]
(93) 280-6175
Flag description:
three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red, with the
national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the latter band
is slightly wider than the other two so that the ratio of band
widths is 8:9:8; the coat of arms features a quartered shield with
the emblems of (starting in the upper left and proceeding
clockwise): Urgell, Foix, Bearn, and Catalonia; the motto reads
VIRTUS UNITA FORTIOR (Strength United is Stronger); the flag
combines the blue and red French colors with the red and yellow of
Spain to show Franco-Spanish protection
note: 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
National anthem:
name: "El Gran Carlemany" (The Great Charlemagne)
lyrics/music: Joan BENLLOCH i VIVO/Enric Marfany BONS
note: adopted 1921; the anthem provides a brief history of Andorra
in a first person narrative
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 million tourists
visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status for some
products and by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative
advantage eroded when the borders of neighboring France and Spain
opened, 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):
$4.22 billion (2008)
country comparison to the world: 166
$3.66 billion (2007)
$3.588 billion (2006)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
2.6% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
2% (2007 est.)
3.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$44,900 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 12
$42,500 (2007)
$38,800 (2005)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
42,220 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 193
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 0.5%
industry: 18.5%
services: 81% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
7% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 69
0% (2007)
Population below poverty line:
8% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.3% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 67
3.9% (2007)
Agriculture - products:
small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep
Industries:
tourism (particularly skiing), cattle raising, timber, banking,
tobacco, furniture
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
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:
$89.5 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 195
$117.1 million (2007)
Exports - commodities:
tobacco products, furniture
Imports:
$1.801 billion (2008)
country comparison to the world: 154
$1.789 billion (2007)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, food, electricity
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7306 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Andorra
Telephones - main lines in use:
37,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 171
Telephones - mobile cellular:
64,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 191
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
Broadcast media:
1 public television station and 2 public radio stations; a few
commercial radio stations operating; good reception of radio and TV
broadcasts from stations in France and Spain (2008)
Internet country code:
.ad
Internet hosts:
26,773 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 100
Internet users:
67,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 170
Transportation ::Andorra
Roadways:
total: 320 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 201
Military ::Andorra
Military branches:
no regular military forces, Police Service of Andorra (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 22,776 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 18,338
females age 16-49: 17,395 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 396
female: 350 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France and Spain
Transnational Issues ::Andorra
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Angola (Africa)
Introduction ::Angola
Background:
Angola is 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
fighting picked up again by 1996. 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. President DOS SANTOS held
legislative elections in September 2008 and, despite promising to
hold presidential elections in 2009, has since made a presidential
poll contingent on the drafting of a new constitution.
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
country comparison to the world: 23
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)
Total renewable water resources:
184 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.35 cu km/yr (23%/17%/60%)
per capita: 22 cu m/yr (2000)
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, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, 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:
13,068,161 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.5% (male 2,812,359/female 2,759,047)
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 3,496,726/female 3,382,440)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 153,678/female 195,043) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 18 years
male: 18 years
female: 18 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.063% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Birth rate:
43.33 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Death rate:
23.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Net migration rate:
1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Urbanization:
urban population: 57% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 178.13 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 1
male: 190.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 165.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 38.48 years
country comparison to the world: 223
male: 37.48 years
female: 39.52 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.05 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
190,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
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)
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2009)
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: 67.4%
male: 82.9%
female: 54.2% (2001 est.)
Education expenditures:
2.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 160
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 50 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:
adopted by People's Assembly 25 August 1992
Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; modified to
accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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); Antonio Paulo KASSOMA was named prime minister by
MPLA on 26 September 2008
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
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 was selected by the
party to take over after the death of former President Augustino
NETO(1979) under a one-party system and stood for reelection in
Angola's first multiparty elections on 29-30 September 1992 (next
were to be held in September 2009 but have been postponed)
election results: Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS 49.6%, Jonas SAVIMBI
40.1%, making a run-off election necessary; the run-off was never
held 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 on 5-6 September 2008 (next to be held in
September 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 81.6%, UNITA
10.4%, PRS 3.2%, ND 1.2%, FNLA 1.1%, other 2.5%; seats by party -
MPLA 191, UNITA 16, PRS 8, FNLA 3, ND 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court and separate provincial courts (judges are appointed
by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [Ngola KABANGU];
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [Isaias
SAMAKUVA] (largest opposition party); New Democracy Electoral Union
or ND [Quintino de MOREIRA]; Popular Movement for the Liberation of
Angola or MPLA [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS] (ruling party in power
since 1975); Social Renewal Party or PRS [Eduardo KUANGANA]
note: nine other parties participated in the legislative election in
September 2008 but won no seats
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 armed struggle for the independence of
Cabinda Province persists despite the signing of a peace accord with
the government in August 2006
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OPEC,
SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra DIAKITE
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 Dan MOZENA
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);
red represents liberty, black the African continent, the symbols
characterize workers and peasants
National anthem:
name: "Angola Avante" (Forward Angola)
lyrics/music: Manuel Rui Alves MONTEIRO/Rui Alberto Vieira Dias
MINGAO
note: adopted 1975
Economy ::Angola
Economy - overview:
Angola's high growth rate in recent years was driven by high
international prices for its oil. Angola became a member of OPEC in
late 2006 and in late 2007 was assigned a production quota of 1.9
million barrels a day (bbl/day), somewhat less than the 2-2.5
million bbl/day Angola's government had wanted. Oil production and
its supporting activities contribute about 85% of GDP. Diamond
exports contribute an additional 5%. Subsistence agriculture
provides the main livelihood for most of the people, but half of the
country's food is still imported. Increased oil production supported
growth averaging more than 15% per year from 2004 to 2008. 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. Land mines left from the war still mar
the countryside, even though peace was established after the death
of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI in February 2002. Since 2005, the
government has used billions of dollars in credit lines from China,
Brazil, Portugal, Germany, Spain, and the EU to rebuild Angola's
public infrastructure. The global recession temporarily stalled
economic growth. Lower prices for oil and diamonds during the global
recession led to a contraction in GDP in 2009, and many construction
projects stopped because Luanda accrued $9 billion in arrears to
foreign construction companies when government revenue fell in 2008
and 2009. Angola abandoned its currency peg in 2009, and in November
2009 signed onto an IMF Stand-By Arrangement loan of $1.4 billion to
rebuild international reserves. Although consumer inflation declined
from 325% in 2000 to under 14% in 2010, Luanda has been unable to
reduce inflation below 10%. The Angolan kwanza depreciated again in
mid 2010, which, along with higher oil prices, should boost economic
growth in all sectors. Corruption, especially in the extractive
sectors, also is a major challenge.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$114.1 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$107.8 billion (2009 est.)
$108.7 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$85.81 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
-0.9% (2009 est.)
13.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
$8,400 (2009 est.)
$8,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.6%
industry: 65.8%
services: 24.6% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
7.977 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 85%
industry and services: 15% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA
Population below poverty line:
40.5% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.6%
highest 10%: 44.7% (2000)
Investment (gross fixed):
15.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Public debt:
20.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
21.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
13.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
13.7% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
30% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 12
19.57% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15.68% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
12.53% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$8.74 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 74
$9.792 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$24.92 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$29.04 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$17.52 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
$22.06 billion (31 December 2009 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:
5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Electricity - production:
3.722 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Electricity - consumption:
3.173 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
1.948 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Oil - consumption:
70,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Oil - exports:
1.407 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Oil - imports:
28,090 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Oil - proved reserves:
13.5 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Natural gas - production:
680 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Natural gas - consumption:
680 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Natural gas - proved reserves:
271.8 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Current account balance:
$2.089 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
-$1.668 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$51.65 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$40.08 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, coffee, sisal, fish
and fish products, timber, cotton
Exports - partners:
China 35.65%, US 25.98%, France 8.83%, South Africa 4.13% (2009)
Imports:
$18.1 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$15.74 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts;
medicines, food, textiles, military goods
Imports - partners:
Portugal 18.71%, China 17.39%, US 8.51%, Brazil 8.22%, South Korea
6.72%, France 4.51%, Italy 4.28%, South Africa 4.02% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$16.89 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$13.64 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$17.98 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$13.64 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$91.55 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
$79.88 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$4.883 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$3.933 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
kwanza (AOA) per US dollar - 92.08 (2010), 79.328 (2009), 75.023
(2008), 76.6 (2007), 80.4 (2006)
Communications ::Angola
Telephones - main lines in use:
303,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 112
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8.109 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 73
Telephone system:
general assessment: limited system; state-owned telecom had monopoly
for fixed-lines until 2005; demand outstripped capacity, prices were
high, and services poor; Telecom Namibia, through an Angolan
company, became the first private licensed operator in Angola's
fixed-line telephone network; by 2010, the number of fixed-line
providers had expanded to 5; Angola Telecom established
mobile-cellular service in Luanda in 1993 and the network has been
extended to larger towns; a privately-owned, mobile-cellular service
provider began operations in 2001
domestic: only about two fixed-lines per 100 persons; combined
fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 65 telephones per
100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 244; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC
fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and
Asia; satellite earth stations - 29 (2009)
Broadcast media:
state controls all broadcast media with nationwide reach;
state-owned Televisao Popular de Angola (TPA) provides terrestrial
TV service on 2 channels; a third TPA channel is available via cable
and satellite; TV subscription services are available; state-owned
Radio Nacional de Angola (RNA) broadcasts on 5 stations; about a
half dozen private radio stations broadcast locally (2008)
Internet country code:
.ao
Internet hosts:
3,717 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 142
Internet users:
606,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 114
Transportation ::Angola
Airports:
193 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 32
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 31
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 162
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 31
914 to 1,523 m: 78
under 914 m: 47 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 2 km; oil 87 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,764 km
country comparison to the world: 62
narrow gauge: 2,641 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 51,429 km
country comparison to the world: 80
paved: 5,349 km
unpaved: 46,080 km (2001)
Waterways:
1,300 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 55
Merchant marine:
total: 7
country comparison to the world: 125
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 3, roll
on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Spain 1)
registered in other countries: 15 (Bahamas 5, Liberia 1, Malta 7,
former Netherlands Antilles 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Namibe
Military ::Angola
Military branches:
Angolan Armed Forces (FAA): Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra Angola,
MGA), Angolan National Air Force (Forca Aerea Nacional Angolana,
FANA) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
20-45 years of age for compulsory and 18-45 years for voluntary
military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years; Angolan
citizenship required; minimum age for women volunteers is 20; the
MGA is entirely staffed with volunteers (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,991,424
females age 16-49: 2,893,898 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,506,489
females age 16-49: 1,451,427 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 151,237
female: 147,919 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 32
Transnational Issues ::Angola
Disputes - international:
Cabindan separatists continue to return to the Angolan exclave from
exile in neighboring states and Europe since the 2006 ceasefire and
peace agreement
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 12,615 (Democratic Republic of Congo)
IDPs: 61,700 (27-year civil war ending in 2002; 4 million IDPs
already have returned) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western
Europe and other African states, particularly South Africa
page last updated on January 13, 2011
======================================================================
@Anguilla (Central America and Caribbean)
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: 91 sq km
country comparison to the world: 226
land: 91 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about one-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:
14,766 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.5% (male 1,815/female 1,725)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 4,665/female 5,125)
65 years and over: 7.7% (male 534/female 572) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 33 years
male: 31.6 years
female: 34.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.215% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Birth rate:
13 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Death rate:
4.4 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Net migration rate:
13.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Urbanization:
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.032 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.49 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 212
male: 3.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.77 years
country comparison to the world: 18
male: 78.22 years
female: 83.39 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.75 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
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.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.5% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 131
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 03 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 (1967)
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 Alistair HARRISON (since 21 April 2009)
head of government: Chief Minister Hubert HUGHES (since 16 February
2010)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the
elected members of the House of Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed
chief minister by the governor
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats; 7 members elected by direct
popular vote, 2 ex officio members, and 2 appointed; members serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held on 15 February 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
AUM 4, AUF 2, APP 1
Judicial branch:
High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Anguilla Progressive Party or APP [Roy ROGERS]; Anguilla Strategic
Alternative or ANSA [Edison BAIRD]; 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 United Movement or AUM [Hubert HUGHES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, 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 a turquoise-blue field
below; the white in the background represents peace; the blue base
symbolizes the surrounding sea, as well as faith, youth, and hope;
the three dolphins stand for endurance, unity, and strength
National anthem:
name: "God Bless Anguilla"
lyrics/music: Alex RICHARDSON
note: local anthem adopted 1981; as a territory of the United
Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
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 has spurred the growth of the construction sector
contributing 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):
$175.4 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
$191.7 million (2008 est.)
$108.9 million (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$175.4 million (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-8.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,200 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 18%
services: 78% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
6,049 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 218
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)
country comparison to the world: 87
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% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 60
6.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.27% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
9.51% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$19.03 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 186
$19.57 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$458.9 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 171
$470.6 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$529.6 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
$447.7 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising
Industries:
tourism, boat building, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Current account balance:
-$42.87 million (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Exports:
$119.5 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Exports - commodities:
lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum
Imports:
$143 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 204
Imports - commodities:
fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles
Debt - external:
$8.8 million (1998)
country comparison to the world: 192
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006),
2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
note: fixed rate since 1976
Communications ::Anguilla
Telephones - main lines in use:
6,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 209
Telephones - mobile cellular:
27,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 204
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: modern internal telephone system
international: country code - 1-264; landing point for the East
Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other
islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin
Islands to Trinidad; microwave radio relay to island of Saint
Martin/Sint Maarten (2007)
Broadcast media:
1 private television station; multi-channel cable TV subscription
services are available; about 10 radio stations, one of which is
government-owned (2007)
Internet country code:
.ai
Internet hosts:
271 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 186
Internet users:
3,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 207
Transportation ::Anguilla
Airports:
3 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 195
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 175 km
country comparison to the world: 209
paved: 82 km
unpaved: 93 km (2004)
Ports and terminals:
Blowing Point, Road Bay
Military ::Anguilla
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,611 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,987
females age 16-49: 3,354 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 111
female: 111 (2010 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
page last updated on December 29, 2010
======================================================================
@Antarctica (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 or
an area of ocean. Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the
early 20th century, but generally the area saw little human
activity. Following World War II, however, there was an upsurge in
scientific research on the continent. A number of countries have set
up a range of year-round and seasonal stations, camps, and refuges
to support scientific research in 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 -2,540 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: 29 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); the population doing and
supporting science or engaged in the management and protection of
the Antarctic region varies from approximately 4,400 in summer to
1,100 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 - 4,490 total; Argentina 667,
Australia 200, Australia and Romania jointly 13, Belgium 20, Brazil
40, Bulgaria 18, Chile 359, China 90, Czech Republic 20, Ecuador 26,
Finland 20, France 125, France and Italy jointly 60, Germany 90,
India 65, Italy 102, Japan 125, South Korea 70, NZ 85, Norway 44,
Peru 28, Poland 40, Russia 429, South Africa 80, Spain 50, Sweden
20, Ukraine 24, UK 217, US 1,293, Uruguay 70 (2008-2009); winter
(June-August) station population - 1,106 total; Argentina 176,
Australia 62, Brazil 12, Chile 114, China 29, France 26, France and
Italy jointly 13, Germany 9, India 25, Japan 40, South Korea 18, NZ
10, Norway 7, Poland 12, Russia 148, South Africa 10, Ukraine 12, UK
37, US 337, Uruguay 9 (2009); research stations operated within the
Antarctic Treaty area (south of 60 degrees south latitude) by
National Antarctic Programs: year-round stations - 40 total;
Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1, Chile 6, China 2, France 1,
France and Italy jointly 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 (2009); a range of seasonal-only (summer)
stations, camps, and refuges - Argentina, Australia, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Brazil, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Finland,
France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand,
Norway, Peru, Poland, Romania (with Australia), Russia, South
Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, US, and Uruguay (2008-2009); 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 (May 2009
est.)
Government ::Antarctica
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Antarctica
Government type:
Antarctic Treaty Summary - the Antarctic region is governed by a
system known as the Antarctic Treaty System; the system includes: 1.
the Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into
force on 23 June 1961, which establishes the legal framework for the
management of Antarctica, 2. Recommendations and Measures adopted at
meetings of Antarctic Treaty countries, 3. The Convention for the
Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972), 4. The Convention for the
Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980), and 5. The
Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (1991);
the 33rd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was held in Punta del
Este, Uruguay in May 2010; at these periodic meetings, decisions are
made by consensus (not by vote) of all consultative member nations;
by April 2010, there were 48 treaty member nations: 28 consultative
and 20 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), Belarus (2006), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984),
Czech Republic (1962/1993), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001), Greece
(1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Monaco
(2008), Papua New Guinea (1981), Portugal (2010), 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;
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), Belarus (2006), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984),
Czech Republic (1962/1993), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001), Greece
(1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Monaco
(2008), Papua New Guinea (1981), Portugal (2010), 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;
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 annual meetings - known as
Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings - which include consultative
member nations, non-consultative member nations, observer
organizations, and expert organizations; 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; 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; note
- 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 its website at www.nsf.gov
Economy ::Antarctica
Economy - overview:
Scientific undertakings rather than commercial pursuits are the
predominate human activity in Antarctica. Fishing off the coast and
tourism, both based abroad, account for Antarctica's limited
economic activity. Antarctic fisheries, targeting three main species
- Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides and
D. mawsoni), mackerel icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari), and krill
(Euphausia superba) - reported landing 141,147 metric tons in
2008-09 (1 July - 30 June). (Estimated fishing is 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 (also known as Chilean sea bass), is a serious
problem. The CCAMLR determines the recommended catch limits for
marine species. A total of 37,858 tourists visited the Antarctic
Treaty area in the 2008-09 Antarctic summer, down from the 46,265
visitors in 2007-2008 (estimates provided to the Antarctic Treaty by
the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO);
this does not include passengers on overflights). Nearly all of them
were passengers on commercial (nongovernmental) ships and several
yachts that make trips during the summer.
Communications ::Antarctica
Telephones - main lines in use:
0; note - information for US bases only (2001)
country comparison to the world: 231
Telephone system:
general assessment: local systems at some research stations
domestic: commercial cellular networks operating in a small number
of locations
international: country code - none allocated; via satellite
(including mobile Inmarsat and Iridium systems) to and from all
research stations, ships, aircraft, and most field parties (2007)
Internet country code:
.aq
Internet hosts:
7,765 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 135
Transportation ::Antarctica
Airports:
26 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 126
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 6 (2010)
Heliports:
53
note: all year-round and seasonal stations operated by National
Antarctic Programs stations have some kind of helicopter landing
facilities, prepared (helipads) or unprepared (2010)
Ports and terminals:
McMurdo Station; most coastal stations have sparse and intermittent
offshore anchorages; a few stations have basic wharf facilities
Transportation - note:
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; 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
Commission on Antarctica (HCA), a commission of the 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 or data to IHO Chart coverage of the area
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:
the Antarctic Treaty freezes, and most states do not recognize, the
land and maritime territorial claims made by Argentina, Australia,
Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom (some
overlapping) for three-fourths of the continent; the US and Russia
reserve the right to make claims; no formal claims have been made in
the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west; the
International Whaling Commission created a sanctuary around the
entire continent to deter catches by countries claiming to conduct
scientific whaling; Australia has established a similar preserve in
the waters around its territorial claim
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@Antigua and Barbuda (Central America and Caribbean)
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)
country comparison to the world: 199
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
Total renewable water resources:
0.1 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.005 cu km/yr (60%/20%/20%)
per capita: 63 cu m/yr (1990)
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, Wetlands, 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 large western harbor
People ::Antigua and Barbuda
Population:
86,754 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.8% (male 11,660/female 11,303)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 26,597/female 30,414)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 2,456/female 3,202) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 30 years
male: 28.5 years
female: 31.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Birth rate:
16.43 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Death rate:
5.77 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Net migration rate:
2.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Urbanization:
urban population: 30% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 124
male: 17.41 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.26 years
country comparison to the world: 86
male: 73.27 years
female: 77.35 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.06 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
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 91%, mixed 4.4%, white 1.7%, other 2.9% (2001 census)
Religions:
Anglican 25.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.3%, Pentecostal 10.6%,
Moravian 10.5%, Roman Catholic 10.4%, Methodist 7.9%, Baptist 4.9%,
Church of God 4.5%, other Christian 5.4%, other 2%, none or
unspecified 5.8% (2001 census)
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.)
Education expenditures:
3.9% of GDP (2002)
country comparison to the world: 108
Government ::Antigua and Barbuda
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda
Government type:
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government
and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Saint John's
geographic coordinates: 17 07 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 the 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 Louisse LAKE-TACK (since 17 July
2007)
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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy 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 usually appointed prime minister by
the governor general
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (17 seats; members
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 on 12 March 2009
(next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - UPP 50.9%, ALP 47.2%,
BPM 1.1%; seats by party - UPP 9, ALP 7, BPM 1
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court consisting of a High Court of
Justice and a Court of Appeal (based in Saint Lucia; two judges of
the Supreme Court are residents of the islands and preside over the
Court of Summary Jurisdiction); Magistrates' Courts; member of the
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]; Barbuda People's Movement for
Change [Arthur NIBBS]; Barbudans for a Better Barbuda [Ordrick
SAMUEL]; United Progressive Party or UPP [Baldwin SPENCER] (a
coalition of three 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, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW,
PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, 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, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Antigua and Barbuda; 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; the sun symbolizes the dawn of a new era, black represents the
African heritage of most of the population, blue is for hope, and
red is for the dynamism of the people; the "V" stands for victory;
the successive yellow, blue, and white coloring is also meant to
evoke the country's tourist attractions of sun, sea, and sand
National anthem:
name: "Fair Antigua, We Salute Thee"
lyrics/music: Novelle Hamilton RICHARDS/Walter Garnet Picart CHAMBERS
note: adopted 1967; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the
national anthem, "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem
(see United Kingdom)
Economy ::Antigua and Barbuda
Economy - overview:
Tourism continues to dominate Antigua and Barbuda's economy,
accounting for nearly 60% of GDP and 40% of investment. 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 tourist arrivals from the US,
Canada, and Europe and potential damages from natural disasters.
After taking office in 2004, the SPENCER government adopted an
ambitious fiscal reform program, and was successful in reducing its
public debt-to-GDP ratio from 120% to about 90% in 2008. However,
the global financial crisis that began in 2008, has led to a
significant increase in the national debt, which topped 130% at the
end of 2010. The Antiguan economy experienced solid growth from 2003
to 2007, reaching over 12% in 2006 driven by a construction boom in
hotels and housing associated with the Cricket World Cup, but growth
dropped off in 2008 with the end of the boom. In 2009, Antigua's
economy was severely hit by the global economic crisis, suffering
from the collapse of its largest financial institution and a steep
decline in tourism. This decline continued in 2010 as the country
struggled with a yawning budget deficit.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.433 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
$1.494 billion (2009 est.)
$1.64 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.099 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-4.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
-8.9% (2009 est.)
1.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$16,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$17,400 (2009 est.)
$19,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 22%
services: 74.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
30,000 (1991)
country comparison to the world: 204
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 11%
services: 82% (1983)
Unemployment rate:
11% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 69
6.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.07% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
10.43% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$233.5 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 170
$266.7 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$1.186 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 157
$1.236 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.13 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
$1.002 billion (31 December 2007 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:
NA%
Electricity - production:
110 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Electricity - consumption:
102.3 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Oil - exports:
219 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Oil - imports:
4,690 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Current account balance:
-$211 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Exports:
$84.3 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Exports - commodities:
petroleum products, bedding, handicrafts, electronic components,
transport equipment, food and live animals
Imports:
$522.8 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Imports - commodities:
food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment,
manufactures, chemicals, oil
Debt - external:
$359.8 million (June 2006)
country comparison to the world: 166
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006),
2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
note: fixed rate since 1976
Communications ::Antigua and Barbuda
Telephones - main lines in use:
37,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 172
Telephones - mobile cellular:
134,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 178
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: good automatic telephone system
international: country code - 1-268; landing points for the East
Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) and the Global Caribbean Network (GCN)
submarine cable systems with links to other islands in the eastern
Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad;
satellite earth stations - 2; tropospheric scatter to Saba
(Netherlands) and Guadeloupe (France) (2007)
Broadcast media:
state-controlled Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Service (ABS)
operates 1 TV station; multi-channel cable TV subscription services
are available; 1 radio station operated by ABS; roughly 15 radio
stations, some broadcasting on multiple frequencies (2007)
Internet country code:
.ag
Internet hosts:
9,795 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 122
Internet users:
65,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 171
Transportation ::Antigua and Barbuda
Airports:
3 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 194
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 1,165 km
country comparison to the world: 181
paved: 384 km
unpaved: 781 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
total: 1,219
country comparison to the world: 9
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 53, cargo 703, carrier 6,
chemical tanker 4, container 412, liquefied gas 12, petroleum tanker
1, refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 16, vehicle carrier 2
foreign-owned: 1,186 (Albania 1, Colombia 1, Denmark 20, Estonia 20,
Germany 1050, Greece 5, Iceland 9, Isle of Man 2, Latvia 16,
Lithuania 4, Mexico 2, Netherlands 18, Norway 9, NZ 2, Poland 2,
Russia 3, Slovenia 1, Sweden 1, Switzerland 7, Turkey 7, US 6) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Saint John's
Military ::Antigua and Barbuda
Military branches:
Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (including Antigua and
Barbuda Coast Guard) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 20,909
females age 16-49: 23,815 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 17,475
females age 16-49: 19,764 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 763
female: 758 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 161
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
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Arctic Ocean (Oceans)
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. In recent years the polar ice pack has thinned allowing
for increased navigation and raising the possibility of future
sovereignty and shipping disputes among countries bordering 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
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:
the littoral states are engaged in various stages of demonstrating
the limits of their continental shelves beyond 200 nautical miles
from their declared baselines in accordance with Article 76,
paragraph 8, of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;
record summer melting of sea ice in the Arctic has restimulated
interest in maritime shipping lanes and sea floor exploration
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@Argentina (South America)
Introduction ::Argentina
Background:
In 1816, the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared their
independence from Spain. After Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay went
their separate ways, the area that remained became Argentina. The
country's population and culture were 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
Federalists and Unitarians and between civilian and military
factions. After World War II, an era of Peronist populism and direct
and indirect military interference in subsequent governments was
followed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy
returned in 1983 after a failed bid to seize the Falkland (Malvinas)
Islands by force, 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 successive resignations
of several presidents.
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: 2,780,400 sq km
country comparison to the world: 8
land: 2,736,690 sq km
water: 43,710 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 9,861 km
border countries: Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,261 km, Chile 5,308 km,
Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 580 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)
Total renewable water resources:
814 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 29.19 cu km/yr (17%/9%/74%)
per capita: 753 cu m/yr (2000)
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 in some areas
volcanism: Argentina experiences volcanic activity in the Andes
Mountains along the Chilean border; Copahue (elev. 2,997 m, 9,833
ft) last erupted in 2000; other historically active volcanoes
include Llullaillaco, Maipo, Planchon-Peteroa, San Jose, Tromen,
Tupungatito, and Viedma
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:
41,343,201 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.6% (male 5,369,477/female 5,122,260)
15-64 years: 63.5% (male 12,961,725/female 13,029,265)
65 years and over: 10.8% (male 1,819,057/female 2,611,800) (2010
est.)
Median age:
total: 30.3 years
male: 29.2 years
female: 31.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.036% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Birth rate:
17.75 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Death rate:
7.39 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Urbanization:
urban population: 92% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.052 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 (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.11 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 148
male: 12.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.76 years
country comparison to the world: 66
male: 73.52 years
female: 80.17 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.33 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
120,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
7,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
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), Italian, English, German, French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.2%
male: 97.2%
female: 97.2% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 17 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 71
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 40 W
time difference: UTC-3 (3 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: none scheduled for 2010
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
(Tierra del Fuego), 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; amended many times starting in 1860
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 Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER (since 10
December 2007); Vice President Julio COBOS (since 10 December 2007);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER (since
10 December 2007); Vice President Julio COBOS (since 10 December
2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
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 on 28 October 2007 (next election to be held in
2011)
election results: Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER elected president;
percent of vote - Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER 45%, Elisa CARRIO
23%, Roberto LAVAGNA 17%, Alberto Rodriguez SAA 8%
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 serve six-year
terms) and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; members are elected
by direct vote; one-half of the members elected every two years to
serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 28 June 2009 (next to be held in
2011); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 28 June 2009 (next to be
held in 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA;
seats by bloc or party - FpV 8, ACyS 14, PJ disidente 2; Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA; seats by bloc or
party - FpV 45, ACyS 42, PRO 20, PJ disidente 12, other 8; note - as
of 13 January 2009, the composition of the entire legislature is as
follows: Senate - seats by bloc or party - FpV 36, ACyS 23, PJ
disidente 9, other 4; Chamber of Deputies - seats by bloc or party -
FpV 113, ACyS 77, PRO 26, PJ disidente 17, other 24
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (the Supreme Court judges are
appointed by the president with approval of the Senate)
note: the Supreme Court has seven judges; the Argentine Congress in
2006 passed a bill to gradually reduce the number of Supreme Court
judges to five
Political parties and leaders:
Civic and Social Accord or ACyS (a broad center-left
alliance-including the CC, UCR, and Socialist parties-created ahead
of the 2009 legislative elections); Civic Coalition or CC (a broad
coalition loosely affiliated with Elisa CARRIO); Dissident Peronists
or PJ Disidente (a sector of the Justicialist Party opposed to the
Kirchners); Front for Victory or FpV (a broad coalition, including
elements of the UCR and numerous provincial parties) [Cristina
FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER]; Interbloque Federal or IF (a broad coalition
of approximately 12 parties including PRO); Justicialist Party or PJ
[Daniel SCIOLI]; Radical Civic Union or UCR [Ernesto SANZ];
Republican Proposal or PRO [Mauricio MACRI] (including Federal
Recreate Movement or RECREAR [Esteban BULLRICH]; Socialist Party or
PS [Ruben GIUSTINIANI]; Union For All [Patricia BULLRICH]
(associated with the Civic Coalition); numerous provincial parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Argentine Association of Pharmaceutical Labs (CILFA); Argentine
Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine Rural
Confederation or CRA (small to medium landowners' association);
Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association); 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); White and Blue CGT
(dissident CGT labor confederation); Roman Catholic Church
other: business organizations; Peronist-dominated labor movement;
Piquetero groups (popular protest organizations that can be either
pro or anti-government); students
International organization participation:
AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CAN
(associate), FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA,
Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL,
OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, RG, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer),
UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
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 Vilma MARTINEZ
embassy: Avenida Colombia 4300, C1425GMN Buenos Aires
mailing address: international mail: use embassy street address; APO
address: US Embassy Buenos Aires, 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; the colors represent the clear
skies and snow of the Andes; the sun symbol commemorates the
appearance of the sun through cloudy skies on 25 May 1810 during the
first mass demonstration in favor of independence; the sun features
are those of Inti, the Inca god of the sun
National anthem:
name: "Himno Nacional Argentino" (Argentine National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Vicente LOPEZ y PLANES/Jose Blas PARERA
note: adopted 1813; Vicente LOPEZ was inspired to write the anthem
after watching a play about the 1810 May Revolution against Spain
Economy ::Argentina
Economy - overview:
Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate
population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a
diversified industrial base. Although one of the world's wealthiest
countries 100 years ago, Argentina suffered during most of the 20th
century from recurring economic crises, persistent fiscal and
current account deficits, high inflation, mounting external debt,
and capital flight. A severe depression, growing public and external
indebtedness, and a bank run culminated in 2001 in the most serious
economic, social, and political crisis in the country's turbulent
history. Interim President Adolfo RODRIGUEZ SAA declared a default -
the largest in history - on the government's foreign debt in
December of that year, and abruptly resigned only a few days after
taking office. His successor, Eduardo DUHALDE, announced an end to
the peso's decade-long 1-to-1 peg to the US dollar in early 2002.
The economy bottomed out that year, with real GDP 18% smaller than
in 1998 and almost 60% of Argentines under the poverty line. Real
GDP rebounded to grow by an average 8.5% annually over the
subsequent six years, taking advantage of previously idled
industrial capacity and labor, an audacious debt restructuring and
reduced debt burden, excellent international financial conditions,
and expansionary monetary and fiscal policies. Inflation also
increased, however, during the administration of President Nestor
KIRCHNER, which responded with price restraints on businesses, as
well as export taxes and restraints, and beginning in early 2007,
with understating inflation data. Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER
succeeded her husband as President in late 2007, and the rapid
economic growth of previous years began to slow sharply the
following year as government policies held back exports and the
world economy fell into recession. The economy has rebounded from
the 2009 recession, but the government's continued reliance on
expansionary fiscal and monetary policies risks exacerbating already
high inflation, which remains under-reported by official statistics.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$596 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$554.5 billion (2009 est.)
$571.6 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$351 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
-3% (2009 est.)
5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$13,700 (2009 est.)
$14,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.5%
industry: 31.6%
services: 59.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
16.62 million
country comparison to the world: 36
note: urban areas only (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 23%
services: 72% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
8.7% (2009 est.)
note: based on official data, which may understate unemployment
Population below poverty line:
30% (January-June 2010)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 32.6% (2009)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
45.7 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 38
Investment (gross fixed):
22% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Public debt:
50.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
48.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
22% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
16% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA%
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15.66% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
19.47% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$41.66 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 46
$35.33 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$112.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$85.18 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$113.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$84.92 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$48.93 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 48
$52.31 billion (31 December 2008)
$86.68 billion (31 December 2007)
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:
6.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Electricity - production:
109.5 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Electricity - consumption:
99.21 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Electricity - exports:
2.628 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
10.28 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
796,300 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Oil - consumption:
622,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Oil - exports:
314,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Oil - imports:
52,290 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Oil - proved reserves:
2.386 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Natural gas - production:
41.36 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Natural gas - consumption:
43.14 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Natural gas - exports:
890 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Natural gas - imports:
2.66 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Natural gas - proved reserves:
398.4 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Current account balance:
$6.976 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$11.29 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$68.01 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
$55.67 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
soybeans and derivatives, petroleum and gas, vehicles, corn, wheat
Exports - partners:
Brazil 18.78%, China 9.26%, Chile 7.11%, US 6.38% (2009)
Imports:
$52.61 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$37.14 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, motor vehicles, petroleum and natural gas, organic
chemicals, plastics
Imports - partners:
Brazil 31.12%, US 13.69%, China 10.26%, Germany 4.69% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$53.61 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$48.03 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$128.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$118.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$86.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$80.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$30.16 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$29.46 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar - 3.8983 (2010), 3.7101 (2009),
3.1636 (2008), 3.1105 (2007), 3.0543 (2006)
Communications ::Argentina
Telephones - main lines in use:
9.764 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 22
Telephones - mobile cellular:
51.891 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 22
Telephone system:
general assessment: the "Telecommunications Liberalization Plan of
1998" opened the telecommunications market to competition and
foreign investment encouraging the growth of modern
telecommunications technology; fiber-optic cable trunk lines are
being installed between all major cities; major networks are
entirely digital and the availability of telephone service is
improving
domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber-optic cable, and a domestic
satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network;
fixed-line teledensity is increasing gradually and mobile-cellular
subscribership is increasing rapidly; broadband Internet services
are gaining ground
international: country code - 54; landing point for the Atlantis-2,
UNISUR, South America-1, and South American Crossing/Latin American
Nautilus submarine cable systems that provide links to Europe,
Africa, South and Central America, and US; satellite earth stations
- 112; 2 international gateways near Buenos Aires (2009)
Broadcast media:
government owns a TV station and a radio network; more than 2 dozen
TV stations and hundreds of privately-owned radio stations; high
rate of cable TV subscription usage (2007)
Internet country code:
.ar
Internet hosts:
6.025 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 16
Internet users:
13.694 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 28
Transportation ::Argentina
Airports:
1,141 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 6
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 156
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 65
914 to 1,523 m: 51
under 914 m: 9 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 985
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 43
914 to 1,523 m: 530
under 914 m: 410 (2010)
Heliports:
2 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 28,248 km; liquid petroleum gas 41 km; oil 5,977 km; refined
products 3,636 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 31,409 km
country comparison to the world: 8
broad gauge: 27,301 km 1.676-m gauge (94 km electrified)
standard gauge: 2,780 km 1.435-m gauge (26 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,328 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 231,374 km
country comparison to the world: 22
paved: 69,412 km (includes 734 km of expressways)
unpaved: 161,962 km (2004)
Waterways:
11,000 km (2007)
country comparison to the world: 11
Merchant marine:
total: 43
country comparison to the world: 74
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 7, chemical tanker 4, container 1,
passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 23, refrigerated cargo 2
foreign-owned: 12 (Brazil 1, Chile 6, Spain 3, UK 2)
registered in other countries: 17 (Liberia 3, Panama 7, Paraguay 5,
Uruguay 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Arroyo Seco, Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, La Plata, Punta Colorada,
Rosario, San Lorenzo-San Martin
Military ::Argentina
Military branches:
Argentine Army (Ejercito Argentino), Navy of the Argentine Republic
(Armada Republica; includes naval aviation and naval infantry),
Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Argentina, FAA) (2011)
Military service age and obligation:
18-24 years of age for voluntary military service (18-21 requires
parental permission); no conscription (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 9,934,765
females age 16-49: 9,868,008 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,366,206
females age 16-49: 8,344,321 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 340,570
female: 323,953 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.8% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 146
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 implementing a
modernization plan aimed at making the ground forces lighter and
more responsive (2008)
Transnational Issues ::Argentina
Disputes - international:
Argentina continues to assert its claims to the UK-administered
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), 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; 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/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim
River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question; in 2006,
Argentina went to the ICJ to protest, on environmental grounds, the
construction of two pulp mills in Uruguay on the Uruguay River,
which forms the boundary; both parties presented their pleadings in
2007 with Argentina's reply in January and Uruguay's rejoinder in
July 2008; the joint boundary commission, established by Chile and
Argentina in 2001 has yet to map and demarcate the delimited
boundary in the inhospitable Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de
Hielo Sur)
Illicit drugs:
a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe, heroin headed
for the US, and ephedrine and pseudoephedrine headed for Mexico;
some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area;
law enforcement corruption; a source for precursor chemicals;
increasing domestic consumption of drugs in urban centers,
especially cocaine base and synthetic drugs (2008)
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Armenia (Middle East)
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 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, ethnic 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 closed the common border with Armenia in 1994
because of the Armenian separatists' control of Nagorno-Karabakh and
surrounding areas, further hampering Armenian economic growth. In
2009, senior Armenian leaders began pursuing rapprochement with
Turkey, aiming to secure an opening of the border; this process is
currently dormant.
Geography ::Armenia
Location:
Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
40 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 29,743 sq km
country comparison to the world: 142
land: 28,203 sq km
water: 1,540 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, bauxite
Land use:
arable land: 16.78%
permanent crops: 2.01%
other: 81.21% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,860 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
10.5 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.95 cu km/yr (30%/4%/66%)
per capita: 977 cu m/yr (2000)
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, Environmental Modification,
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:
2,966,802 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.2% (male 289,119/female 252,150)
15-64 years: 71.1% (male 986,764/female 1,123,708)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 122,996/female 192,267) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.9 years
male: 29.1 years
female: 34.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.016% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Birth rate:
12.74 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Death rate:
8.42 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Net migration rate:
-4.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Urbanization:
urban population: 64% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.133 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 19.5 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 102
male: 24.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.96 years
country comparison to the world: 118
male: 69.33 years
female: 77.07 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.36 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,400 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
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 (official) 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001
census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
3% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 147
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 10 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 the 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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Serzh SARGSIAN (since 9 April 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Tigran SARGSIAN (since 9 April
2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 19 February 2008
(next to be held in February 2013); prime minister appointed by the
president based on majority or plurality support in parliament; the
prime minister and Council of Ministers must resign if the National
Assembly refuses to accept their program
election results: Serzh SARGSIAN elected president; percent of vote
- Serzh SARGSIAN 52.9%, Levon TER-PETROSSIAN 21.5%, Artur
BAGHDASARIAN 16.7%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131
seats; members elected by popular vote, 90 members elected by party
list and 41 by direct vote; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 12 May 2007 (next to be held in the spring
of 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - HHK 33.9%, Prosperous
Armenia 15.1%, ARF (Dashnak) 13.2%, Rule of Law 7.1%, Heritage Party
6%, other 24.7%; seats by party - HHK 64, Prosperous Armenia 18, ARF
(Dashnak) 16, Rule of Law 9, Heritage Party 7, independent 17
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Court of Cassation (Appeals Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Armenian National Congress or ANC (bloc of independent and
opposition parties) [Levon TER-PETROSSIAN]; Armenian National
Movement or ANM [Ararat ZURABIAN]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation
("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Hrant MARKARIAN]; Heritage Party [Raffi
HOVHANNISIAN]; People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHIAN];
Prosperous Armenia [Gagik TSARUKIAN]; Republican Party of Armenia or
HHK [Serzh SARGSIAN]; Rule of Law Party (Orinats Yerkir) [Artur
BAGHDASARIAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Aylentrank (Impeachment Alliance) [Nikol PASHINIAN]; Yerkrapah Union
[Manvel GRIGORIAN]
International organization participation:
ADB, BSEC, CE, CIS, CSTO, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer),
OIF (associate member), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 Marie L. YOVANOVITCH
embassy: 1 American Ave., Yerevan 0082
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; the
color red recalls the blood shed for liberty, blue the Armenian
skies as well as hope, and orange the land and the courage of the
workers who farm it
National anthem:
name: "Mer Hayrenik""(Our Fatherland)
lyrics/music: Mikael NALBANDIAN/Barsegh KANACHYAN
note: adopted 1991; based on the anthem of the Democratic Republic
of Armenia (1918-1922) but with different lyrics
Economy ::Armenia
Economy - overview:
After several years of double-digit economic growth, Armenia faced a
severe economic recession with GDP declining more than 14% in 2009,
despite large loans from multilateral institutions. Sharp declines
in the construction sector and workers' remittances, particularly
from Russia, were the main reasons for the downturn. The economy
began to recover in 2010 with nearly 5% growth. Under the old Soviet
central planning system, Armenia developed a modern industrial
sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured
goods to sister republics, in exchange for raw materials and energy.
Armenia has since switched to small-scale agriculture and away from
the large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. Armenia has
managed to reduce poverty, slash inflation, stabilize its currency,
and privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. Since the
breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia had made progress in
implementing some economic reforms, including privatization, price
reforms, and prudent fiscal policies, but geographic isolation, a
narrow export base, and pervasive monopolies in important business
sectors have made Armenia particularly vulnerable to the sharp
deterioration in the global economy and the economic downturn in
Russia. The conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic
Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh contributed to a
severe economic decline in the early 1990s and Armenia's borders
with Turkey remain closed until 2010, when Turkey and Armenia signed
an accord to reestablish diplomatic relations. Armenia is
particularly dependent on Russian commercial and governmental
support and most key Armenian infrastructure is Russian-owned and/or
managed, especially in the energy sector. The electricity
distribution system was privatized in 2002 and bought by Russia's
RAO-UES in 2005. Construction of a pipeline to deliver natural gas
from Iran to Armenia was completed in December 2008, and gas
deliveries are slated to expand due to the April 2010 completion of
the Yerevan Thermal Power Plant. Armenia has some mineral deposits
(copper, gold, bauxite). Pig iron, unwrought copper, and other
nonferrous metals are Armenia's highest valued exports. Armenia's
severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by international
aid, remittances from Armenians working abroad, and foreign direct
investment. Armenia joined the WTO in January 2003. The government
made some improvements in tax and customs administration in recent
years, but anti-corruption measures have been ineffective and the
current economic downturn has led to a sharp drop in tax revenue and
forced the government to accept large loan packages from Russia, the
IMF, and other international financial institutions. Armenia will
need to pursue additional economic reforms in order to regain
economic growth and improve economic competitiveness and employment
opportunities, especially given its economic isolation from two of
its nearest neighbors, Turkey and Azerbaijan.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$17.27 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
$16.5 billion (2009 est.)
$19.23 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$8.83 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
-14.2% (2009 est.)
6.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
$5,600 (2009 est.)
$6,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 22%
industry: 46.6%
services: 31.4% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.481 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 46.2%
industry: 15.6%
services: 38.2% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Population below poverty line:
26.5% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 41.3% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 77
44.4 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
33.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
3.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 56
7.25% (2 December 2008)
note: this is the Refinancing Rate, the key monetary policy
instrument of the Armenian National Bank
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
18.76% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
17.05% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.131 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 138
$1.071 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$3.507 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
$3.339 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.821 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
$1.733 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$140.5 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 110
$176 million (31 December 2008)
$105 million (31 December 2007)
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:
8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Electricity - production:
5.584 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Electricity - consumption:
4.776 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Electricity - exports:
451.3 million kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to Georgia;
includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
418.7 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from Iran
(2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Oil - consumption:
49,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Oil - imports:
45,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Natural gas - consumption:
1.93 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Natural gas - imports:
1.93 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Current account balance:
-$1.138 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
-$1.326 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$846 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
$722.3 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
pig iron, unwrought copper, nonferrous metals, diamonds, mineral
products, foodstuffs, energy
Exports - partners:
Germany 16.47%, Russia 15.45%, US 9.64%, Bulgaria 8.6%, Georgia
7.57%, Netherlands 7.48%, Belgium 6.71%, Canada 4.91% (2009)
Imports:
$2.988 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
$2.817 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds
Imports - partners:
Russia 24.02%, China 8.72%, Ukraine 6.15%, Turkey 5.39%, Germany
5.36%, Iran 4.07% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.247 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
$2.004 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$5.227 billion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 103
$3.449 billion (31 December 2008)
Exchange rates:
drams (AMD) per US dollar - 374.29 (2010), 363.28 (2009), 303.93
(2008), 344.06 (2007), 414.69 (2006)
Communications ::Armenia
Telephones - main lines in use:
630,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 92
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.62 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 120
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications investments have made major
inroads in modernizing and upgrading the outdated telecommunications
network inherited from the Soviet era; now 100% privately owned and
undergoing modernization and expansion; mobile-cellular services
monopoly terminated in late 2004 and a second provider began
operations in mid-2005
domestic: reliable modern fixed-line and mobile-cellular services
are available across Yerevan in major cities and towns; significant
but ever-shrinking gaps remain in mobile-cellular coverage in rural
areas
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, through the Moscow international switch, and by
satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 3
(2008)
Broadcast media:
2 public television networks operating alongside more than 40
privately-owned television stations that provide local to near
nationwide coverage; major Russian broadcast stations are widely
available; subscription cable TV services are available in most
regions; Public Radio of Armenia is a national, state-run broadcast
network that operates alongside about 20 privately-owned radio
stations; several major international broadcasters are available
(2008)
Internet country code:
.am
Internet hosts:
65,279 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 83
Internet users:
208,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 138
Transportation ::Armenia
Airports:
11 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 153
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 2,233 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 845 km
country comparison to the world: 99
broad gauge: 845 km 1.520-m gauge (818 km electrified)
note: some lines are out of service (2008)
Roadways:
total: 8,888 km
country comparison to the world: 139
paved: 7,079 km (includes 1,561 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,809 km (2008)
Military ::Armenia
Military branches:
Armenian Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Air Force and Air Defense;
"Nagorno-Karabakh Republic": Nagorno-Karabakh Self Defense Force
(NKSDF) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-27 years of age for voluntary or compulsory military service;
2-year conscript service obligation (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 809,293
females age 16-49: 862,679 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 644,195
females age 16-49: 724,085 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 24,611
female: 22,682 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.8% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 49
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 and Nagorno-Karabakh; 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; Armenians
continue to emigrate, primarily to Russia, seeking employment
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 113,295 (Azerbaijan)
IDPs: 8,400 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh,
majority have returned home since 1994 ceasefire) (2007)
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
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Aruba (Central America and Caribbean)
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: 180 sq km
country comparison to the world: 217
land: 180 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: Ceru 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:
hurricanes; lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely
threatened
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:
104,589
country comparison to the world: 192
note: estimate based on a revision of the base population,
fertility, and mortality numbers, as well as a revision of 1985-99
migration estimates from outmigration to inmigration, which is
assumed to continue into the future; the new results are consistent
with the 2000 census (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.1% (male 9,921/female 9,758)
15-64 years: 70.3% (male 34,676/female 37,752)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 4,351/female 6,607) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 38 years
male: 36.2 years
female: 39.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.457% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Birth rate:
12.77 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Death rate:
7.76 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Net migration rate:
9.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Urbanization:
urban population: 47% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.021 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: 0.9 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.34 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 131
male: 17.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.51 years
country comparison to the world: 82
male: 72.47 years
female: 78.61 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.85 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
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%, other 20%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 80.8%, Evangelist 4.1%, Protestant 2.5%, Jehovah's
Witnesses 1.5%, Methodist 1.2%, Jewish 0.2%, other 5.1%, none or
unspecified 4.6%
Languages:
Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 66.3%,
Spanish 12.6%, English (widely spoken) 7.7%, Dutch (official) 5.8%,
other 2.2%, unspecified or unknown 5.3% (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 97.3%
male: 97.5%
female: 97.1% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 74
Government ::Aruba
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Aruba
Dependency status:
constituent 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 31 N, 70 02 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 (1976)
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 Michiel Godfried (Mike) EMAN
(since 30 October 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy 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 in 2009 (next to be held by 2013)
election results: Mike EMAN 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 on 25 September 2009 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - AVP 48%, MEP 35.9%, PDR
5.7%; seats by party - AVP 12, MEP 8, PDR 1
Judicial branch:
Common Court of Justice, Joint High Court of Justice (judges
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:
other: environmental groups
International organization participation:
Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITUC, UNESCO
(associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU
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
Curacao 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; the star represents Aruba and its red soil and
white beaches, its four points the four major languages (Papiamento,
Dutch, Spanish, English) as well as the four points of a compass, to
indicate that its inhabitants come from all over the world; the blue
symbolizes Caribbean waters and skies; the stripes represent the
island's two main "industries": the flow of tourists to the
sun-drenched beaches and the flow of minerals from the earth
National anthem:
name: "Aruba Deshi Tera" (Aruba Precious Country)
lyrics/music: Juan Chabaya 'Padu' LAMPE/Rufo Inocencio WEVER
note: local anthem adopted 1986; as part of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands, "Het Wilhelmus" is official (see Netherlands)
Economy ::Aruba
Economy - overview:
Tourism is the mainstay of the small open Aruban economy, together
with offshore banking. Oil refining and storage ended in 2009. 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. Tourist arrivals rebounded strongly following a dip
after the 11 September 2001 attacks. The government has made cutting
the budget and trade deficits a high priority.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.258 billion (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
$2.205 billion (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.258 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.4% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$21,800 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.4%
industry: 33.3%
services: 66.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
41,500 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
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.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Public debt:
46.3% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 57
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 100
Central bank discount rate:
3% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 85
5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.77% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
11.23% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$865 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 140
$781 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$1.771 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
$1.671 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.333 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 140
$1.321 billion (31 December 2008)
Agriculture - products:
aloes; livestock; fish
Industries:
tourism, transshipment facilities
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
850 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Electricity - consumption:
790.5 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
2,235 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Oil - consumption:
8,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Oil - exports:
231,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Oil - imports:
236,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Exports:
$124 million (2006); note - includes oil reexports
country comparison to the world: 188
Exports - commodities:
live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery
and electrical equipment, transport equipment
Exports - partners:
Panama 23.84%, Netherlands Antilles 20.49%, Colombia 17.48%,
Venezuela 12.61%, US 9.12%, Netherlands 7.5% (2009)
Imports:
$1.054 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 169
Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and
reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
US 49.51%, Netherlands 16.15%, UK 4.94% (2009)
Debt - external:
$478.6 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Exchange rates:
Aruban guilders/florins (AWG) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.79
(2006), 1.79 (2005), 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003)
Communications ::Aruba
Telephones - main lines in use:
38,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 169
Telephones - mobile cellular:
128,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 180
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern fully automatic telecommunications system
domestic: increased competition through privatization; 3
mobile-cellular service providers are now licensed
international: country code - 297; landing site for the PAN-AM
submarine telecommunications cable system that extends from the US
Virgin Islands through Aruba to Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, and the
west coast of South America; extensive interisland microwave radio
relay links (2007)
Broadcast media:
2 commercial television stations; cable TV subscription service
provides access to foreign channels; about 20 commercial radio
stations broadcast (2007)
Internet country code:
.aw
Internet hosts:
25,080 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 101
Internet users:
24,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 187
Transportation ::Aruba
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 210
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
Military ::Aruba
Military branches:
no regular military forces (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 24,779
females age 16-49: 26,090 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 20,398
females age 16-49: 21,371 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 738
female: 715 (2010 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; relatively high percentage
of population consumes cocaine
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands (Australia-Oceania)
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,
became a marine reserve in 2000.
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:
Oceania
Area:
total: 5 sq km
country comparison to the world: 246
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
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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:
illegal killing of protected wildlife by traditional Indonesian
fisherman, as well as fishing by non-traditional Indonesian vessels,
are ongoing problems
Geography - note:
Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983;
Cartier Island Marine Reserve established in 2000
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; access to East and Middle
Islands is by permit only
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 Government
Attorney-General's Department
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:
as the closest Australian territory to Indonesia, these islands
became the target of human traffickers for the landing of illegal
immigrants; in 2001, the Australian government removed these islands
from the Australian Migration Zone making illegal arrivals
ineligible for temporary visas and entry into Australia
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@Atlantic Ocean (Oceans)
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; the International Maritime Bureau reports the
territorial waters of littoral states and offshore Atlantic waters
as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships,
particularly in the Gulf of Guinea off West Africa, the east coast
of Brazil, and the Caribbean Sea; numerous commercial vessels have
been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway;
hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargoes stolen; crews have
been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen
Transnational Issues ::Atlantic Ocean
Disputes - international:
some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@Australia (Australia-Oceania)
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 climate-change issues such as the depletion of the
ozone layer and more frequent droughts, 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: 7,741,220 sq km
country comparison to the world: 6
land: 7,682,300 sq km
water: 58,920 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, rare earth elements, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds,
natural gas, petroleum
note: Australia is the world's largest net exporter of coal
accounting for 29% of global coal exports
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)
Total renewable water resources:
398 cu km (1995)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 24.06 cu km/yr (15%/10%/75%)
per capita: 1,193 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires
volcanism: volcanic activity occurs on the Heard and McDonald Islands
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, 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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population
concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; the
invigorating 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:
21,515,754 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.6% (male 2,026,975/female 1,923,828)
15-64 years: 67.9% (male 7,318,743/female 7,121,613)
65 years and over: 13.5% (male 1,306,329/female 1,565,153) (2010
est.)
Median age:
total: 37.5 years
male: 36.8 years
female: 38.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.171% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Birth rate:
12.39 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Death rate:
6.81 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Net migration rate:
6.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Urbanization:
urban population: 89% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.055 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.67 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 192
male: 5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 81.72 years
country comparison to the world: 9
male: 79.33 years
female: 84.25 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.78 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
18,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Nationality:
noun: Australian(s)
adjective: Australian
Ethnic groups:
white 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%
Religions:
Catholic 25.8%, Anglican 18.7%, Uniting Church 5.7%, Presbyterian
and Reformed 3%, Eastern Orthodox 2.7%, other Christian 7.9%,
Buddhist 2.1%, Muslim 1.7%, other 2.4%, unspecified 11.3%, none
18.7% (2006 Census)
Languages:
English 78.5%, Chinese 2.5%, Italian 1.6%, Greek 1.3%, Arabic 1.2%,
Vietnamese 1%, other 8.2%, unspecified 5.7% (2006 Census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 21 years
male: 20 years
female: 21 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
4.7% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 83
Government ::Australia
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form: Australia
Government type:
federal parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Canberra
geographic coordinates: 35 17 S, 149 13 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends
first Sunday in April
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,
Macquarie Island, Norfolk Island
Independence:
1 January 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies)
National holiday:
Australia Day, 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorated as the
anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New
Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25
April (1915)
Constitution:
9 July 1900; effective on 1 January 1901
Legal system:
based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
with reservations; accepts International Criminal Court jurisdiction
with conditions
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 Quentin BRYCE (since 5
September 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Julia Eileen GILLARD (since 24
June 2010); Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Maxwell SWAN (since 24 June
2010)
cabinet: prime minister nominates, from among members of Parliament,
candidates who are subsequently sworn in by the governor general to
serve as government ministers
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy 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
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats; 12
members 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 vote to serve
terms of up to three-years; no state can have fewer than 5
representatives)
elections: half-Senate - last held on 21 August 2010; House of
Representatives - last held on 21 August 2010 (the latest a
simultaneous half-Senate and House of Representative elections can
be held is 2014)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Liberal/National Party 34, Australian Labor Party 31, Greens
9, others 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party -
Australian Labor Party 38.1%, Liberal Party 30.4%, Greens 11.5%,
Liberal National Party of Queensland 9.3%, independents 6.6%, The
Nationals 3.7%, Country Liberals 0.3%; seats by party - Australian
Labor Party 72, Liberal Party 44, Liberal National Party of
Queensland 21, The Nationals 7, Country Liberals 1, Greens 1,
independents 4
Judicial branch:
High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointed
by the governor general acting on the advice of the government)
Political parties and leaders:
Australian Greens [Bob BROWN]; Australian Labor Party [Julia
GILLARD]; Family First Party [Steve FIELDING]; Liberal Party [Tony
ABBOTT]; The Nationals [Warren TRUSS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: business groups; environmental groups; social groups; trade
unions
International organization participation:
ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group,
BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE
(partner), Paris Club, PCA, PIF, SAARC (observer), Sparteca, SPC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kim Christian BEAZLEY
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 Jeffrey L. BLEICH
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
National anthem:
name: "Advance Australia Fair"
lyrics/music: Peter Dodds McCORMICK
note: adopted 1984; although originally written in the late 19th
century, the anthem did not become official until 1984; as a
Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save
the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom)
Economy ::Australia
Economy - overview:
Australia's abundant and diverse natural resources attract high
levels of foreign investment and include extensive reserves of coal,
iron ore, copper, gold, natural gas, uranium, and renewable energy
sources. A series of major investments, such as the US$40 billion
Gorgon Liquid Natural Gas project, will significantly expand the
resources sector. Australia also has a large services sector and is
a significant exporter of natural resources, energy, and food. Key
tenets of Australia's trade policy include support for open trade
and the successful culmination of the Doha Round of multilateral
trade negotiations, particularly for agriculture and services. The
Australian economy grew for 17 consecutive years before the global
financial crisis. Subsequently, the Rudd government introduced a
fiscal stimulus package worth over US$50 billion to offset the
effect of the slowing world economy, while the Reserve Bank of
Australia cut interest rates to historic lows. These policies - and
continued demand for commodities, especially from China - helped the
Australian economy rebound after just one quarter of negative
growth. The economy grew by 1.2% during 2009 - the best performance
in the OECD. Unemployment, originally expected to reach 8-10%,
peaked at 5.7% in late 2009 and fell to 5.1% in 2010. As a result of
an improved economy, the budget deficit is expected to peak below
4.2% of GDP and the government could return to budget surpluses as
early as 2015. Australia was one of the first advanced economies to
raise interest rates, with seven rate hikes between October 2009 and
November 2010. The GILLARD government is focused on raising
Australia's economic productivity to ensure the sustainability of
growth, and continues to manage the symbiotic, but sometimes tense,
economic relationship with China. Australia is engaged in the
Trans-Pacific Partnership talks and ongoing free trade agreement
negotiations with China, Japan, and Korea.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$889.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
$861.1 billion (2009 est.)
$850.9 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.22 trillion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
1.2% (2009 est.)
2.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$41,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
$40,500 (2009 est.)
$40,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 24.8%
services: 71.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
11.62 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 21.1%
services: 75% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
5.6% (2009 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:
30.5 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 110
35.2 (1994)
Investment (gross fixed):
27.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Public debt:
22.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
22.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
1.8% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4% (31 March 2010)
country comparison to the world: 106
4.25% (3 December 2008)
note: this is the Reserve Bank of Australia's "cash rate target," or
policy rate
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
6.02% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
8.91% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$347.1 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 13
$290.8 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.134 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$976.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.731 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
$1.407 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.258 trillion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 13
$675.6 billion (31 December 2008)
$1.298 trillion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry
Industries:
mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing,
chemicals, steel
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Electricity - production:
239.9 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Electricity - consumption:
222 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
589,200 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Oil - consumption:
946,300 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Oil - exports:
311,900 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Oil - imports:
716,700 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Oil - proved reserves:
3.318 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Natural gas - production:
42.33 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Natural gas - consumption:
26.59 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Natural gas - exports:
22.3 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Natural gas - imports:
6.56 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Natural gas - proved reserves:
3.115 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Current account balance:
-$35.23 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
-$41.33 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$210.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$154.8 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and
transport equipment
Exports - partners:
China 21.81%, Japan 19.19%, South Korea 7.88%, India 7.51%, US
4.95%, UK 4.37%, NZ 4.1% (2009)
Imports:
$200.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$160.4 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines,
telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum
products
Imports - partners:
China 17.94%, US 11.26%, Japan 8.36%, Thailand 5.81%, Singapore
5.54%, Germany 5.3% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$38.62 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$41.74 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.169 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$1.094 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$329.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$295.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$245.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
$221.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.1151 (2010), 1.2822
(2009), 1.2059 (2008), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006)
Communications ::Australia
Telephones - main lines in use:
9.02 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 24
Telephones - mobile cellular:
24.22 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 37
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international service
domestic: domestic satellite system; significant use of
radiotelephone in areas of low population density; rapid growth of
mobile telephones
international: country code - 61; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
optical telecommunications submarine cable with links to Asia, the
Middle East, and Europe; the Southern Cross fiber optic submarine
cable provides links to New Zealand and the United States; satellite
earth stations - 19 (10 Intelsat - 4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific
Ocean, 2 Inmarsat - Indian and Pacific Ocean regions, 2 Globalstar,
5 other) (2007)
Broadcast media:
the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) runs multiple national
and local radio networks and TV stations, as well as Australia
Network, a TV service that broadcasts throughout the Asia-Pacific
region and is the main public broadcaster; Special Broadcasting
Service (SBS), a second large public broadcaster, operates radio and
TV networks broadcasting in multiple languages; several large
national commercial TV networks, a large number of local commercial
TV stations, and hundreds of commercial radio stations are
accessible; cable and satellite systems are available (2008)
Internet country code:
.au
Internet hosts:
13.361 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 8
Internet users:
15.81 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 25
Transportation ::Australia
Airports:
465 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 17
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 326
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 148
914 to 1,523 m: 140
under 914 m: 14 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 139
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 110
under 914 m: 12 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 27,105 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km; oil 3,258 km;
oil/gas/water 1 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 37,855 km
country comparison to the world: 7
broad gauge: 142 km 1.600-m gauge
standard gauge: 24,409 km 1.435-m gauge (1,094 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 13,304 km 1.067-m gauge (1,193 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 812,972 km
country comparison to the world: 9
paved: 341,448 km
unpaved: 471,524 km (2004)
Waterways:
2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling
river systems) (2006)
country comparison to the world: 45
Merchant marine:
total: 45
country comparison to the world: 73
by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 8, liquefied gas 4, passenger 6,
passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 20 (Canada 7, Germany 2, Netherlands 1, Norway 1,
Singapore 2, UK 5, US 2)
registered in other countries: 29 (Dominica 1, Fiji 2, Liberia 2,
Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands 1, NZ 1, Panama 5, Singapore 11,
Tonga 1, UK 1, US 1, Vanuatu 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Brisbane, Cairns, Dampier, Darwin, Fremantle, Gladstone, Geelong,
Hay Point, Hobart, Jervis Bay, Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Adelaide,
Port Dalrymple, Port Hedland, Port Kembla, Port Lincoln, Port
Walcott, Sydney
Military ::Australia
Military branches:
Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal Australian
Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Special Operations Command (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental
consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in Army combat
units in non-combat support roles (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,275,667
females age 16-49: 5,082,543 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,377,411
females age 16-49: 4,210,442 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 144,232
female: 136,525 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 42
Transnational Issues ::Australia
Disputes - international:
In 2007 Australia and Timor-Leste signed a 50-year development zone
and revenue sharing agreement in lieu of a maritime boundary;
dispute with Timor-Leste hampers creation of a revised maritime
boundary with Indonesia in the Timor Sea; regional states continue
to 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; in 2004 Australia
submitted its claims to Commission on the Limits of the Continental
Shelf (CLCS) to extend its continental margins covering over 3.37
million square kilometers, expanding its seabed roughly 30 percent
more than its claimed exclusive economic zone; since 2003, Australia
has led the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands
(RAMSI) to maintain civil and political order and reinforce regional
security
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; major
consumer of cocaine and amphetamines
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Austria (Europe)
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. The Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and
Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995 have altered the
meaning of this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country,
Austria entered the EU 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: 83,871 sq km
country comparison to the world: 113
land: 82,445 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)
Total renewable water resources:
84 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 3.67 cu km/yr (35%/64%/1%)
per capita: 448 cu m/yr (1999)
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:
8,214,160 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.5% (male 609,748/female 581,144)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 2,785,091/female 2,756,402)
65 years and over: 18% (male 612,613/female 865,283) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 42.6 years
male: 41.5 years
female: 43.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.042% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Birth rate:
8.65 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
Death rate:
10.05 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Net migration rate:
1.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Urbanization:
urban population: 67% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.051 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.37 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 197
male: 5.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.65 years
country comparison to the world: 31
male: 76.74 years
female: 82.71 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.39 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
9,800 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
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) 88.6%, Turkish 2.3%, Serbian 2.2%,
Croatian (official in Burgenland) 1.6%, other (includes Slovene,
official in Carinthia, and Hungarian, official in Burgenland) 5.3%
(2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: NA
female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 15 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.4% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 47
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 (Lower Austria),
Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria),
Tirol (Tyrol), Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)
Independence:
12 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 976
(Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of
Austria founded); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed)
National holiday:
National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the passage of
the law on permanent neutrality
Constitution:
1920; revised 1929; reinstated 1 May 1945; note - during the period
1 May 1934-1 May 1945 there was a fascist (corporative) constitution
in place
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:
16 years of age; universal; note - reduced from 18 years of age in
2007
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) (since 8 July 2004)
head of government: Chancellor Werner FAYMANN (SPOe) (since 2
December 2008); Vice Chancellor Josef PROELL (OeVP) (since 2
December 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice
of the chancellor
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected for a six-year term (eligible for a
second term) by direct popular vote and formally sworn into office
before the Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung; presidential
election last held on 25 April 2010 (next to be held on 25 April
2016); chancellor formally chosen by the president but determined by
the coalition parties forming a parliamentary majority; vice
chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor
election results: Heinz FISCHER reelected president with 79.3% of
the vote
note: government coalition - SPOe and OeVP
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal
Council or Bundesrat (62 seats; delegates appointed by state
parliaments with each state receiving 3 to 12 seats in proportion to
its population; members serve five- or six-year terms) and the
National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by
popular vote for a five-year term under a system of proportional
representation with partially-open party lists)
elections: National Council - last held on 28 September 2008 (next
to be held by September 2013)
election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - SPOe
29.3%, OeVP 26%, FPOe 17.5%, BZOe 10.7%, Greens 10.4%, other 6.1%;
seats by party - SPOe 57, OeVP 51, FPOe 34, BZOe 21, Greens 20
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 [Josef BUCHER]; Austrian
People's Party or OeVP [Josef PROELL]; Freedom Party of Austria or
FPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE]; Social Democratic Party of Austria
or SPOe [Werner FAYMANN]; The Greens [Eva GLAWISCHNIG]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Austrian Trade Union Federation or OeGB (nominally independent but
primarily Social Democratic); Federal Economic Chamber;
OeVP-oriented Association of Austrian Industrialists or IV; Roman
Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic
Action
other: three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or
OeVP representing business, labor, farmers, and other nongovernment
organizations in the areas of environment and human rights
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia
Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU,
ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen
Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNHCR, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Christian PROSL
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 William C. EACHO III
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; the flag
design is certainly one of the oldest - if not the oldest - national
banners in the world; according to tradition, in 1191, following a
fierce battle in the Third Crusade, Duke Leopold V of Austria's
white tunic became completely blood-spattered; upon removal of his
wide belt or sash, a white band was revealed; the red-white-red
color combination was subsequently adopted as his banner
National anthem:
name: "Bundeshymne" (Federal Hymn)
lyrics/music: Paula von PRERADOVIC/Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART or Johann
HOLZER (disputed)
note: adopted 1947; the anthem is also known as "Land der Berge,
Land am Strome" (Land of the Mountains, Land on the River); Austria
adopted a new national anthem after World War II to replace the
former imperial anthem composed by Franz Josef HAYDN, which had been
appropriated by Germany in 1922 and was now associated with the Nazi
regime
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.
Its economy features a large service sector, a sound industrial
sector, and a small, but highly developed agricultural sector.
Following several years of solid foreign demand for Austrian exports
and record employment growth, the international financial crisis and
global economic downturn in 2008 led to a recession that persisted
until the third quarter of 2009. Austrian GDP contracted 3.8% in
2009 but saw positive growth of about 2% in 2010. Unemployment has
not risen as steeply in Austria as elsewhere in Europe, partly
because its government has subsidized reduced working hour schemes
to allow companies to retain employees. Such stabilization measures,
stimulus initiatives, and the government's income tax reforms pushed
the budget deficit to 3.5% of GDP in 2009 and about 5% in 2010, from
only about 1.3% in 2008. The international financial crisis caused
difficulties for some of Austria's largest banks whose extensive
operations in central, eastern, and southeastern Europe faced large
losses. The government provided bank support - including in some
instances, nationalization - to prevent insolvency and possible
regional contagion. In the medium-term all large Austrian banks will
need additional capital. Even after the global economic outlook
improves, Austria will need to continue restructuring, emphasizing
knowledge-based sectors of the economy, and encouraging greater
labor flexibility and greater labor participation to offset growing
unemployment and Austria's aging population and exceedingly low
fertility rate.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$332.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$326.4 billion (2009 est.)
$339.3 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$366.3 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
-3.8% (2009 est.)
1.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$40,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$39,800 (2009 est.)
$41,300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.5%
industry: 29.4%
services: 69.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
3.63 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 5.5%
industry: 27.5%
services: 67% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
4.8% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
6% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 22% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 127
31 (1995)
Investment (gross fixed):
21% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Public debt:
68.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
66.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
0.4% (2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.03% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
6.82% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$173.4 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 18
$175.6 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply for the
entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary
policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU);
individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money
circulating within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$402.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$402.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$659.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$606.2 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$53.58 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 43
$72.3 billion (31 December 2008)
$228.7 billion (31 December 2007)
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:
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Electricity - production:
66.78 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Electricity - consumption:
68.37 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Electricity - exports:
14.93 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
19.8 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
25,410 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Oil - consumption:
273,700 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Oil - exports:
52,970 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Oil - imports:
298,400 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Oil - proved reserves:
50 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Natural gas - production:
1.668 billion cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 59
Natural gas - consumption:
8.232 billion cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 50
Natural gas - exports:
3.961 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Natural gas - imports:
10.96 billion cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 20
Natural gas - proved reserves:
16.14 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Current account balance:
$8.012 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
$8.73 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$157.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$135.7 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and
paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles,
foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Germany 30.96%, Italy 8.17%, Switzerland 4.99%, US 3.99% (2009)
Imports:
$156 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$138.7 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods, oil
and oil products; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Germany 45.07%, Switzerland 6.76%, Italy 6.66%, Netherlands 4.03%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$18.05 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$755 billion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 17
$864.2 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$290.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
$286.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$297.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$290.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Austria
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.253 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 46
Telephones - mobile cellular:
11.773 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 59
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed and efficient
domestic: fixed-line subscribership has been in decline since the
mid-1990s with mobile-cellular subscribership eclipsing it by the
late 1990s; 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 VSATs (very small aperture terminals)
(2007)
Broadcast media:
Austria's public broadcaster, ORF, was the main broadcast source
until commercial radio and television service was introduced in the
1990s; cable and satellite TV are available, including German TV
stations (2008)
Internet country code:
.at
Internet hosts:
3.266 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 29
Internet users:
6.143 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 43
Transportation ::Austria
Airports:
55 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 84
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: 4
under 914 m: 14 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 26 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 2,721 km; oil 663 km; refined products 157 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 6,399 km
country comparison to the world: 29
standard gauge: 5,927 km 1.435-m gauge (3,688 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 384 km 1.000-m gauge (15 km electrified); 88 km
0.760-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 107,262 km
country comparison to the world: 40
paved: 107,262 km (includes 1,696 km of expressways) (2006)
Waterways:
358 km (2007)
country comparison to the world: 91
Merchant marine:
total: 2
country comparison to the world: 141
by type: cargo 2
registered in other countries: 4 (Cyprus 1, Malta 1, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna
Military ::Austria
Military branches:
Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)
Military service age and obligation:
18-35 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age
for male or female voluntary service; service obligation 6 months of
training, followed by an 8-year reserve obligation; conscripts
cannot be deployed in military operations outside Austria (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,960,781
females age 16-49: 1,926,134 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,595,379
females age 16-49: 1,566,884 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 49,455
female: 47,046 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.8% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 150
Transnational Issues ::Austria
Disputes - international:
while threats of international legal action never materialized in
2007, 915,220 Austrians, with the support of the newly elected
Freedom Party, signed a petition in January 2008, demanding that
Austria block the Czech Republic's accession to the EU unless Prague
closed its nuclear power plant in Temelin, bordering Austria
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American
cocaine destined for Western Europe; increasing consumption of
European-produced synthetic drugs
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Azerbaijan (Middle East)
Introduction ::Azerbaijan
Background:
Azerbaijan - a nation with a majority-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 Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily
Armenian-populated region that Moscow recognized as part of Soviet
Azerbaijan in the 1920s after Armenia and Azerbaijan disputed the
status of the territory. 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, ethnic Armenian forces held not only
Nagorno-Karabakh but also seven surrounding provinces in the
territory of Azerbaijan. Corruption in the country is ubiquitous,
and the government, which eliminated presidential term limits in a
2009 referendum, has been accused of authoritarianism. Although the
poverty rate has been reduced in recent years due to revenue from
oil production, the promise of widespread wealth resulting from the
continued development of Azerbaijan's energy sector 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:
Middle East
Area:
total: 86,600 sq km
country comparison to the world: 112
land: 82,629 sq km
water: 3,971 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 (713 km)
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, bauxite
Land use:
arable land: 20.62%
permanent crops: 2.61%
other: 76.77% (2005)
Irrigated land:
14,550 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
30.3 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 17.25 cu km/yr (5%/28%/68%)
per capita: 2,051 cu m/yr (2000)
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 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, Ship
Pollution, 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:
8,303,512 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.9% (male 1,042,132/female 926,495)
15-64 years: 69.4% (male 2,807,717/female 2,908,221)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 204,410/female 349,697) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.5 years
male: 26.9 years
female: 30.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.805% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Birth rate:
17.75 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Death rate:
8.28 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Net migration rate:
-1.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Urbanization:
urban population: 52% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.124 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 52.84 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 46
male: 58.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 46.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.01 years
country comparison to the world: 156
male: 62.86 years
female: 71.67 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.03 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
7,800 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Nationality:
noun: Azerbaijani(s)
adjective: Azerbaijani
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) (official) 90.3%, Lezgi 2.2%, Russian 1.8%,
Armenian 1.5%, other 3.3%, unspecified 1% (1999 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.5%
female: 98.2% (1999 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
1.9% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 171
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 52 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 (Nakhichevan)
Independence:
30 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 18 October 1991
(adopted by the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan)
National holiday:
Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, 28 May (1918)
Constitution:
adopted 12 November 1995; modified by referendum 24 August 2002
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 4 November
2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub EYYUBOV (since June 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and
confirmed by the National Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for unlimited terms); election last held on 15 October
2008 (next to be held in October 2013); prime minister and first
deputy prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by
the National Assembly
election results: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president; percent of vote
- Ilham ALIYEV 89%, Igbal AGHAZADE 2.9%, five other candidates with
smaller percentages
note: several political parties boycotted the election due to unfair
conditions; OSCE observers concluded that the election did not meet
international standards
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 7 November 2010 (next to be held in November
2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - YAP 45.8%, CSP 1.6%,
Motherland 1.4%, independents 48.2%, other 3.1%; seats by party -
YAP 71, CSP 3, Motherland 2, Democratic Reforms 1, Great Creation 1,
Hope Party 1, Social Welfare 1, Civil Unity 1, Whole Azerbaijan
Popular Front 1, Justice 1, independents 42
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Azerbaijan Democratic Party or ADP [Sardar JALALOGLU]; Civil
Solidarity Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLI]; Civil Unity Party
[Sabir HACIYEV]; Classic People's Front of Azerbaijan [Mirmahmud
MIRALI-OGLU]; Democratic Reform Party [Asim MOLLAZADE]; Great
Creation Party [Fazil Gazanfaroglu MUSTAFAYEV]; Hope (Umid) Party
[Iqbal AGAZADE]; Justice Party [Ilyas ISMAYILOV]; Liberal Party of
Azerbaijan [Lala Shovkat HACIYEVA]; Motherland Party [Fazail
AGAMALI]; Musavat (Equality) [Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; Open Society
Party [Rasul GULIYEV, in exile in the US]; Social Democratic Party
of Azerbaijan or SDP [Araz ALIZADE and Ayaz MUTALIBOV (in exile)];
Social Welfare Party [Hussein KAZIMLI]; United Popular Azerbaijan
Front Party or AXCP [Ali KARIMLI]; Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front
Party [Gudrat HASANGULIYEV]; Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party or YAP
[President Ilham ALIYEV]
note: opposition parties regularly factionalize and form new parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Azerbaijan Public Forum [Eldar NAMAZOV]; Karabakh Liberation
Organization
International organization participation:
ADB, BSEC, CE, CICA, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (observer),
OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 Matthew BRYZA
embassy: 83 Azadlig 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 the red
band; the blue band recalls Azerbaijan's Turkic heritage, red stands
for modernization and progress, and green refers to Islam; the
crescent moon is an Islamic symbol, while the eight-pointed star
represents the eight Turkic peoples of the world
National anthem:
name: "Azerbaijan Marsi" (March of Azerbaijan)
lyrics/music: Ahmed JAVAD/Uzeyir HAJIBEYOV
note: adopted 1992; although originally written in 1919 during a
brief period of independence, "Azerbaijan Marsi" did not become the
official anthem until after the dissolution of the Soviet Union
Economy ::Azerbaijan
Economy - overview:
Azerbaijan's high economic growth during 2006-08 was attributable to
large and growing oil exports, but some non-export sectors also
featured double-digit growth, spurred by growth in the construction,
banking, and real estate sectors. In 2009, economic growth remained
above 9% even as oil prices moderated and growth in the construction
sector cooled. In 2010, economic growth slowed to approximately
3.7%, although the impact of the global financial crisis was less
severe than in many other countries in the region. The current
global economic slowdown presents some challenges for the
Azerbaijani economy as oil prices remain below their mid-2008 highs,
highlighting Azerbaijan's reliance on energy exports and lackluster
attempts to diversify its economy. Azerbaijan's oil production
increased dramatically in 1997, when Azerbaijan signed the first
production-sharing arrangement (PSA) with the Azerbaijan
International Operating Company. Oil exports through the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline remain the main economic driver while
efforts to boost Azerbaijan's gas production are underway. However,
Azerbaijan has made only limited progress on instituting
market-based economic reforms. Pervasive public and private sector
corruption and structural economic inefficiencies remain a drag on
long-term growth, particularly in non-energy sectors. Several other
obstacles impede Azerbaijan's economic progress: the need for
stepped up foreign investment in the non-energy sector and the
continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics is declining
in importance, while trade is building with Turkey and the nations
of Europe. Long-term prospects will depend on world oil prices, the
location of new oil and gas pipelines in the region, and
Azerbaijan's ability to manage its energy wealth to promote
sustainable growth in non-energy sectors of the economy and spur
employment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$90.15 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$86.93 billion (2009 est.)
$79.54 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$52.17 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
9.3% (2009 est.)
10.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$11,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
$10,600 (2009 est.)
$9,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.5%
industry: 61.4%
services: 33.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
5.874 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 38.3%
industry: 12.1%
services: 49.6% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
0.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
6% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
11% (2009 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 6.1%
highest 10%: 17.5% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.5 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 81
36 (1995)
Investment (gross fixed):
17.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Public debt:
4.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
6.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
1.5% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
2% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 53
8% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the Refinancing Rate, the key policy rate for the
National Bank of Azerbaijan
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
20.03% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
19.76% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$7.34 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 77
$6.519 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$11.64 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
$10.54 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$8.135 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
$5.726 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
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:
3.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Electricity - production:
18.6 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Electricity - consumption:
18 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Electricity - exports:
786 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
548 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
1.011 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Oil - consumption:
136,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Oil - exports:
528,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Oil - imports:
2,848 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Oil - proved reserves:
7 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Natural gas - production:
23 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Natural gas - consumption:
10.12 billion cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 47
Natural gas - exports:
5.564 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Natural gas - proved reserves:
849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Current account balance:
$15.96 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$10.18 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$28.07 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
$21.1 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Italy 20.69%, India 10.67%, US 9.24%, France 8.15%, Germany 7.62%,
Indonesia 6.63%, Canada 5.13% (2009)
Imports:
$7.035 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
$6.514 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Turkey 18.69%, Russia 16.98%, Germany 7.87%, Ukraine 7.3%, China
6.18%, UK 5.73% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$6.33 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$5.364 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.221 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
$3.44 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$8.918 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$8.318 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$6.058 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$5.558 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar - 0.8035 (2010), 0.8038
(2009), 0.8219 (2008), 0.8581 (2007), 0.8934 (2006)
Communications ::Azerbaijan
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.397 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 68
Telephones - mobile cellular:
7.757 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 74
Telephone system:
general assessment: requires considerable expansion and
modernization; fixed-line telephony and a broad range of other
telecom services are controlled by a state-owned telecommunications
monopoly and growth has been stagnant; more competition exists in
the mobile-cellular market with four providers in 2009
domestic: teledensity of 17 fixed lines per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular teledensity has increased and is rapidly approaching
100 telephones per 100 persons; satellite service connects Baku to a
modern switch in its exclave of Nakhchivan
international: country code - 994; the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE)
fiber-optic link transits Azerbaijan providing international
connectivity to neighboring countries; the old Soviet system of
cable and microwave is still serviceable; satellite earth stations -
2 (2009)
Broadcast media:
1 state-run and 1 public television channel; 4 domestic commercial
TV stations and about 15 regional TV stations; Turkish, Russian, and
Iranian TV and radio broadcasts are available, especially in border
regions; cable TV services are available in Baku; 1 state-run and 1
public radio network operating; a small number of private commercial
radio stations broadcasting; local FM relays of Baku commercial
stations are available in many localities; local relays of several
international broadcasters had been available until late 2008 when
their broadcasts were banned from FM frequencies (2008)
Internet country code:
.az
Internet hosts:
22,737 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 105
Internet users:
2.42 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 70
Transportation ::Azerbaijan
Airports:
35 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 109
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 27
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 8
under 914 m: 8 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 1 km; gas 3,361 km; oil 1,424 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,918 km
country comparison to the world: 57
broad gauge: 2,918 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (2009)
Roadways:
total: 59,141 km
country comparison to the world: 76
paved: 29,210 km
unpaved: 29,931 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
total: 92
country comparison to the world: 54
by type: cargo 27, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker
48, roll on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 3
foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1)
registered in other countries: 2 (Malta 1, Panama 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Baku (Baki)
Military ::Azerbaijan
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (2010)
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 16-49: 2,336,611
females age 16-49: 2,329,275 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,753,878
females age 16-49: 1,958,408 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 84,441
female: 78,905 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
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 and
Nagorno-Karabakh; 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 have ratified 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): 2,400 (Russia)
IDPs: 580,000-690,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh)
(2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Azerbaijan is primarily a source and transit
country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of
commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; women and some
children from Azerbaijan are trafficked to Turkey and the UAE for
the purpose of sexual exploitation; men and boys are trafficked to
Russia for the purpose of forced labor; Azerbaijan serves as a
transit country for victims from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan,
and Moldova trafficked to Turkey and the UAE for sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Azerbaijan is on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
combat trafficking in persons, particularly efforts to investigate,
prosecute, and punish traffickers; to address complicity among law
enforcement personnel; and to adequately identify and protect
victims in Azerbaijan; the government has yet to develop a
much-needed mechanism to identify potential trafficking victims and
refer them to safety and care; poor treatment of trafficking victims
in courtrooms continues to be a problem (2008)
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
page last updated on January 18, 2011
======================================================================
@Bahamas, The (Central America and Caribbean)
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 has 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 Europe, 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: 13,880 sq km
country comparison to the world: 160
land: 10,010 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)
Total renewable water resources:
NA
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:
310,426
country comparison to the world: 177
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.3% (male 39,493/female 38,355)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 103,889/female 107,528)
65 years and over: 5.9% (male 6,998/female 11,289) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.9 years
male: 28.8 years
female: 31 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.935% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Birth rate:
16.25 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Death rate:
6.89 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Urbanization:
urban population: 84% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.68 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 129
male: 13.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.84 years
country comparison to the world: 140
male: 68.48 years
female: 73.27 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
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.)
Education expenditures:
3.6% of GDP (2000)
country comparison to the world: 127
Government ::Bahamas, The
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas
conventional short form: The Bahamas
Government type:
constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
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 second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November
Administrative divisions:
31 districts; Acklins Islands, Berry Islands, Bimini, Black Point,
Cat Island, Central Abaco, Central Andros, Central Eleuthera, City
of Freeport, Crooked Island and Long Cay, East Grand Bahama, Exuma,
Grand Cay, Harbour Island, Hope Town, Inagua, Long Island, Mangrove
Cay, Mayaguana, Moore's Island, North Abaco, North Andros, North
Eleuthera, Ragged Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador, South Abaco, South
Andros, South Eleuthera, Spanish Wells, West Grand Bahama
Independence:
10 July 1973 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 10 July (1973)
Constitution:
10 July 1973
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Sir Arthur A. FOULKES (since 14
April 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Hubert A. INGRAHAM (since 4 May
2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime
minister's recommendation
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy 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 seats; members
appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime
minister and the opposition leader to serve five-year terms) and the
House of Assembly (41 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 on 2 May 2007 (next to be held by May 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - FNM 49.86%, PLP 47.02%;
seats by party - FNM 23, PLP 18
Judicial branch:
Privy Council in 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:
Friends of the Environment
other: trade unions
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO,
ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cornelius A. SMITH
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 Nicole A. AVANT
embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau, New Providence
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) 328-2206
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and
aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist
side; the band colors represent the golden beaches of the islands
surrounded by the aquamarine sea; black represents the vigor and
force of a united people, while the pointing triangle indicates the
enterprise and determination of the Bahamian people to develop the
rich resources of land and sea
National anthem:
name: "March On, Bahamaland!"
lyrics/music: Timothy GIBSON
note: adopted 1973; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the
national anthem, "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem
(see United Kingdom)
Economy ::Bahamas, The
Economy - overview:
The Bahamas is one of the wealthiest Caribbean countries 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. Prior to 2006, a steady growth in
tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts,
and residences led to solid GDP growth but since then tourism
receipts have begun to drop off. The global recession in 2009 took a
sizeable toll on the Bahamas, resulting in a contraction in GDP and
a widening budget deficit. The decline continued in 2010 as tourism
from the US and sector investment lagged. Financial services
constitute the second-most important sector of the Bahamian economy
and, when combined with business services, account for about 36% of
GDP. However, the financial sector currently is smaller than it has
been in the past because of the enactment of new and more strict
financial regulations in 2000 that caused many international
businesses to relocate elsewhere. Manufacturing and agriculture
combined 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$8.878 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
$8.923 billion (2009 est.)
$9.285 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$7.538 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
-3.9% (2009 est.)
-1.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$28,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$29,000 (2009 est.)
$30,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.2%
industry: 14.7%
services: 84.1% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
184,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 173
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 5%
tourism: 50%
other services: 40% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.6% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Population below poverty line:
9.3% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: 27% (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.4% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Central bank discount rate:
5.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 82
5.25% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.5% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
5.5% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.284 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 130
$1.275 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$5.991 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$5.893 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$7.993 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 101
$7.883 billion (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
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:
2.045 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Electricity - consumption:
1.902 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Oil - consumption:
36,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Oil - exports:
transshipments of 41,570 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Oil - imports:
20,560 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Natural gas - proved reserves:
NA cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
Current account balance:
-$283.2 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
-$1.442 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$674 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 162
Exports - commodities:
mineral products and salt, animal products, rum, chemicals, fruit
and vegetables
Exports - partners:
US 35.99%, Singapore 18.64%, Poland 12.1%, Germany 6.24% (2009)
Imports:
$2.401 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 148
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral
fuels; food and live animals
Imports - partners:
US 27.23%, South Korea 20.08%, Japan 14.55%, Singapore 5.89%, China
4.75%, Venezuela 4.26%, Italy 4.12% (2009)
Debt - external:
$342.6 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Exchange rates:
Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar - 1 (2009), 1 (2008), 1 (2007),
1 (2006)
Communications ::Bahamas, The
Telephones - main lines in use:
129,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 140
Telephones - mobile cellular:
358,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 166
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern facilities
domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed; the Bahamas
Domestic Submarine Network links 14 of the islands and is designed
to satisfy increasing demand for voice and broadband internet
services
international: country code - 1-242; landing point for the Americas
Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic submarine cable
that provides links to South and Central America, parts of the
Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 (2007)
Broadcast media:
2 television stations operated by government-owned, commercially run
Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (BCB); multi-channel cable
TV subscription service is available; about 15 radio stations
operating with BCB operating a multi-channel radio broadcasting
network alongside privately-owned radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.bs
Internet hosts:
21,939 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 107
Internet users:
115,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 156
Transportation ::Bahamas, The
Airports:
62 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 78
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 23
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 39
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 22 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 2,717 km
country comparison to the world: 168
paved: 1,560 km
unpaved: 1,157 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
total: 1,170
country comparison to the world: 10
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 229, cargo 191, carrier 2,
chemical tanker 80, combination ore/oil 8, container 50, liquefied
gas 78, passenger 100, passenger/cargo 29, petroleum tanker 222,
refrigerated cargo 106, roll on/roll off 12, specialized tanker 2,
vehicle carrier 60
foreign-owned: 1,080 (Angola 5, Belgium 9, Bermuda 12, Brazil 1,
Canada 102, China 4, Croatia 1, Cyprus 14, Denmark 59, Finland 8,
France 19, Germany 39, Greece 209, Guernsey 6, Hong Kong 2,
Indonesia 2, Ireland 3, Italy 5, Japan 93, Jordan 2, Kuwait 2,
Malaysia 13, Monaco 14, Montenegro 2, Netherlands 22, Nigeria 2,
Norway 198, Poland 32, Saudi Arabia 16, Singapore 7, Slovenia 1,
Spain 9, Sweden 6, Switzerland 2, Thailand 4, Trinidad and Tobago 1,
Turkey 3, UAE 27, UK 24, US 100)
registered in other countries: 10 (Bolivia 1, Malta 1, Panama 7,
Peru 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point
Military ::Bahamas, The
Military branches:
Royal Bahamian Defense Force: Land Force, Navy, Air Wing (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age; no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 84,903 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 62,779
females age 16-49: 63,954 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,840
female: 2,758 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 152
Transnational Issues ::Bahamas, The
Disputes - international:
disagrees with the US on the alignment the northern axis of a
potential maritime boundary; continues to monitor and interdict drug
dealers and Haitian and Cuban refugees in Bahamian waters
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and
Europe; offshore financial center
page last updated on January 26, 2011
======================================================================
@Bahrain (Middle East)
Introduction ::Bahrain
Background:
In 1783, 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. King HAMAD
bin Isa al-Khalifa, after coming to power in 1999, pushed economic
and political reforms to improve relations with the Shia community.
Shia political societies participated in 2010 parliamentary and
municipal elections. Al Wifaq, the largest Shia political society,
won the largest number of seats in the elected chamber of the
legislature. However, Shia discontent has resurfaced in recent years
with street demonstrations and occasional low-level violence.
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: 760 sq km
country comparison to the world: 187
land: 760 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)
Total renewable water resources:
0.1 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.3 cu km/yr (40%/3%/57%)
per capita: 411 cu m/yr (2000)
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, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, 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:
738,004
country comparison to the world: 163
note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.9% (male 95,258/female 93,256)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 293,340/female 217,815)
65 years and over: 4% (male 15,274/female 13,766) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.4 years
male: 33.5 years
female: 27.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.243% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Birth rate:
16.81 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Death rate:
4.37 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Urbanization:
urban population: 89% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.33 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female
total population: 1.24 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.76 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 126
male: 17.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.4 years
country comparison to the world: 84
male: 72.87 years
female: 78.01 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.47 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 600 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Nationality:
noun: Bahraini(s)
adjective: Bahraini
Ethnic groups:
Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001 census)
Religions:
Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)
Languages:
Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.5%
male: 88.6%
female: 83.6% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
2.9% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 149
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 monarchy
Capital:
name: Manama
geographic coordinates: 26 14 N, 50 34 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 the UK)
National holiday:
National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 was the date
of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 was the date of
independence from British protection
Constitution:
adopted 14 February 2002
Legal system:
based on Islamic law and English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
20 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 Al-Khalifa (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 bin Salim
al-ARAIDH
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by
the monarch
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the Consultative Council (40
members appointed by the King) and the Council of Representatives or
Chamber of Deputies (40 seats; members directly elected to serve
four-year terms)
elections: Council of Representatives - last held in two rounds on
23 and 30 October 2010 (next election to be held in 2014)
election results: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by
society - NA; seats by society - al Wifaq (Shia) 18, al Asala (Sunni
Salafi) 3, al Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 2, independents 17
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:
Shia activists; Sunni Islamist legislators
other: several small leftist and other groups are active
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC,
OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Huda Azra Ibrahim NUNU
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 Joseph Adam ERELI
embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club),
Block 331, Zinj District, Manama
mailing address: PSC 451, Box 660, 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
note: until 2002 the flag had eight white points, but this was
reduced to five to avoid confusion with the Qatari flag
National anthem:
name: "Bahrainona" (Our Bahrain)
lyrics/music: unknown
note: adopted 1971; although Mohamed Sudqi AYYASH wrote the original
lyrics, they were changed in 2002 following the transformation of
Bahrain from an emirate to a kingdom
Economy ::Bahrain
Economy - overview:
Bahrain is one of the most diversified economies in the Persian
Gulf. Highly developed communication and transport facilities make
Bahrain home to numerous multinational firms with business in the
Gulf. As part of its diversification plans, Bahrain implemented a
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US in August 2006, the first FTA
between the US and a Gulf state. Bahrain's economy, however,
continues to depend heavily on oil. Petroleum production and
refining account for more than 60% of Bahrain's export receipts, 70%
of government revenues, and 11% of GDP (exclusive of allied
industries). Other major economic activities are production of
aluminum - Bahrain's second biggest export after oil - finance, and
construction. Bahrain competes with Malaysia as a worldwide center
for Islamic banking and continues to seek new natural gas supplies
as feedstock to support its expanding petrochemical and aluminum
industries. Unemployment, especially among the young, is a long-term
economic problem Bahrain struggles to address. In 2009, to help
lower unemployment among Bahraini nationals, Bahrain reduced
sponsorship for expatriate workers, increasing the costs of
employing foreign labor. The global financial crisis caused funding
for many non-oil projects to dry up and resulted in slower economic
growth for Bahrain. Other challenges facing Bahrain include the slow
growth of government debt as a result of a large subsidy program,
the financing of large government projects, and debt restructuring,
such as the bailout of state-owned Gulf Air.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$29.82 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
$28.7 billion (2009 est.)
$27.83 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$21.73 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
3.1% (2009 est.)
6.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$40,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$39,400 (2009 est.)
$38,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.5%
industry: 56.6%
services: 42.9% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
611,000
country comparison to the world: 154
note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 79%
services: 20% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
26.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Public debt:
59.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
38.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
2.8% (2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$6.372 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 80
$5.74 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$21.02 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$18.93 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$18.46 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$16.34 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$16.93 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 60
$21.18 billion (31 December 2008)
$28.13 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
Industries:
petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron
pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance,
ship repairing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Electricity - production:
10.25 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Electricity - consumption:
10.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
48,560 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Oil - consumption:
39,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Oil - exports:
238,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Oil - imports:
228,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Oil - proved reserves:
124.6 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Natural gas - production:
12.64 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Natural gas - consumption:
12.64 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Natural gas - proved reserves:
92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Current account balance:
$589 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$560.2 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$15.13 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$12.05 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
Exports - partners:
India 4.2%, Saudi Arabia 2.78% (2009)
Imports:
$12.14 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
$9.613 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
crude oil, machinery, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 22.91%, France 9.76%, US 7.95%, China 6.4%, South Korea
5.26%, Japan 5.19%, Germany 5.01%, UK 4.34% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.766 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$3.54 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$14.68 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
$10.55 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$15.77 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$15 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$8.399 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$7.549 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - 0.376 (2010), 0.376 (2009),
0.376 (2008), 0.376 (2007), 0.376 (2006)
Communications ::Bahrain
Telephones - main lines in use:
238,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 123
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.578 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 137
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; landing point for the Fiber-Optic
Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides
links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and US; tropospheric scatter to
Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite
earth station - 1 (2007)
Broadcast media:
state-run broadcast media; Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation
(BRTC) operates 5 terrestrial TV networks; satellite TV systems
provide access to international broadcasts; state-run BRTC
broadcasts over several radio stations; 1 private FM station directs
broadcasts to Indian listeners; radio and TV broadcasts from
countries in the region are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.bh
Internet hosts:
53,944 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 86
Internet users:
419,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 122
Transportation ::Bahrain
Airports:
4 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 183
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 20 km; oil 32 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 3,851 km
country comparison to the world: 158
paved: 3,121 km
unpaved: 730 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 7
country comparison to the world: 126
by type: bulk carrier 2, container 4, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 5 (Kuwait 5)
registered in other countries: 6 (Honduras 5, Saint Kitts and Nevis
1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Military ::Bahrain
Military branches:
Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air Defense),
Naval Force, Air Force, National Guard
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for
NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 208,365
females age 16-49: 174,375 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 170,633
females age 16-49: 146,243 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 6,590
female: 6,475 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 19
Transnational Issues ::Bahrain
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Bangladesh (South Asia)
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. A
military-backed, emergency caretaker regime suspended parliamentary
elections planned for January 2007 in an effort to reform the
political system and root out corruption. In contrast to the strikes
and violent street rallies that had marked Bangladeshi politics in
previous years, the parliamentary elections finally held in late
December 2008 were mostly peaceful and Sheikh HASINA Wajed was
elected prime minister. 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: 143,998 sq km
country comparison to the world: 94
land: 130,168 sq km
water: 13,830 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)
Total renewable water resources:
1,210.6 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 79.4 cu km/yr (3%/1%/96%)
per capita: 560 cu m/yr (2000)
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; waterborne 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, Ship Pollution, 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:
156,118,464 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.6% (male 27,065,625/female 26,913,961)
15-64 years: 61.4% (male 45,222,182/female 50,537,052)
65 years and over: 4% (male 3,057,255/female 3,254,808) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.9 years
male: 22.4 years
female: 23.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.55% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Birth rate:
23.43 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Death rate:
5.81 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Net migration rate:
-2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Urbanization:
urban population: 27% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 52.54 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 48
male: 55.04 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 49.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.44 years
country comparison to the world: 148
male: 67.64 years
female: 71.3 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.65 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
12,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal 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
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Bangladeshi(s)
adjective: Bangladeshi
Ethnic groups:
Bengali 98%, other 2% (includes tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims)
(1998)
Religions:
Muslim 89.5%, Hindu 9.6%, other 0.9% (2004)
Languages:
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47.9%
male: 54%
female: 41.4% (2001 Census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male: 8 years
female: 8 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
2.4% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 163
Government ::Bangladesh
Country name:
conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
conventional short form: Bangladesh
local long form: Gana Prajatantri Bangladesh
local short form:
former: East Bengal, East Pakistan
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Dhaka
geographic coordinates: 23 43 N, 90 24 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
7 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur,
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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Zillur RAHMAN (since 12 February 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA Wajed (since 6
January 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the
president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year
term (eligible for a second term); last election held on 11 February
2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: Zillur RAHMAN declared president-elect by the
Election Commission on 11 February 2009 (sworn in on 12 February);
he ran 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; members
serve five-year terms
elections: last held on 29 December 2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - AL 49%, BNP 33.2%, JP
7%, JIB 4.6%, other 6.2%; seats by party - AL 230, BNP 30, JP 27,
JIB 2, other 11
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 [Manjurul A. KHAN]; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Khaleda
ZIA]; Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh or BDB [Badrudozza CHOWDHURY]; Islami
Oikya Jote or IOJ [multiple leaders]; Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh or
JIB [Matiur Rahman NIZAMI]; Jatiya Party or JP (Ershad faction)
[Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Oli
AHMED]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Advocacy to End Gender-based Violence through the MoWCA (Ministry of
Women's and Children's Affairs)
other: environmentalists; Islamist groups; religious leaders;
teachers; union leaders
International organization participation:
ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Akramul QADER
chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-0183
FAX: [1] (202) 244-7830/2771
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James F. MORIARTY
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
National anthem:
name: "Amar Shonar Bangla" (My Golden Bengal)
lyrics/music: Rabindranath TAGORE
note: adopted 1971; Rabindranath TAGORE, a Nobel laureate, also
wrote India's national anthem
Economy ::Bangladesh
Economy - overview:
The economy has grown 5-6% per year since 1996 despite political
instability, poor infrastructure, corruption, insufficient power
supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Bangladesh
remains a poor, overpopulated, and inefficiently-governed nation.
Although more than half of GDP is generated through the service
sector, 45% of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector,
with rice as the single-most-important product. Bangladesh's growth
was resilient during the 2008-09 global financial crisis and
recession. Garment exports, totaling $12.3 billion in FY09 and
remittances from overseas Bangladeshis totaling $9.7 billion in FY09
accounted for almost 25% of GDP.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$259.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$244.6 billion (2009 est.)
$231.4 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$105.4 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
5.7% (2009 est.)
6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
$1,600 (2009 est.)
$1,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 18.4%
industry: 28.7%
services: 52.9% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
73.87 million
country comparison to the world: 8
note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman,
Qatar, and Malaysia; workers' remittances estimated at $10.9 billion
in 2009-10 (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 45%
industry: 30%
services: 25% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
5.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
5.1% (2009 est.)
note: about 40% of the population is underemployed; many
participants in the labor force work only a few hours a week, at low
wages
Population below poverty line:
36.3% (2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 8.8%
highest 10%: 26.6% (2008 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.2 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 94
33.6 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
23.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Public debt:
39.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
39.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
5.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
5% (31 October 2010)
country comparison to the world: 86
5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.6% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
16.38% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$13.98 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 67
$10.92 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$57.21 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$63.03 billion (31 December 2009)
Stock of domestic credit:
$62.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$53.77 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$7.068 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 74
$6.671 billion (31 December 2008)
$6.793 billion (31 December 2007)
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:
6.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Electricity - production:
25.62 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Electricity - consumption:
23.94 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
5,733 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Oil - consumption:
96,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Oil - exports:
2,612 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Oil - imports:
87,660 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Oil - proved reserves:
28 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Natural gas - production:
19.7 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Natural gas - consumption:
19.7 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Natural gas - proved reserves:
195.4 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Current account balance:
$3.734 billion (2010)
country comparison to the world: 34
$2.416 billion (2009)
Exports:
$16.24 billion (2010)
country comparison to the world: 73
$15.58 billion (2009)
Exports - commodities:
garments, frozen fish and seafood, jute and jute goods, leather
Exports - partners:
US 22.5%, Germany 14.2%, UK 9.6%, France 7%, Netherlands 6.4% (2009)
Imports:
$21.34 billion (2010)
country comparison to the world: 68
$20.3 billion (2009)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles,
foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement
Imports - partners:
China 16.16%, India 12.61%, Singapore 7.55%, Japan 4.63%, Malaysia
4.46% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$10.79 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$10.34 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$24.46 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$24.22 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$6.72 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
$5.617 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$82 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$81 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
taka (BDT) per US dollar - 70.59 (2010), 69.039 (2009), 68.554
(2008), 69.893 (2007), 69.031 (2006)
Communications ::Bangladesh
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.522 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 63
Telephones - mobile cellular:
50.4 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 24
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate for a modern country; introducing
digital systems; trunk systems include VHF and UHF microwave radio
relay links, and some fiber-optic cable in cities
domestic: fixed-line teledensity remains only about 1 per 100
persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has been
increasing rapidly and now exceeds 30 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 880; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-4
fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe,
the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 6;
international radiotelephone communications and landline service to
neighboring countries (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-owned broadcaster (BTV) operates 1 terrestrial TV station, 3
radio networks, and about 10 local stations; 8 private satellite TV
stations and 3 private radio stations also broadcasting; foreign
satellite TV stations are gaining audience share in the large
cities; several international radio broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.bd
Internet hosts:
68,224 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 81
Internet users:
617,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 112
Transportation ::Bangladesh
Airports:
17 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 140
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 2,597 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,768 km
country comparison to the world: 61
broad gauge: 946 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 239,226 km
country comparison to the world: 21
paved: 22,726 km
unpaved: 216,500 km (2003)
Waterways:
8,370 km
country comparison to the world: 17
note: includes up to 3,060 km main cargo routes; network reduced to
5,200 km in dry season (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 50
country comparison to the world: 70
by type: bulk carrier 16, cargo 25, container 5, petroleum tanker 4
foreign-owned: 4 (China 1, Singapore 3)
registered in other countries: 9 (Comoros 1, Malta 1, Panama 3,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 2)
(2010)
Ports and terminals:
Chittagong, Mongla Port
Transportation - note:
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of
Bangladesh as high risk for armed robbery against ships; numerous
commercial vessels have been attacked both at anchor and while
underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen
Military ::Bangladesh
Military branches:
Bangladesh Defense Force: Bangladesh Army (Sena Bahini), Bangladesh
Navy (Noh Bahini, BN), Bangladesh Air Force (Biman Bahini, BAF)
(2010)
Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for voluntary enlisted military service (Air Force);
17 years of age (Army and Navy); conscription is by law possible in
times of emergency, but has never been implemented (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 36,560,110 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 25,310,750
females age 16-49: 32,154,153 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,550,385
female: 1,676,137 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 112
Transnational Issues ::Bangladesh
Disputes - international:
discussions with India remain stalled to delimit a small section of
river boundary, exchange territory for 51 small Bangladeshi exclaves
in India and 111 small Indian exclaves in Bangladesh, allocate
divided villages, and stop illegal cross-border trade, migration,
violence, and transit of terrorists through the porous border;
Bangladesh protests India's fencing and walling off high-traffic
sections of the porous boundary; a joint Bangladesh-India boundary
commission resurveyed and reconstructed 92 missing pillars in 2007;
after 21 years, Bangladesh in January 2008 resumed talks with Burma
on delimiting a maritime boundary
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 26,268 (Burma)
IDPs: 65,000 (land conflicts, religious persecution) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Bangladesh is a source and transit country for
men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor
and commercial sexual exploitation; a significant share of
Bangladesh's trafficking victims are men recruited for work overseas
with fraudulent employment offers who are subsequently exploited
under conditions of forced labor or debt bondage; children are
trafficked within Bangladesh for commercial sexual exploitation,
bonded labor, and forced labor; women and children from Bangladesh
are also trafficked to India and Pakistan for sexual exploitation
tier rating: Bangladesh is placed on Tier 2 Watch List because it
does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination
of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so,
including some progress in addressing sex trafficking; the
government did not demonstrate sufficient progress in criminally
prosecuting and convicting labor trafficking offenders, particularly
those responsible for the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers for the
purpose of labor trafficking (2009)
Illicit drugs:
transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Barbados (Central America and Caribbean)
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: 430 sq km
country comparison to the world: 200
land: 430 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
97 km
Maritime claims:
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)
Total renewable water resources:
0.1 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.09 cu km/yr (33%/44%/22%)
per capita: 333 cu m/yr (2000)
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,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
easternmost Caribbean island
People ::Barbados
Population:
285,653 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.2% (male 27,383/female 27,352)
15-64 years: 71.3% (male 99,829/female 103,049)
65 years and over: 9.5% (male 10,464/female 16,512) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 36.2 years
male: 35.1 years
female: 37.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.374% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Birth rate:
12.43 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Death rate:
8.39 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Net migration rate:
-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Urbanization:
urban population: 40% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.012 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.09 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 138
male: 13.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.14 years
country comparison to the world: 101
male: 71.88 years
female: 76.42 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.68 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Nationality:
noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)
adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)
Ethnic groups:
black 93%, white 3.2%, mixed 2.6%, East Indian 1%, other 0.2% (2000
census)
Religions:
Protestant 63.4% (Anglican 28.3%, Pentecostal 18.7%, Methodist 5.1%,
other 11.3%), Roman Catholic 4.2%, other Christian 7%, other 4.8%,
none or unspecified 20.6% (2008 est.)
Languages:
English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.7% (2002 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2001)
Education expenditures:
6.7% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 26
Government ::Barbados
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Barbados
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
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 and 1 city*; Bridgetown*, Christ Church, Saint Andrew,
Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy,
Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas
Independence:
30 November 1966 (from the 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 Fruendel STUART (since 23 October
2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy 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 seats; members
appointed by the governor general - 12 on the advice of the Prime
Minister, 2 on the advice of the opposition leader, and 7 at his
discretion) 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 on 15 January 2008 (next to
be called in 2012)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - DLP
52.5%, BLP 47.3%; seats by party - DLP 20, BLP 10
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Judicature consists of a High Court and a Court of
Appeal (judges are appointed by the Service Commissions for the
Judicial and Legal Services); Caribbean Court of Justice or CCJ is
the highest court of appeal; based in Port of Spain, Trinidad and
Tobago
Political parties and leaders:
Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR]; Democratic Labor Party or
DLP [Freundel STUART]; People's Empowerment Party or PEP [David
COMISSIONG]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Barbados Secondary Teachers' Union or BSTU [Patrick FROST]; Barbados
Union of Teachers or BUT [Herbert GITTENS]; Congress of Trade Unions
and Staff Associations of Barbados or CTUSAB, (includes the BWU,
NUPW, BUT, and BSTU) [Leroy TROTMAN]; Barbados Workers Union or BWU
[Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union [David COMISSIONG];
National Union of Public Workers [Joseph GODDARD]
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John BEALE
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 (vacant); Charge d' Affaires D. Brent
HARDT
embassy: U.S. Embassy, Wildey Business Park, Wildey, St. Michael BB
14006
mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown BB 11000; CMR 1014, APO
AA 34055
telephone: [1] (246) 227-4399
FAX: [1] (246) 431-0179
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 band
colors represent the blue of the sea and sky and the gold of the
beaches; the trident head represents independence and a break with
the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)
National anthem:
name: "The National Anthem of Barbados"
lyrics/music: Irving BURGIE/C. Van Roland EDWARDS
note: adopted 1966; the anthem is also known as "In Plenty and In
Time of Need"
Economy ::Barbados
Economy - overview:
Historically, the Barbadian economy was dependent on sugarcane
cultivation and related activities. However, in recent years the
economy has diversified into light industry and tourism with about
three-quarters of GDP and 80% of exports being attributed to
services. Growth has rebounded since 2003, bolstered by increases in
construction projects and tourism revenues, reflecting its success
in the higher-end segment, but the sector faced declining revenues
in 2009 with the global economic downturn. The country enjoys one of
the highest per capita incomes in the region. Offshore finance and
information services are important foreign exchange earners and
thrive from having the same time zone as eastern US financial
centers and a relatively highly educated workforce. The government
continues its efforts to reduce unemployment, to encourage direct
foreign investment, and to privatize remaining state-owned
enterprises. The public debt-to-GDP ratio rose to over 100% in 2009,
largely because a sharp slowdown in tourism and financial services
led to a wide budget deficit.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$6.196 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
$6.24 billion (2009 est.)
$6.603 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.963 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
-5.5% (2009 est.)
-0.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$21,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$21,900 (2009 est.)
$23,300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 16%
services: 78% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
175,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 15%
services: 75% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10.7% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Public debt:
NA (2009)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Central bank discount rate:
7% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 45
10% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
10.03% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.793 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 123
$1.748 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$4.563 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 124
$4.618 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$4.554 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
$4.124 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 81
$4.964 billion (31 December 2008)
$5.599 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, vegetables, cotton
Industries:
tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
Industrial production growth rate:
-3.2% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Electricity - production:
1.003 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Electricity - consumption:
939.9 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
765 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Oil - consumption:
9,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Oil - exports:
1,750 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Oil - imports:
10,390 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Oil - proved reserves:
1.79 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Natural gas - production:
29.17 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Natural gas - consumption:
29.17 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Natural gas - proved reserves:
113.3 million cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Current account balance:
-$254 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Exports:
$385 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 172
Exports - commodities:
manufactures, sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages,
chemicals, electrical components
Exports - partners:
Trinidad and Tobago 17.48%, Jamaica 15.63%, US 8.93%, Saint Lucia
8.13%, UK 5.36%, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5.04%, Antigua and
Barbuda 4.12% (2009)
Imports:
$1.586 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 159
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials,
chemicals, fuel, electrical components
Imports - partners:
Trinidad and Tobago 28.52%, US 27.96%, Colombia 7.13%, China 4.76%,
UK 4.39% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$620 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 117
Debt - external:
$668 million (2003)
country comparison to the world: 155
Exchange rates:
Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2 (2006), 2
(2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)
Communications ::Barbados
Telephones - main lines in use:
135,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 136
Telephones - mobile cellular:
337,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 168
Telephone system:
general assessment: island-wide automatic telephone system
domestic: fixed-line teledensity of roughly 50 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular telephone density approaching 125 per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-246; landing point for the East
Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other
islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin
Islands to Trinidad; satellite earth stations - 1 (Intelsat
-Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia
(2009)
Broadcast media:
government-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) operates
the lone terrestrial television station; CBC also operates a
multi-channel cable TV subscription service; roughly a dozen radio
stations, consisting of a CBC-operated network alongside
privately-owned radio stations, in operation (2007)
Internet country code:
.bb
Internet hosts:
1,508 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 159
Internet users:
188,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 143
Transportation ::Barbados
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 233
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 1,600 km
country comparison to the world: 176
paved: 1,600 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
total: 95
country comparison to the world: 52
by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 55, chemical tanker 9, passenger 1,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 5, roll
on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 89 (Canada 13, Greece 14, Iran 4, Lebanon 2, Norway
41, Sweden 6, Syria 1, Turkey 1, UK 7)
registered in other countries: 1 (unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Bridgetown
Military ::Barbados
Military branches:
Royal Barbados Defense Force: Troops Command, Barbados Coast Guard
(2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger volunteers
require parental consent); no conscription (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 74,418
females age 16-49: 74,450 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 58,532
females age 16-49: 58,542 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,897
female: 1,884 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.8% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 151
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 (2007)
Transnational Issues ::Barbados
Disputes - international:
Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the April 2006 Permanent
Court of Arbitration decision delimiting a maritime boundary and
limiting catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's exclusive
economic zone; 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 eastern Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for
Europe and the US; offshore financial center
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Belarus (Europe)
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, Aleksandr
LUKASHENKO has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian
means. Government restrictions on freedom of speech and the press,
peaceful assembly, and religion remain in place.
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
country comparison to the world: 85
land: 202,900 sq km
water: 4,700 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries:
total: 3,306 km
border countries: Latvia 171 km, Lithuania 680 km, Poland 605 km,
Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between
continental and maritime
Terrain:
generally flat and contains much marshland
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Nyoman River 90 m
highest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m
Natural resources:
timber, 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)
Total renewable water resources:
58 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.79 cu km/yr (23%/47%/30%)
per capita: 286 cu m/yr (2000)
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, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; glacial scouring accounts for the flatness of Belarusian
terrain and for its 11,000 lakes
People ::Belarus
Population:
9,612,632 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.3% (male 707,550/female 667,560)
15-64 years: 71.3% (male 3,337,253/female 3,540,916)
65 years and over: 14.5% (male 446,746/female 948,508) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.8 years
male: 35.8 years
female: 41.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.368% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
Birth rate:
9.76 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Death rate:
13.81 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Net migration rate:
0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Urbanization:
urban population: 73% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.062 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/female
total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.34 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 174
male: 7.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.92 years
country comparison to the world: 139
male: 65.26 years
female: 76.93 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.25 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
13,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
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 (official) 36.7%, Russian (official) 62.8%, other 0.5%
(includes small Polish- and Ukrainian-speaking minorities) (1999
census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.4% (1999 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
5.2% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 56
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' (Gomel), Horad Minsk* (Minsk City), Hrodna
(Grodno), Mahilyow (Mogilev), Minsk, Vitsyebsk (Vitebsk)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers; Russian spelling provided for reference when
different from Belarusian
Independence:
25 August 1991 (from the 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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Mikhail MYASNIKOVICH (since 28
December 2010); First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir SEMASHKO (since
December 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
first election took place on 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 on 9 September
2001; an October 2004 referendum ended presidential term limits and
allowed the president to run in a third (19 March 2006) and fourth
election (19 December 2010); prime minister and deputy prime
ministers appointed by the president
election results: Aleksandr LUKASHENKO reelected president; percent
of vote - Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 79.7%, Andrey SANNIKAU 2.6%, other
candidates 17.7%; note - election marred by electoral fraud
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly or Natsionalnoye Sobraniye consists of
the Council of the Republic or Sovet Respubliki (64 seats; 56
members elected by regional and Minsk city councils and 8 members
appointed by the president, to serve four-year terms) and the
Chamber of Representatives or Palata Predstaviteley (110 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Palata Predstaviteley - last held on 28 September 2008
(next to be held in the spring of 2012); international observers
determined that despite minor improvements the election ultimately
fell short of democratic standards; pro-LUKASHENKO candidates won
every seat
election results: Sovet 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: Belarusian Agrarian Party or AP [Mikhail
SHIMANSKY]; Belarusian Patriotic Movement (Belarusian Patriotic
Party) or BPR [Nikolay ULAKHOVICH, chairman]; Communist Party of
Belarus or KPB [Tatsyana HOLUBEVA]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP
[Sergey GAYDUKEVICH]; Republican Party of Labor and Justice [Vasiliy
ZADNEPRYANYY]
opposition parties: Belarusian Christian Democracy Party [Pavel
SEVERINETS] (unregistered); Belarusian Party of Communists or PKB
[Sergey KALYAKIN]; Belarusian Party of Labor [Aleksandr BUKHVOSTOV]
(unregistered); Belarusian Popular Front or BPF [Aleksey
YANUKEVICH]; Belarusian Social-Democratic Hramada [Stanislav
SHUSHKEVICH]; Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada
("Assembly") or BSDPH [Anatoliy LEVKOVICH]; Belarusian Social
Democratic Party People's Assembly ("Narodnaya Hramada") [Nikolay
STATKEVICH] (unregistered); Belarusian Women's Party Nadzeya
("Hope") [Yelena YESKOVA, chairperson]; Christian Conservative Party
or BPF [Zyanon PAZNIAK]; European Belarus Campaign [Andrey
SANNIKOV]; Party of Freedom and Progress [Vladimir NOVOSYAD]
(unregistered); "Tell the Truth" Campaign [Vladimir NEKLYAYEV];
United Civic Party or UCP [Anatoliy LEBEDKO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs (unregistered) [Sergey MATSKEVICH];
Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions [Aleksandr YAROSHUK];
Belarusian Association of Journalists [Zhana LITVINA]; Belarusian
Helsinki Committee [Aleh HULAK]; Belarusian Independence Bloc
(unregistered) and For Freedom movement [Aleksandr MILINKEVICH];
Belarusian Organization of Working Women [Irina ZHIKHAR]; BPF-Youth
[Andrus KRECHKA]; Charter 97 (unregistered) [Andrey SANNIKOV];
Perspektiva small business association [Anatol SHUMCHENKO]; Nasha
Vyasna (unregistered) ("Our Spring") human rights center; "Tell the
Truth" Movement [Vladimir NEKLYAYEV]; Women's Independent Democratic
Movement [Ludmila PETINA]; Young Belarus (Malady Belarus) [Zmitser
KASPYAROVICH]; Youth Front (Malady Front) [Zmitser DASHKEVICH]
International organization participation:
BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CEI, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD,
FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE,
PCA, PFP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Oleg
KRAVCHENKO
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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Michael
SCANLAN
embassy: 46 Starovilenskaya Street, Minsk 220002
mailing address: PSC 78, Box B Minsk, APO 09723
telephone: [375] (17) 210-12-83, 217-7347 through 7348
FAX: [375] (17) 334-7853
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; the red band color
recalls past struggles from oppression, the green band represents
hope and the many forests of the country
National anthem:
name: "My, Bielarusy" (We Belarusians)
lyrics/music: Mikhas KLIMKOVICH and Uladzimir KARYZNA/Nester
SAKALOUSKI
note: music adopted 1955, lyrics adopted 2002; after the fall of the
Soviet Union, Belarus kept the music of its Soviet-era anthem but
adopted new lyrics; also known as "Dziarzauny himn Respubliki
Bielarus" (State Anthem of the Republic of Belarus)
Economy ::Belarus
Economy - overview:
Belarus has seen limited 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. Since 2005, the government has re-nationalized a number
of private companies. In addition, businesses have been subjected to
pressure by central and local governments, including arbitrary
changes in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, retroactive
application of new business regulations, and arrests of "disruptive"
businessmen and factory owners. Continued state control over
economic operations hampers market entry for businesses, both
domestic and foreign. Government statistics indicate GDP growth was
strong, surpassing 10% in 2008, despite the roadblocks of a tough,
centrally directed economy with a high rate of inflation and a low
rate of unemployment. However, the global crisis pushed the country
into recession in 2009, and GDP grew only 0.2% for the year.
Slumping foreign demand hit the industrial sector hard. Minsk has
depended on a standby-agreement with the IMF to assist with balance
of payments shortfalls. In line with IMF conditions, in 2009,
Belarus devalued the ruble more than 40% and tightened some fiscal
and monetary policies. On 1 January 2010, Russia, Kazakhstan and
Belarus launched a customs union, with unified trade regulations and
customs codes still under negotiation. In late January, Russia and
Belarus amended their 2007 oil supply agreement. The new terms
raised prices for above quota purchases, increasing Belarus' current
account deficit. GDP grew 4.8% in 2010, in part, on the strength of
renewed export growth. In December 2010, Belarus, Russia and
Kazakhstan signed an agreement to form a Common Economic Space and
Russia removed all Belarusian oil duties.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$128.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$122.5 billion (2009 est.)
$122.3 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$52.89 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
0.2% (2009 est.)
10.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$13,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
$12,700 (2009 est.)
$12,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 42.9%
services: 48.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
5 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 75
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 34.7%
services: 51.3% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
1.6% (2005)
note: official registered unemployed; large number of underemployed
workers
Population below poverty line:
27.1% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 22% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
27.9 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 124
21.7 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
36% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
12.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
13.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 30
12% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.68% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
8.55% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$4.747 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 92
$4.381 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$13.62 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 92
$14.07 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$19.99 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$17.15 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; beef, milk
Industries:
metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers,
motorcycles, televisions, synthetic fibers, fertilizer, textiles,
radios, refrigerators
Industrial production growth rate:
10.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Electricity - production:
29.92 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Electricity - consumption:
30.54 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Electricity - exports:
5.062 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
9.406 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
31,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Oil - consumption:
173,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Oil - exports:
303,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Oil - imports:
444,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Oil - proved reserves:
198 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Natural gas - production:
152 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Natural gas - consumption:
17 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 58
Natural gas - imports:
17.6 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.832 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Current account balance:
-$5.062 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
-$6.402 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$24.49 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$21.34 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals, metals,
textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Russia 33.6%, Netherlands 13.78%, Ukraine 8.68%, Latvia 6.32%,
Poland 4.19%, Germany 4.17% (2009)
Imports:
$29.79 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$28.31 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral products, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs,
metals
Imports - partners:
Russia 56.42%, Germany 8.31%, Ukraine 4.79%, China 4.04% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$5.755 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
$4.831 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$24.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$19.74 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Belarusian rubles (BYB/BYR) per US dollar - 3,019.9 (2010), 2,789.5
(2009), 2,130 (2008), 2,145 (2007), 2,144.6 (2006)
Communications ::Belarus
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.969 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 40
Telephones - mobile cellular:
9.686 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 67
Telephone system:
general assessment: Belarus lags behind its neighbors in upgrading
telecommunications infrastructure; modernization of the network
progressing with roughly two-thirds of switching equipment now
digital
domestic: state-owned Beltelcom is the sole provider of fixed-line
local and long distance service; fixed-line teledensity is improving
although rural areas continue to be underserved; multiple GSM
mobile-cellular networks are experiencing rapid growth;
mobile-cellular teledensity reached 100 telephones per 100 persons
in 2009
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); 3 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 (2008)
Broadcast media:
4 state-controlled national TV channels; Polish and Russian TV
broadcasts are available in some areas; state-run Belarusian Radio
operates 3 national networks and an external service; Russian and
Polish radio broadcasts are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.by
Internet hosts:
147,311 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 71
Internet users:
2.643 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 69
Transportation ::Belarus
Airports:
67 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 74
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 35
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 22
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 7 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 32
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 27 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 5,250 km; oil 1,528 km; refined products 1,730 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 5,537 km
country comparison to the world: 32
broad gauge: 5,512 km 1.520-m gauge (874 km electrified)
standard gauge: 25 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 94,797 km
country comparison to the world: 49
paved: 84,028 km
unpaved: 10,769 km (2005)
Waterways:
2,500 km (use limited by location on perimeter of country and by
shallowness) (2003)
country comparison to the world: 36
Ports and terminals:
Mazyr
Military ::Belarus
Military branches:
Belarus Armed Forces: Land Force, Air and Air Defense Force, Special
Operations Force (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-27 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 12-18 months, depending on academic
qualifications (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,435,318
females age 16-49: 2,466,762 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,708,634
females age 16-49: 2,043,083 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 55,758
female: 52,572 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Transnational Issues ::Belarus
Disputes - international:
Boundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuania in 2006; 1997 boundary
delimitation treaty with Ukraine remains unratified over unresolved
financial claims, preventing demarcation and diminishing border
security
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; anti-money-laundering legislation does
not meet international standards and was weakened further when
know-your-customer requirements were curtailed in 2008; few
investigations or prosecutions of money-laundering activities (2008)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Belgium (Europe)
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
country comparison to the world: 140
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
contiguous zone: 24 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: 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)
Total renewable water resources:
20.8 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 7.44 cu km/yr (13%/85%/1%)
per capita: 714 cu m/yr (1998)
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) had slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, 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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals within
1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO
People ::Belgium
Population:
10,423,493 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 857,373/female 822,303)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 3,480,072/female 3,419,721)
65 years and over: 17.6% (male 760,390/female 1,074,477) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 42 years
male: 40.7 years
female: 43.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.082% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Birth rate:
10.1 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Death rate:
10.5 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Net migration rate:
1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Urbanization:
urban population: 97% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.045 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.38 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 195
male: 4.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.37 years
country comparison to the world: 37
male: 76.21 years
female: 82.68 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.65 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
15,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Nationality:
noun: Belgian(s)
adjective: Belgian
Ethnic groups:
Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 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.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 16 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
6.1% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 36
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:
3 regions (French: regions, singular - region; Dutch: gewesten,
singular - gewest); Brussels-Capital Region, also known as Brussels
Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (Dutch), Region de Bruxelles-Capitale (French
long form), Bruxelles-Capitale (French short form); Flemish Region
(Flanders), also known as Vlaams Gewest (Dutch long form),
Vlaanderen (Dutch short form), Region Flamande (French long form),
Flandre (French short form); Walloon Region (Wallonia), also known
as Region Wallone (French long form), Wallonie (French short form),
Waals Gewest (Dutch long form), Wallonie (Dutch short form)
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 declared independence from
the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended 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:
based on 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 Yves LETERME (since 25 November
2009); note - the king accepted the resignation of LETERME on 26
April 2010; LETERME remains as caretaker
cabinet: Council of Ministers are formally appointed by the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional; following
legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the
leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by
the monarch and then approved by parliament
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat
in French (71 seats; 40 members directly elected by popular vote, 31
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 directly elected by
popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held on 13 June
2010 (next to be held no later than June 2014)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - N-VA 19.6%, PS
13.6%, CD&V 10%, sp.a 9.5%, MR 9.3%, Open VLD 8.2%, VB 7.6%, Ecolo
5.5%, CDH 5.1% Groen! 3.9%, other 7.7%; seats by party - N-VA 9, PS
7, CD&V 4, sp.a 4, MR 4, Open VLD 4, VB 3, Ecolo 2, CDH 2, Groen! 1;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - N-VA 17.4%, PS
13.7%, CD&V 10.9%, MR 9.3%, sp.a 9.2%, Open VLD 8.6%, VB 7.8%, CDH
5.5%, Ecolo 4.8%, Groen! 4.4%, List Dedecker 2.3%, the Popular Party
1.3%, other 4.8%; seats by party - N-VA 27, PS 26, CD&V 17, MR 18,
sp.a 13, Open VLD 13, VB 12, CDH 9, Ecolo 8, Groen! 5, List Dedecker
1, the Popular Party 1
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 Democratic and Flemish or CDV [Wouter
BEKE]; Dedecker List or LDD [Lode VEREECK]; Flemish Liberals and
Democrats or Open VLD [Alexander DE CROO]; Groen! [Wouter VAN
BESIEN] (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens); New Flemish Alliance or
N-VA [Bart DE WEVER]; Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A
[Caroline GENNEZ]; Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Bruno
VALKENIERS]
Francophone parties: Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX,
Sarah TURINE]; Humanist and Democratic Center or CDH [Joelle
MILQUET]; Popular Party or PP [ Mischael MODRIKAMEN]; 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
other: 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:
ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Australia
Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO,
FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNRWA,
UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jan MATTHYSEN
chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900
FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Howard W. GUTMAN
embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent [Regentlaan], 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 vertical design was based on the flag of France; the colors are
those of the arms of the duchy of Brabant (yellow lion with red
claws and tongue on a black field)
National anthem:
name: "La Brabanconne" (The Song of Brabant)
lyrics/music: Louis-Alexandre DECHET[French] Victor CEULEMANS
[Dutch]/Francois VAN CAMPENHOUT
note: adopted 1830; Louis-Alexandre DECHET was an actor at the
theater in which the revolution against the Netherlands began;
according to legend, he wrote the lyrics with a group of young
people in a Brussels cafe
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 imports substantial quantities of raw materials
and exports a large volume of manufactures, making its economy
vulnerable to volatility in world markets. Roughly three-quarters of
Belgium's trade is with other EU countries. In 2009 Belgian GDP
contracted by 2.7%, the unemployment rate rose slightly, and the
budget deficit worsened because of large-scale bail-outs in the
financial sector. Belgium's budget deficit widened to 4.8% of GDP in
2010, while public debt was just over 100% of GDP. Belgian banks
have been severely affected by the international financial crisis
with three major banks receiving capital injections from the
government. An ageing population and rising social expenditures are
also increasing pressure on public finances, making it likely the
government will need to implement unpopular austerity measures to
assuage investor concerns about Belgium's ability to restore fiscal
balance.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$394.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$388.7 billion (2009 est.)
$399.5 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$461.3 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
-2.7% (2009 est.)
0.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$37,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$37,300 (2009 est.)
$38,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.7%
industry: 22.1%
services: 77.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
5.02 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 25%
services: 73% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
7.9% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
15.2% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 28.4% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
28 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 121
28.7 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Public debt:
102.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
101% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
0% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 113
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
6.15% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
7.03% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$172.9 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 19
$178.7 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro
area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating
within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$539.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$536.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$801.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
$767.1 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$261.4 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 26
$167.4 billion (31 December 2008)
$386.4 billion (31 December 2007)
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:
4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Electricity - production:
82.17 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Electricity - consumption:
84.88 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Electricity - exports:
6.561 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
17.16 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
11,220 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Oil - consumption:
608,200 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Oil - exports:
433,700 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Oil - imports:
1.12 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Natural gas - consumption:
16.87 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Natural gas - imports:
16.78 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Current account balance:
-$1.129 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
$1.251 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$279.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
$261.1 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, finished diamonds, metals and
metal products, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Germany 19.58%, France 17.71%, Netherlands 11.84%, UK 7.21%, US
5.37%, Italy 4.77% (2009)
Imports:
$281.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
$261.3 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials, machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw diamonds,
pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products
Imports - partners:
Netherlands 17.93%, Germany 17.14%, France 11.69%, Ireland 6.26%, US
5.74%, UK 5.07%, China 4.09% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$23.98 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.241 trillion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 12
$1.354 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$741.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$705.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$632.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$595.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Belgium
Telephones - main lines in use:
4,255 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 215
Telephones - mobile cellular:
12.419 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 55
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed, technologically advanced, and
completely automated domestic and international telephone and
telegraph facilities
domestic: nationwide mobile-cellular telephone system; extensive
cable network; limited microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 32; landing point for a number of
submarine cables that provide links to Europe, the Middle East, and
Asia; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat - 3) (2007)
Broadcast media:
a segmented market with the three major communities (Flemish,
French, and German-speaking) each having responsibility for their
own broadcast media; multiple TV channels exist for each community;
additionally, in excess of 90% of households are connected to cable
and can access broadcasts of TV stations from neighboring countries;
each community has a public radio network co-existing with private
broadcasters (2007)
Internet country code:
.be
Internet hosts:
4.465 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 19
Internet users:
8.113 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 36
Transportation ::Belgium
Airports:
43 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 99
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 27
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 9 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 15 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 1,330 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 3,233 km
country comparison to the world: 54
standard gauge: 3,233 km 1.435-m gauge (2,950 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 152,256 km
country comparison to the world: 35
paved: 119,079 km (includes 1,763 km of expressways)
unpaved: 33,177 km (2006)
Waterways:
2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 44
Merchant marine:
total: 81
country comparison to the world: 55
by type: bulk carrier 21, cargo 8, chemical tanker 5, container 4,
liquefied gas 23, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off
7
foreign-owned: 13 (Denmark 4, France 5, UK 2, US 2)
registered in other countries: 104 (Bahamas 9, Cambodia 1, Cyprus 2,
France 7, Gibraltar 2, Greece 16, Hong Kong 16, Liberia 1,
Luxembourg 9, Malta 14, Moldova 2, Mozambique 2, North Korea 1,
Panama 2, Portugal 8, Russia 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 6, Vanuatu 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
cargo ports (tonnage): Antwerp, Gent, Liege, Zeebrugge
container ports (TEUs): Antwerp (8,662,891), Zeebrugge (2,209,715)
Military ::Belgium
Military branches:
Belgian Armed Forces: Land Operations Command, Naval Operations
Command, Air Operations Commands (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
suspended (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,377,191
females age 16-49: 2,309,941 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,949,361
females age 16-49: 1,891,966 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 60,726
female: 57,882 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Transnational Issues ::Belgium
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
growing producer of synthetic drugs and cannabis; 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; significant domestic consumption of ecstasy
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Belize (Central America and Caribbean)
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
and the two countries are involved in an ongoing border dispute.
Guatemala and Belize plan to hold a simultaneous referendum to
determine if this dispute will go before the International Court of
Justice at The Hague, though they have not yet set a date. Tourism
has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include the
country's heavy foreign debt burden, high unemployment, growing
involvement in the South American drug trade, high crime rates, and
increasing incidences of HIV/AIDS.
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
country comparison to the world: 151
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: Doyle's Delight 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)
Total renewable water resources:
18.6 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.15 cu km/yr (7%/73%/20%)
per capita: 556 cu m/yr (2000)
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, Whaling
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:
314,522 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.9% (male 59,462/female 57,117)
15-64 years: 58.6% (male 91,298/female 89,170)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 5,185/female 5,667) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.7 years
male: 20.5 years
female: 20.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.102% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Birth rate:
26.84 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Death rate:
5.82 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 90
Urbanization:
urban population: 52% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 22.52 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 92
male: 25.22 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.23 years
country comparison to the world: 150
male: 66.54 years
female: 70 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.28 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,600 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Belizean(s)
adjective: Belizean
Ethnic groups:
mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%
(2000 census)
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:
Spanish 46%, Creole 32.9%, Mayan dialects 8.9%, English 3.9%
(official), Garifuna 3.4% (Carib), German 3.3%, other 1.4%, unknown
0.2% (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.9%
male: 76.7%
female: 77.1% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 13 years
female: 12 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
5.1% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 62
Government ::Belize
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Belize
former: British Honduras
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
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 the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Constitution:
21 September 1981
Legal system:
English law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17
November 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Dean Oliver BARROW (since 8
February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar VEGA (since 12 February
2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition 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 seats;
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; to
serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (31 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held on 6 February 2008
(next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - UDP 56.3%, PUP 40.9%;
seats by party - UDP 25, PUP 6
Judicial branch:
Summary Jurisdiction Courts (criminal) and District Courts (civil
jurisdiction); Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the
governor general on the advice of the prime minister); Court of
Appeal; Privy Council in the UK; member of the Caribbean Court of
Justice (CCJ)
Political parties and leaders:
National Alliance for Belizean Rights or NABR; National Reform Party
or NRP [Cornelius DUECK]; People's National Party or PNP [Wil
MAHEIA]; People's United Party or PUP [John BRICENO]; United
Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW]; Vision Inspired by the People
or VIP [Paul MORGAN]; We the People Reform Movement or WTP [Hipolito
BAUTISTA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Nicole
HAYLOCK]; Association of Concerned Belizeans or ACB [David VASQUEZ];
National Trade Union Congress of Belize or NTUC/B [Rene GOMEZ]
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
PetroCaribe, RG, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nestor MENDEZ
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 Vinai THUMMALAPALLY
embassy: Floral Park Road, Belmopan City, Cayo District
mailing address: P.O. Box 497, Belmopan City, Cayo District, Belize
telephone: [501] 822-4011
FAX: [501] 822-4012
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
of 50 mahogany leaves; the colors are those of the two main
political parties: blue for the PUP and red for the UDP; various
elements of the coat of arms - the figures, the tools, the mahogany
tree, and the garland of leaves - recall the logging industry that
led to British settlement of Belize
note: Belize's flag is the only national flag that depicts human
beings; two British overseas territories, Montserrat and the British
Virgin Islands, also depict humans
National anthem:
name: "Land of the Free"
lyrics/music: Samuel Alfred HAYNES/Selwyn Walford YOUNG
note: adopted 1981; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the
national anthem, "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem
(see United Kingdom)
Economy ::Belize
Economy - overview:
In this small, essentially private-enterprise economy, tourism is
the number one foreign exchange earner followed by exports of 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 4% in
1999-2007, though growth slipped to 3.8% in 2008, 0% in 2009, and
1.5% in 2010 as a result of the global slowdown, natural disasters,
and the drop in the price of oil. Oil discoveries in 2006 bolstered
economic growth. Exploration efforts continue and production
increased a small amount in 2009. Major concerns continue to be the
sizable trade deficit and heavy foreign debt burden. In February
2007, the government restructured nearly all of its public external
commercial debt, which helped reduce interest payments and relieved
some of the country's liquidity concerns. A key objective remains
the reduction of poverty and inequality with the help of
international donors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.652 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
$2.613 billion (2009 est.)
$2.613 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.431 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
0% (2009 est.)
3.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
$8,500 (2009 est.)
$8,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 29%
industry: 16.9%
services: 54.1% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
120,500
country comparison to the world: 179
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
(2008 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 10.2%
industry: 18.1%
services: 71.7% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
13.1% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 137
8.2% (2008)
Population below poverty line:
33.5% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
26.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
-1.1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
12% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 31
12% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.08% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
14.14% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$389.5 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 161
$336.5 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.351 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
$1.084 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.291 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
$1.036 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
bananas, cacao, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber
Industries:
garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil
Industrial production growth rate:
1.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Electricity - production:
213.5 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Electricity - consumption:
198.5 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
248.4 million kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
3,990 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Oil - consumption:
7,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Oil - exports:
2,260 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Oil - imports:
7,204 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Oil - proved reserves:
6.7 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Current account balance:
-$151 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
-$93.3 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$404 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
$381.9 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood,
crude oil
Exports - partners:
US 30.7%, UK 29.77%, Nigeria 4.9%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.45% (2009)
Imports:
$740 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
$620.5 million (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco
Imports - partners:
US 33.65%, Mexico 14.17%, Cuba 8.51%, Guatemala 6.75%, Spain 6.07%,
China 4.12% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$219 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
$213.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.01 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
$954.1 million (2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar - 2 (2010), 2 (2009), 2 (2008),
2 (2007), 2 (2006)
Communications ::Belize
Telephones - main lines in use:
31,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 178
Telephones - mobile cellular:
161,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 175
Telephone system:
general assessment: above-average system; trunk network depends
primarily on microwave radio relay
domestic: fixed-line teledensity of 10 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 55 per 100 persons
international: country code - 501; landing point for the Americas
Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic
telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to South and
Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth
station - 8 (Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2008)
Broadcast media:
8 privately-owned TV stations; multi-channel cable TV provides
access to foreign stations; about 25 radio stations broadcasting on
roughly 50 different frequencies; state-run radio was privatized in
1998 (2007)
Internet country code:
.bz
Internet hosts:
2,880 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 147
Internet users:
36,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 177
Transportation ::Belize
Airports:
45 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 96
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 41
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 27 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 3,007 km
country comparison to the world: 165
paved: 575 km
unpaved: 2,432 km (2006)
Waterways:
825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 71
Merchant marine:
total: 231
country comparison to the world: 33
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 37, cargo 146, chemical
tanker 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 7,
refrigerated cargo 27, roll on/roll off 10
foreign-owned: 171 (Chile 1, China 64, Croatia 1, Cyprus 1, Estonia
1, Germany 1, Greece 2, Iceland 2, Italy 3, Japan 1, Latvia 10,
Lithuania 2, Netherlands 1, Nigeria 2, Norway 3, Peru 1, Russia 32,
Singapore 7, Spain 1, Syria 2, Turkey 18, UAE 5, UK 4, Ukraine 6)
(2010)
Ports and terminals:
Belize City, Big Creek
Military ::Belize
Military branches:
Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, BDF Air Wing (includes Special
Boat Unit), BDF Volunteer Guard (2010)
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 (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 79,088
females age 16-49: 77,147 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 57,759
females age 16-49: 55,903 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 3,678
female: 3,543 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.4% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 107
Transnational Issues ::Belize
Disputes - international:
OAS-initiated Agreement on the Framework for Negotiations and
Confidence Building Measures saw cooperation in repatriation of
Guatemalan squatters and other areas, but Guatemalan land and
maritime claims in Belize and the Caribbean Sea remain unresolved;
the Line of Adjacency created under the 2002 Differendum serves in
lieu of the contiguous international boundary to control squatting
in the sparsely inhabited rain forests of Belize's border region;
Honduras claims Belizean-administered Sapodilla Cays in its
constitution but agreed to a joint ecological park under the
Differendum
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Belize is a source, transit, and destination
country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of
commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; the most common
form of trafficking in Belize is the internal sex trafficking of
minors; some Central American men, women, and children, particularly
from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, migrate voluntarily to
Belize in search of work but are subsequently subjected to
conditions of forced labor or forced prostitution
tier rating: Belize is placed on Tier 2 Watch List because it does
not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of
trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so;
despite efforts to raise public awareness of human trafficking and
provide protection services for trafficking victims, the government
did not show evidence of progress in convicting and sentencing
trafficking offenders last year (2009)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of
cannabis, primarily for local consumption; offshore sector
money-laundering activity related to narcotics trafficking and other
crimes (2008)
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Benin (Africa)
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. KEREKOU stepped down at the end of his second term in 2006
and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI Boni, a political outsider and
independent. YAYI has begun a high profile fight against corruption
and has strongly promoted accelerating Benin's economic growth.
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: 112,622 sq km
country comparison to the world: 101
land: 110,622 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)
Total renewable water resources:
25.8 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.13 cu km/yr (32%/23%/45%)
per capita: 15 cu m/yr (2001)
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, Whaling
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:
9,056,010
country comparison to the world: 90
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45.2% (male 2,028,493/female 1,948,353)
15-64 years: 52.1% (male 2,275,662/female 2,308,945)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 94,569/female 135,810) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.3 years
male: 16.9 years
female: 17.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.944% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Birth rate:
38.67 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Death rate:
9.23 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Urbanization:
urban population: 41% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 63.13 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 30
male: 66.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 59.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 59.42 years
country comparison to the world: 188
male: 58.21 years
female: 60.68 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.4 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
64,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,300 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective: Beninese
Ethnic groups:
Fon and related 39.2%, Adja and related 15.2%, Yoruba and related
12.3%, Bariba and related 9.2%, Peulh and related 7%, Ottamari and
related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4%, Dendi and related 2.5%,
other 1.6% (includes Europeans), unspecified 2.9% (2002 census)
Religions:
Christian 42.8% (Catholic 27.1%, Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other
Protestant 2.2%, other 5.3%), Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, other
15.5% (2002 census)
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: 34.7%
male: 47.9%
female: 23.3% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 6 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
3.6% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 130
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:
adopted by referendum 2 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 Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); runoff election held on 19 March 2006
(next to be held in March 2011)
election results: Thomas YAYI Boni elected president; percent of
vote - Thomas 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 on 31 March 2007 (next to be held by March 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
FCBE 35, ADD 20, PRD 10, other and independents 18
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or
Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders:
African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou
FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance for Dynamic Democracy or ADD; Alliance of
Progress Forces or AFP; Benin Renaissance or RB [Rosine SOGLO];
Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Force Cowrie
for an Emerging Benin or FCBE; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or
IPD [Theophile NATA]; Key Force or FC [Lazare SEHOUETO]; Movement
for the People's Alternative or MAP [Olivier CAPO-CHICHI]; Rally for
Democracy and Progress or RDP [Dominique HOUNGNINOU]; Social
Democrat Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Union for Democracy and
National Solidarity or UDS [Sacca LAFIA]; Union for the Relief or
UPR [Issa SALIFOU]
note: approximately 20 additional minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: economic groups; environmentalists; political groups;
teachers' unions and other educational groups
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO,
NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, 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 James A. KNIGHT
embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou
telephone: [229] 21-30-06-50
FAX: [229] 21-30-03-84
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a
vertical green band on the hoist side; green symbolizes hope and
revival, yellow wealth, and red courage
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
National anthem:
name: "L'Aube Nouvelle" (The Dawn of a New Day)
lyrics/music: Gilbert Jean DAGNON
note: adopted 1960
Economy ::Benin
Economy - overview:
The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on
subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade.
Growth in real output had averaged about 4% before the global
recession, but fell to 2.5% in 2009 and 3% in 2010. Inflation has
subsided over the past several years. In order to raise growth,
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. Specific projects to improve the business
climate by reforms to the land tenure system, the commercial justice
system, and the financial sector were included in Benin's $307
million Millennium Challenge Account grant signed in February 2006.
The 2001 privatization policy continues in telecommunications,
water, electricity, and agriculture. As result of these reforms,
Benin has become the most competitive country in the West African
Economic and Monetary Union, according to the World Economic Forum.
The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt
situation, with Benin benefiting from a G-8 debt reduction announced
in July 2005, while pressing for more rapid structural reforms. An
insufficient electrical supply continues to adversely affect Benin's
economic growth though the government recently has taken steps to
increase domestic power production.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$14.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
$13.79 billion (2009 est.)
$13.42 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$6.494 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
2.7% (2009 est.)
5.1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
$1,600 (2009 est.)
$1,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 33.2%
industry: 14.5%
services: 52.3% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
3.662 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
37.4% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 29% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.5 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 82
Investment (gross fixed):
18.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
2.2% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 91
4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.551 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 125
$1.619 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$2.424 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
$2.517 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.222 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
$1.269 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts,
cashews; livestock
Industries:
textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Electricity - production:
124 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Electricity - consumption:
597 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
588 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Oil - consumption:
23,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Oil - exports:
8,770 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Oil - imports:
28,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Oil - proved reserves:
8 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.133 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Current account balance:
-$582 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
-$644 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.125 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
$994 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood
Exports - partners:
India 19.72%, China 13.18%, Niger 6.94%, Nigeria 6.56%, Indonesia
5.73%, Togo 5.63%, Namibia 4.17% (2009)
Imports:
$1.812 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
$1.703 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
China 35.62%, US 7.51%, France 7.38%, Thailand 6.71%, Malaysia
6.13%, Netherlands 4.83%, Belgium 4.02% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.254 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
$1.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.894 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
$986.2 million (31 December 2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 506.04
(2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006)
Communications ::Benin
Telephones - main lines in use:
127,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 141
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.033 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 94
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate system of open-wire, microwave radio
relay, and cellular connections; fixed-line network characterized by
aging, deteriorating equipment
domestic: fixed-line teledensity only about 2 per 100 persons;
spurred by the presence of multiple mobile-cellular providers,
cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly
international: country code - 229; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC
fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and
Asia; long distance fiber-optic links with Togo, Burkina Faso,
Niger, and Nigeria; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat-Atlantic
Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:
state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et de Television du Benin (ORTB)
operates a TV station with multiple channels giving it a wide
broadcast reach; several privately-owned TV stations broadcast from
Cotonou; satellite TV subscription service is available; state-owned
radio, under ORTB control, includes a national station supplemented
by a number of regional stations; substantial number of
privately-owned radio broadcast stations; transmissions of a few
international broadcasters are available on FM in Cotonou (2007)
Internet country code:
.bj
Internet hosts:
1,286 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 165
Internet users:
200,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 139
Transportation ::Benin
Airports:
5 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 180
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
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 (2010)
Railways:
total: 578 km
country comparison to the world: 112
narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 16,000 km
country comparison to the world: 120
paved: 1,400 km
unpaved: 14,600 km (2006)
Waterways:
150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2007)
country comparison to the world: 102
Ports and terminals:
Cotonou
Military ::Benin
Military branches:
Benin Armed Forces (FAB): Army (l'Arme de Terre), Benin Navy (Forces
Navales Beninois, FNB), Benin People's Air Force (Force Aerienne
Populaire de Benin, FAPB) (2008)
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
(2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,023,449
females age 16-49: 1,971,788 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,331,242
females age 16-49: 1,345,145 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 105,468
female: 101,603 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 129
Transnational Issues ::Benin
Disputes - international:
in September 2007, Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) intervened to attempt to resolve the dispute over two
villages along the Benin-Burkina Faso border that remain from 2005
ICJ decision; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with
Nigeria, remains undemarcated; in 2005, Nigeria ceded thirteen
villages to Benin, but border relations remain strained by rival
cross-border gang clashes; talks continue between Benin and Togo on
funding the Adjrala hydroelectric dam on the Mona River
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 9,444 (Togo) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point used by traffickers for cocaine destined for
Western Europe; vulnerable to money laundering due to poorly
enforced financial regulations (2008)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Bermuda (North America)
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: 54 sq km
country comparison to the world: 231
land: 54 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 the US
Government from 1941 to 1995
People ::Bermuda
Population:
68,265 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 6,271/female 6,163)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 22,555/female 23,215)
65 years and over: 14.2% (male 3,979/female 5,654) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 41.6 years
male: 40.2 years
female: 43.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.62% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Birth rate:
11.47 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Death rate:
7.43 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Net migration rate:
2.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Urbanization:
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.018 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 2.46 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 221
male: 2.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.6 years
country comparison to the world: 19
male: 77.37 years
female: 83.88 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.98 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 90
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
163 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 161
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
392 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 100
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.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
1.2% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 180
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 47 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November
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 Richard GOZNEY (since 12 December 2007)
head of government: Premier Paula COX (since 29 October 2010);
Deputy Premier Derrick BURGESS
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed
premier by the governor
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; members
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 on 18 December 2007 (next to
be held not later than 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 52.5%, UBP 47.3%;
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 [Kim SWAN]
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), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UPU, WCO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Grace W. SHELTON
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, 296-9233
Flag description:
red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
the Bermudian coat of arms (a white shield with a red lion standing
on a green grassy field holding a scrolled shield showing the
sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the
outer half of the flag; it was the shipwreck of the vessel, filled
with English colonists originally bound for Virginia, that led to
settling of Bermuda
note: the flag is unusual in that it is only British overseas
territory that uses a red ensign, all others use blue
National anthem:
name: "Hail to Bermuda"
lyrics/music: Bette JOHNS
note: serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United
Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
Economy ::Bermuda
Economy - overview:
Bermuda enjoys the third highest per capita income in the world,
more than 50% higher than that of the US; the average cost of a
house by the mid-2000s exceeded $1,000,000. 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 the 11 September 2001 attacks and
again after Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 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 largely focused on construction and
agriculture is limited, with only 20% of the land being arable.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.5 billion (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
4.6% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$69,900 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 10%
services: 89% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
38,360 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 200
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.)
country comparison to the world: 15
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)
country comparison to the world: 86
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.36 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 95
$1.912 billion (31 December 2008)
$2.731 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products, honey
Industries:
international business, tourism, light manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
675.6 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Electricity - consumption:
628.3 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Oil - imports:
4,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Exports:
$763 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 160
Exports - commodities:
reexports of pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners:
Spain 16.91%, India 10.15%, Brazil 9.55%, Germany 7.4% (2009)
Imports:
$1.162 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 168
Imports - commodities:
clothing, fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction
materials, chemicals, food and live animals
Imports - partners:
US 31.2%, South Korea 26.71%, Brazil 6.77%, Ireland 6.11%, Singapore
5.35% (2009)
Debt - external:
$160 million (FY99/00)
country comparison to the world: 177
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Bermudian dollars (BMD) per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to
the US dollar)
Communications ::Bermuda
Telephones - main lines in use:
57,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 157
Telephones - mobile cellular:
85,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 187
Telephone system:
general assessment: good
domestic: fully automatic digital telephone system; fiber optic
trunk lines
international: country code - 1-441; landing points for the
GlobeNet, Gemini Bermuda, and the Challenger Bermuda-1
(CB-1)submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 (2007)
Broadcast media:
3 television stations; cable and satellite TV subscription services
are available; roughly 10 radio stations operating (2007)
Internet country code:
.bm
Internet hosts:
19,855 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 112
Internet users:
54,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 172
Transportation ::Bermuda
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 236
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 447 km
country comparison to the world: 196
paved: 447 km
note: public roads - 225 km; private roads - 222 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 139
country comparison to the world: 43
by type: bulk carrier 22, chemical tanker 3, container 15, liquefied
gas 38, passenger 26, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 20,
refrigerated cargo 9
foreign-owned: 114 (China 13, France 1, Germany 15, Greece 2, Hong
Kong 5, Ireland 2, Israel 3, Japan 2, Monaco 2, Nigeria 11, Norway
5, Sweden 17, UK 11, US 25)
registered in other countries: 180 (Bahamas 12, Cyprus 1, Greece 3,
Hong Kong 12, Isle of Man 7, Liberia 4, Malta 8, Marshall Islands
34, Norway 5, Panama 15, Philippines 43, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 1, Singapore 21, UK 9, US 5) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Hamilton, Ireland Island, Saint George
Military ::Bermuda
Military branches:
Bermuda Regiment (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for voluntary or compulsory enlistment in the
Bermuda Regiment; males must register at age 18; term of service is
38 months (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 15,217 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 12,405
females age 16-49: 12,327 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 436
female: 397 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.11% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Bermuda
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Bhutan (South Asia)
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 over 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. In December 2006, the King abdicated the throne to his
son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK, in order to give him experience
as head of state before the democratic transition. In early 2007,
India and Bhutan renegotiated their treaty to allow Bhutan greater
autonomy in conducting its foreign policy, although Thimphu
continues to coordinate policy decisions in this area with New
Delhi. In July 2007, seven ministers of Bhutan's ten-member cabinet
resigned to join the political process, and the cabinet acted as a
caretaker regime until democratic elections for seats to the
country's first parliament were completed in March 2008. The king
ratified the country's first constitution in July 2008.
Geography ::Bhutan
Location:
Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates:
27 30 N, 90 30 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 38,394 sq km
country comparison to the world: 136
land: 38,394 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about one-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: Drangeme Chhu 97 m
highest point: Gangkar Puensum 7,570 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)
Total renewable water resources:
95 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.43 cu km/yr (5%/1%/94%)
per capita: 199 cu m/yr (2000)
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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection
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:
699,847
country comparison to the world: 164
note: the Factbook population estimate is consistent with the first
modern census of Bhutan, conducted in 2005; previous Factbook
population estimates for this country, which were on the order of
three times the total population reported here, were based on
Bhutanese government publications that did not include the census
(July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.2% (male 106,410/female 102,164)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 235,988/female 208,484)
65 years and over: 5.5% (male 20,169/female 17,926) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.3 years
male: 25 years
female: 23.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.236% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Birth rate:
19.62 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Death rate:
7.25 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 88
Urbanization:
urban population: 35% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 46.92 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 55
male: 47.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 45.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.71 years
country comparison to the world: 158
male: 65.89 years
female: 67.57 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.29 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
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.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.1% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 63
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:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Thimphu
geographic coordinates: 27 29 N, 89 36 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
20 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha,
Chirang, Daga, Gasa, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro,
Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang,
Tashi Yangtse, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
Independence:
1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king)
National holiday:
National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17
December (1907)
Constitution:
ratified 18 July 2008
Legal system:
based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14
December 2006); note - King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK abdicated the
throne on 14 December 2006 and his son immediately succeeded him;
the nearly two-year delay between the former King's abdication and
his son's coronation on 6 November 2008 was to ensure an
astrologically auspicious coronation date and to give the new king,
who had limited experience, deeper administrative expertise under
the guidance of this father
head of government: Prime Minister Jigme THINLEY (since 9 April 2008)
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 are nominated by the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary, but democratic reforms in
July 1998 grant the National Assembly authority to remove the
monarch with two-thirds vote; election of a new National Assembly
occurred in March 2008; the leader of the majority party nominated
as the prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the non-partisan National Council
(25 seats; 20 members elected by each of the 20 electoral districts
(dzongkhags) for four-year terms and 5 members nominated by the
King); and the National Assembly (47 seats; members elected by
direct, popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: National Council elections last held on 31 December 2007
and 29 January 2008 (next to be held by December 2012); National
Assembly elections last held on 24 March 2008 (next to be held by
March 2013)
election results: National Council - NA; National Assembly - percent
of vote by party - DPT 67%, PDP 33%; seats by party - DPT 45, PDP 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed
by the monarch); note - the draft constitution establishes a Supreme
Court that will serve as chief court of appeal
Political parties and leaders:
Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or DPT
[Jigme THINLEY]; People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tshering TOBGAY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
United Front for Democracy (exiled); Druk National Congress (exiled)
other: Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading
militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community
International organization participation:
ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, NAM,
OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none; note - the Permanent Mission to the UN for Bhutan has consular
jurisdiction in the US; the permanent representative to the UN is
Daw PENJO; address: 763 First Avenue, New York, NY 10017; telephone
[1] (212) 682-2268; FAX [1] (212) 661-0551
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; the dragon, called the Druk (Thunder Dragon), is the
emblem of the nation; its white color stands for purity and the
jewels in its claws symbolize wealth; the background colors
represent spiritual and secular powers within Bhutan: the orange is
associated with Bhuddism, while the yellow denotes the ruling dynasty
National anthem:
name: "Druk tsendhen" (The Thunder Dragon Kingdom)
lyrics/music: Gyaldun Dasho Thinley DORJI/Aku TONGMI
note: adopted 1953
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 60% 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. 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. Complicated controls and uncertain policies in areas such
as industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to
hamper foreign investment. Hydropower exports to India have boosted
Bhutan's overall growth. New hydropower projects will be the driving
force behind Bhutan's ability to create employment and sustain
growth in the coming years.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.526 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
$3.301 billion (2009 est.)
$3.123 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.397 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
5.7% (2009 est.)
2.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
$4,800 (2009 est.)
$4,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17.6%
industry: 45%
services: 37.4% (2006)
Labor force:
299,900
country comparison to the world: 164
note: major shortage of skilled labor (2008)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 63%
industry: 6%
services: 31% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 36
2.5% (2004)
Population below poverty line:
23.2% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 37.6% (2003)
Public debt:
57.8% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 40
81.4% of GDP (2004)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
4.9% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA%
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$335 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 164
$381.1 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of broad money:
$NA (31 December 2009)
$647.6 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$169.9 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs
Industries:
cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages,
calcium carbide, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.48 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Electricity - consumption:
184 million kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Electricity - exports:
1.296 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Oil - imports:
1,250 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Current account balance:
$164 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$116 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$513 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 166
$350 million (2006)
Exports - commodities:
electricity (to India), ferrosilicon, cement, calcium carbide,
copper wire, manganese, vegetable oil
Exports - partners:
India 86.3%, Bangladesh 8.1%, Italy 1.5% (2008)
Imports:
$533 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 187
$320 million (2006)
Imports - commodities:
fuel and lubricants, passenger cars, machinery and parts, fabrics,
rice (2008)
Imports - partners:
India 63%, Japan 12.3%, China 5.1% (2008)
Debt - external:
$836 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 152
$713.3 million (2006)
Exchange rates:
ngultrum (BTN) per US dollar - 46.6 (2009), 41.487 (2007), 45.279
(2006), 44.101 (2005), 45.317 (2004)
note: the ngultrum is pegged to the Indian rupee
Communications ::Bhutan
Telephones - main lines in use:
26,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 182
Telephones - mobile cellular:
327,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 169
Telephone system:
general assessment: urban towns and district headquarters have
telecommunications services
domestic: low teledensity; domestic service is poor especially in
rural areas; mobile-cellular service available since 2003
international: country code - 975; international telephone and
telegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-owned TV station established in 1999; cable TV service offers
dozens of Indian and other international channels; first radio
station, privately launched in 1973, is now state-owned; 1 private
radio station began operations in 2006 (2007)
Internet country code:
.bt
Internet hosts:
9,147 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 125
Internet users:
50,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 173
Transportation ::Bhutan
Airports:
2 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 196
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 8,050 km
country comparison to the world: 141
paved: 4,991 km
unpaved: 3,059 km (2003)
Military ::Bhutan
Military branches:
Royal Bhutan Army (includes Royal Bodyguard and Royal Bhutan Police)
(2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 198,553
females age 16-49: 176,226 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 153,985
females age 16-49: 140,437 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 7,432
female: 7,153 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Transnational Issues ::Bhutan
Disputes - international:
Bhutan cooperates with India to expel Indian Nagaland separatists;
lacking any treaty describing the boundary, Bhutan and China
continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to
resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial cartographic
discrepancies, the largest of which lie in Bhutan's northwest and
along the Chumbi salient
page last updated on January 13, 2011
======================================================================
@Bolivia (South America)
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,
indigenous 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. In December 2009, President
MORALES easily won reelection, and his party took control of the
legislative branch of the government, which will allow him to
continue his process of change.
Geography ::Bolivia
Location:
Central South America, southwest of Brazil
Geographic coordinates:
17 00 S, 65 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 1,098,581 sq km
country comparison to the world: 28
land: 1,083,301 sq km
water: 15,280 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 6,940 km
border countries: Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,423 km, Chile 860 km,
Paraguay 750 km, Peru 1,075 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)
Total renewable water resources:
622.5 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.44 cu km/yr (13%/7%/81%)
per capita: 157 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
flooding in the northeast (March-April)
volcanism: Bolivia experiences volcanic activity in Andes Mountains
on the border with Chile; historically active volcanoes in this
region are Irruputuncu (elev. 5,163 m, 16,939 ft), which last
erupted in 1995 and Olca-Paruma
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
Geography - note:
landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest
navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru
People ::Bolivia
Population:
9,947,418 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.5% (male 1,767,310/female 1,701,744)
15-64 years: 60% (male 2,877,605/female 2,992,043)
65 years and over: 4.5% (male 193,196/female 243,348) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.2 years
male: 21.5 years
female: 22.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.72% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Birth rate:
25.16 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Death rate:
6.95 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Net migration rate:
-1.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Urbanization:
urban population: 66% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 43.41 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 63
male: 47.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 39.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.23 years
country comparison to the world: 155
male: 64.52 years
female: 70.07 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.07 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
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 60.7% (official), Quechua 21.2% (official), Aymara 14.6%
(official), foreign languages 2.4%, other 1.2% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.7%
male: 93.1%
female: 80.7% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
6.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 31
Government ::Bolivia
Country name:
conventional long form: Plurinational State of Bolivia
conventional short form: Bolivia
local long form: Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia
local short form: Bolivia
Government type:
republic; note - the new constitution defines Bolivia as a "Social
Unitarian State"
Capital:
name: La Paz (administrative 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:
7 February 2009
Legal system:
based on Spanish law and Napoleonic Code; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; the 2009 Constitution incorporates
indigenous community justice into Bolivia's judicial system
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)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a five-year term and are eligible for a single
re-election; election last held on 6 December 2009 (next to be held
in 2014)
election results: Juan Evo MORALES Ayma reelected president; percent
of vote - Juan Evo MORALES Ayma 64%; Manfred REYES VILLA 26%; Samuel
DORIA MEDINA Arana 6%; Rene JOAQUINO 2%; other 2%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Plurinational Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa
Plurinacional consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores
(36 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 total; 70 uninominal deputies
directly elected from a single district, 7 "special" indigenous
deputies directly elected from non-contiguous indigenous districts,
and 53 plurinominal deputies elected by proportional representation
from party lists; all deputies serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held
on 6 December 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - MAS 26, PPB-CN 10; Chamber of Deputies -
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MAS 89, PPB-CN 36,
UN 3, AS 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges elected by popular vote from
list of candidates pre-selected by Assembly for six-year terms);
District Courts (one in each department); Plurinational
Constitutional Court (five primary or titulares and five alternate
or suplente magistrates elected by popular vote from list of
candidates pre-selected by Assembly for six-year terms; to rule on
constitutional issues); Plurinational Electoral Organ (seven members
elected by the Assembly and the president; one member must be of
indigenous origin to six-year terms); Agro-Environmental Court
(judges elected by popular vote from list of candidates pre-selected
by Assembly for six-year terms; to run on agro-environmental
issues); provincial and local courts (to try minor cases)
Political parties and leaders:
Bolivia-National Convergence or PPB-CN [Manfred REYES VILLA];
Fearless Movement or MSM [Juan DE GRANADO Cosio]; Movement Toward
Socialism or MAS [Juan Evo MORALES Ayma]; National Unity or UN
[Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana]; People or Gente [Roman LOAYZA]; Social
Alliance or AS [Rene JOAQUINO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Bolivian Workers Central or COR; Federation of Neighborhood Councils
of El Alto or FEJUVE; Landless Movement or MST; National Coordinator
for Change or CONALCAM; Sole Confederation of Campesino Workers of
Bolivia or CSUTCB
other: Cocalero groups; indigenous organizations (including
Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Eastern Bolivia or CIDOB and
National Council of Ayullus and Markas of Quollasuyu or CONAMAQ);
labor unions (including the Central Bolivian Workers' Union or COB
and Cooperative Miners Federation or FENCOMIN)
International organization participation:
CAN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA,
MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Erika
Angela DUENAS Loayza
chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4410
FAX: [1] (202) 328-3712
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
note: as of September 2008, the US has expelled the Bolivian
ambassador to the US
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires John CREAMER
embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, Casilla 425, La Paz
mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032
telephone: [591] (2) 216-8000
FAX: [591] (2) 216-8111
note: in September 2008, the Bolivian Government expelled the US
Ambassador to Bolivia, and the countries have yet to reinstate
ambassadors
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with
the coat of arms centered on the yellow band; red stands for bravery
and the blood of national heroes, yellow for the nation's mineral
resources, and green for the fertility of the land
note: similar to the flag of Ghana, which has a large black
five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; in 2009, a
presidential decree made it mandatory for a so-called wiphala - a
square, multi-colored flag representing the country's indigenous
peoples - to be used alongside the traditional flag
National anthem:
name: "Cancion Patriotica" (Patriotic Song)
lyrics/music: Jose Ignacio de SANJINES/Leopoldo Benedetto VINCENTI
note: adopted 1852
Economy ::Bolivia
Economy - overview:
Bolivia is one of the poorest and least developed countries in Latin
America. Following a disastrous economic crisis during the early
1980s, reforms spurred private investment, stimulated economic
growth, and cut poverty rates in the 1990s. The period 2003-05 was
characterized by political instability, racial tensions, and violent
protests against plans - subsequently abandoned - to export
Bolivia's newly discovered natural gas reserves to large northern
hemisphere markets. In 2005, the government passed a controversial
hydrocarbons law that imposed significantly higher royalties and
required foreign firms then operating under risk-sharing contracts
to surrender all production to the state energy company in exchange
for a predetermined service fee. After higher prices for mining and
hydrocarbons exports produced a fiscal surplus in 2008, the global
recession in 2009 slowed growth. A decline in commodity prices that
began in late 2008, a lack of foreign investment in the mining and
hydrocarbon sectors, a poor infrastructure, and the suspension of
trade benefits with the United States will pose challenges for the
Bolivian economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$47.98 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
$46.22 billion (2009 est.)
$44.7 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$19.18 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
3.4% (2009 est.)
6.1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
$4,700 (2009 est.)
$4,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11%
industry: 38%
services: 51% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
4.614 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 40%
industry: 17%
services: 43% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
7.7% (2009 est.)
note: data are for urban areas; widespread underemployment
Population below poverty line:
30.3% of population living on less than $2/day (2009 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 44.1% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
58.2 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 9
44.7 (1999)
Investment (gross fixed):
17.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Public debt:
40.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
40.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
3.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3% (31 October 2010)
country comparison to the world: 26
13% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
12.36% (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$4.374 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 97
$3.524 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$12.16 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 95
$11.04 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$8.314 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$7.233 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$2.792 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 90
$2.672 billion (31 December 2008)
$2.263 billion (31 December 2007)
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:
4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Electricity - production:
5.495 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Electricity - consumption:
4.665 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
47,050 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Oil - consumption:
59,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Oil - exports:
10,950 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Oil - imports:
6,172 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Oil - proved reserves:
465 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Natural gas - production:
14.2 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Natural gas - consumption:
2.41 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Natural gas - exports:
11.79 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Natural gas - proved reserves:
750.4 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Current account balance:
$878 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$800.7 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$6.058 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
$4.848 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
natural gas, soybeans and soy products, crude petroleum, zinc ore,
tin
Exports - partners:
Brazil 41.38%, US 13.87%, Japan 5.62%, Colombia 5.32%, South Korea
4.7%, Peru 4.16% (2009)
Imports:
$5.006 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$4.095 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, plastics, paper, aircraft and aircraft parts,
prepared foods, automobiles, insecticides, soybeans
Imports - partners:
Brazil 27.12%, Argentina 15.69%, US 12.77%, Chile 9.11%, Peru 6.85%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$8.739 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
$8.581 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$6.13 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$5.653 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA (31 December 2009)
$5.998 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA (31 December 2010)
$63.8 million (31 December 2008)
Exchange rates:
bolivianos (BOB) per US dollar - 7.0699 (2010), 7.07 (2009), 7.253
(2008), 7.8616 (2007), 8.0159 (2006)
Communications ::Bolivia
Telephones - main lines in use:
810,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 87
Telephones - mobile cellular:
7.148 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 81
Telephone system:
general assessment: privatization begun in 1995; primary trunk
system, which is being expanded, employs digital microwave radio
relay; some areas are served by fiber-optic cable; overall
reliability has steadily improved
domestic: most telephones are concentrated in La Paz and other
cities; mobile-cellular telephone use expanding rapidly and, in
2009, teledensity reached 75 per 100 persons; fixed-line teledensity
is low at less than 10 per 100 persons
international: country code - 591; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
large number of radio and television broadcasting stations with
private media outlets dominating; state-owned and private radio and
television stations generally operating freely, although both
pro-government and anti-government groups have attacked media
outlets in response to their reporting (2007)
Internet country code:
.bo
Internet hosts:
125,462 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 74
Internet users:
1.103 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 95
Transportation ::Bolivia
Airports:
881 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 8
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 865
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 58
914 to 1,523 m: 187
under 914 m: 615 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 5,192 km; liquid petroleum gas 51 km; oil 2,488 km; refined
products 1,590 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 3,504 km
country comparison to the world: 50
narrow gauge: 3,504 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 62,479 km
country comparison to the world: 73
paved: 3,749 km
unpaved: 58,730 km (2004)
Waterways:
10,000 km (commercially navigable almost exclusively in the northern
and eastern parts of the country) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 13
Merchant marine:
total: 22
country comparison to the world: 98
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 11, carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1,
petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 7 (Bahamas 1, Ecuador 1, Iran 1, Syria 4) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Puerto Aguirre (inland port on the Paraguay/Parana waterway at the
Bolivia/Brazil border); 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, EB),
Bolivian Navy (Fuerza Naval Boliviana, FNB; includes marines),
Bolivian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana, FAB) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-49 years of age for 12-month compulsory military service; when
annual number of volunteers falls short of goal, compulsory
recruitment is effected, including conscription of boys as young as
14; 15-19 years of age for voluntary premilitary service, provides
exemption from further military service (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,415,712
females age 16-49: 2,482,359 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,714,438
females age 16-49: 1,959,763 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 108,336
female: 104,934 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 115
Transnational Issues ::Bolivia
Disputes - international:
Chile and Peru rebuff Bolivia's reactivated claim to restore the
Atacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, but Chile offers instead
unrestricted but not sovereign maritime access through Chile for
Bolivian natural gas and other commodities; an accord placed the
long-disputed Isla Suarez/Ilha de Guajara-Mirim, a fluvial island on
the Rio Mamore, under Bolivian administration in 1958, but
sovereignty remains in dispute
Illicit drugs:
world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Colombia and Peru)
with an estimated 29,500 hectares under cultivation in 2007,
increased slightly when compared to 2006; third largest producer of
cocaine, estimated at 120 metric tons potential pure cocaine in
2007; transit country for Peruvian and Colombian cocaine destined
for Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Europe; cultivation
generally increasing since 2000, despite eradication and alternative
crop programs; weak border controls; some money-laundering activity
related to narcotics trade; major cocaine consumption (2008)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Bosnia and Herzegovina (Europe)
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 multi-ethnic and democratic
government charged with conducting foreign, diplomatic, and fiscal
policy. Also recognized was a second tier of government composed 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 Dayton Accords also established the
Office of the High Representative (OHR) to oversee the
implementation of the civilian aspects of the agreement. The Peace
Implementation Council (PIC) at its conference in Bonn in 1997 also
gave the High Representative the authority to impose legislation and
remove officials, the so-called "Bonn Powers." 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. EUFOR's mission changed from
peacekeeping to civil policing in October 2007, with its presence
reduced from nearly 7,000 to less than 2,500 troops. Troop strength
at the end of 2009 stood at roughly 2,000. In January 2010, Bosnia
and Herzegovina assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security
Council for the 2010-11 term.
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: 51,197 sq km
country comparison to the world: 128
land: 51,187 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,538 km
border countries: Croatia 932 km, Montenegro 249 km, Serbia 357 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, timber, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 19.61%
permanent crops: 1.89%
other: 78.5% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
37.5 cu 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, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, 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 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:
4,621,598 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.5% (male 344,760/female 323,303)
15-64 years: 70.7% (male 1,645,274/female 1,617,136)
65 years and over: 14.8% (male 279,781/female 403,160) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.3 years
male: 39.1 years
female: 41.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.016% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Birth rate:
8.87 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
Death rate:
8.71 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Urbanization:
urban population: 47% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.074 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.88 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 156
male: 10.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.66 years
country comparison to the world: 44
male: 75.09 years
female: 82.49 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.26 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
900 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
100 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
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 (official), Croatian (official), Serbian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.7%
male: 99%
female: 94.4% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
NA
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 a self-governing
administrative unit under the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina
and formally held in condominium between the two entities; the
District remains under international supervision
Independence:
1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia; referendum for independence completed
on 1 March 1992; independence declared on 3 March 1992)
National holiday:
National Day, 25 November (1943)
Constitution:
the Dayton Peace Accords, signed on 14 December 1995 in Paris,
included a constitution; note - each of the entities also has its
own constitution
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Chairman of the Presidency Nebojsa RADMANOVIC
(chairman of the presidency since 10 November 2010; presidency
member since 1 October 2006 - Serb); other members of the
three-member presidency rotate every eight months: Bakir IZETBEGOVIC
(presidency member since 3 October 2010 - Bosniak); Zeljko KOMSIC
(presidency member since 1 October 2006 - Croat)
head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Nikola
SPIRIC (since 11 January 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairman;
approved by the state-level House of Representatives
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the three members of the presidency (one Bosniak, one
Croat, one Serb) elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term, but then ineligible for four years);
the chairmanship rotates every eight months and resumes where it
left off following each general election; election last held on 3
October 2010 (next to be held in October 2014); the chairman of the
Council of Ministers appointed by the presidency and confirmed by
the state-level House of Representatives
election results: percent of vote - Nebojsa RADMANOVIC with 48.9% of
the votes for the Serb seat; Zeljko KOMSIC with 60.6% of the votes
for the Croat seat; Bakir IZETBEGOVIC with 34.9% of the votes for
the Bosniak seat
note: President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Borjana
KRISTO (since 21 February 2007); Vice Presidents Spomenka MICIC
(since 21 February 2007) and Mirsad KEBO (since 21 February 2007);
President of the Republika Srpska: Milorad DODIK (since 3 October
2010); took office 15 November 2010
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstina consists of 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 Peoples
and the Republika Srpska's National Assembly to serve four-year
terms); and the state-level House of Representatives or
Predstavnicki Dom (42 seats, 28 seats allocated for the Federation
of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 14 seats for the Republika Srpska;
members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional
representation 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: House of Peoples - last constituted in February 2007
(next to be constituted in 2011); state-level House of
Representatives - elections last held on 3 October 2010 (next to be
held in October 2014)
election results: House of Peoples - percent of vote by
party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - NA; state-level
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA;
seats by party/coalition - SDP BiH 8, SDA 7, SNSD 7, SDS 5, SBBBiH
4, HDZ-BiH 3, SBiH 2, HDZ-1990/HSP 2, other 4
note: the Bosniak/Croat Federation has a bicameral legislature that
consists of a House of Peoples (58 seats - 17 Bosniak, 17 Croat, 17
Serb, 7 other); last constituted February 2007; and a House of
Representatives (98 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms); elections last held on 3 October 2010 (next to be
held in October 2014); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party/coalition - SDP 28, SDA 23, SBBBiH 13, HDZ-BiH 12,
HDZ-1990/HSP 5, other 17; the Republika Srpska has a National
Assembly (83 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms); elections last held on 3 October 2010 (next to be
held in October 2014); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party/coalition - SNSD 37, SDS 18, PDP 7, DNS 6, SP 4, DP 3, SDP 3,
SDA 2, NDS 2 SRS-RS 1; 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 8
Croats, 8 Bosniaks, 8 Serbs, and 4 members of the smaller communities
Judicial branch:
BiH 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); BiH State Court (consists of 44 national judges and seven
international judges and has three divisions - Administrative,
Appellate and Criminal - having jurisdiction over cases related to
state-level law and cases initiated in the entities that question
BiH's sovereignty, political independence, or national security or
with economic crimes that have serious repercussions to BiH's
economy, beyond that of an entity or Brcko District); 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 district courts and a number of municipal courts
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for a Better Future of BiH or SBB-BiH [ Fahrudin RADONCIC];
Alliance of Independent Social Democrats or SNSD [Milorad DODIK];
Bosnian Party or BOSS [Mirnes AJANOVIC]; Bosnian Patriotic Party or
BPS [Sefer HALILOVIC]; Civic Democratic Party or GDS [Ibrahim
SPAHIC]; Croat Party of Rights or HSP [Zvonko JURISIC]; Croat
Peasants' Party-New Croat Initiative or HSS-NHI [Ante COLAK];
Croatian Christian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or
HKDU [Ivan MUSA]; Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and
Herzegovina or HDZ-BiH [Dragan COVIC]; Croatian Democratic Union
1990 or HDZ-1990 [Bozo LJUBIC]; Croatian Peoples Union [Milenko
BRKIC]; Democratic National Union or DNZ [Rifat DOLIC]; Democratic
Party or DP [Dragan CAVIC]; Democratic Peoples' Alliance or DNS
[Marko PAVIC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDS [Rasim KADIC]; Nasa
Stranka or NS [NA; leadership elections late 2010/early 2011]; New
Socialist Party or NSP [Zdravko KRSMANOVIC]; Party for Bosnia and
Herzegovina or SBiH [Haris SILAJDZIC]; Party of Democratic Action or
SDA [Sulejman TIHIC]; Party of Democratic Progress or PDP [Mladen
IVANIC]; Peoples' Party of Work for Progress or NSRzB [Mladen
IVANKOVIC-LIJANOVIC]; Serb Democratic Party or SDS [Mladen BOSIC];
Serb Radical Party of the Republika Srpska or SRS-RS [Milanko
MIHAJLICA]; Serb Radical Party-Dr. Vojislav Seselj or SRS-VS [Mirko
BLAGOJEVIC]; Social Democratic Party of BiH or SDP BiH [Zlatko
LAGUMDZIJA]; Social Democratic Union or SDU [Nermin PECANAC];
Socialist Party of Republika Srpska or SPRS [Petar DJOKIC]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: war veterans; displaced persons associations; family
associations of missing persons; private media
International organization participation:
BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS
(observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UN Security
Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mitar KUJUNDZIC
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 Patrick S. MOON
embassy: Alipasina 43, 71000 Sarajevo
mailing address: use embassy 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; the triangle approximates the shape of the country
and its three points stand for the constituent peoples - Bosniaks,
Croats, and Serbs; the stars represent Europe and are meant to be
continuous (thus the half stars at top and bottom); the colors
(white, blue, and yellow) are often associated with neutrality and
peace, and traditionally are linked with Bosnia
National anthem:
name: "Drzavna himna Bosne i Hercegovine" (The National Anthem of
Bosnia and Herzegovina)
lyrics/music: Dusan SESTIC and Benjamin ISOVIC/Dusan SESTIC
note: music adopted 1999; lyrics adopted 2009
Economy ::Bosnia and Herzegovina
Economy - overview:
The interethnic warfare in Bosnia and Herzegovina 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 2003-08 when GDP
growth exceeded 5% per year. However, the country experienced
negative GDP growth of almost 3% in 2009 due in large part to a
reduction in exports caused by the global economic crisis. One of
Bosnia's main economic challenges in 2010 has been to reduce
spending on public sector wages and social benefits to meet the
IMF's criteria for obtaining funding for budget shortfalls. Banking
reform accelerated in 2001 as all the Communist-era payments bureaus
were shut down; foreign banks, primarily from Austria and Italy, now
control most of the banking sector. 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. Bosnia's private sector is growing and
foreign investment is slowly increasing, but government spending, at
roughly 50% of GDP, remains high because of redundant government
offices at the state, entity and municipal level. Privatization of
state enterprises, however, has been slow, particularly in the
Federation where political division between ethnically-based
political parties makes agreement on economic policy more difficult.
A sizeable current account deficit and high unemployment rate remain
the two most serious macroeconomic problems. Successful
implementation of a value-added tax in 2006 provided a predictable
source of revenue for the government and helped rein in gray market
activity. National-level statistics have also improved over time but
a large share of economic activity remains unofficial and
unrecorded. Bosnia and Herzegovina became a full member of the
Central European Free Trade Agreement in September 2007.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$30.56 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
$30.23 billion (2009 est.)
$31.23 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$16.2 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
-3.2% (2009 est.)
5.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
$6,600 (2009 est.)
$6,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.8%
industry: 25.9%
services: 64.3% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.863 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 123
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 20.5%
industry: 32.6%
services: 47% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
27.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
24.1% (2009 est.)
note: official rate
Population below poverty line:
25% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 27.4% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
56.2 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 11
Public debt:
39% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
35% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
-0.4% (2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.93% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
6.98% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$4.098 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 99
$4.182 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$9.307 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
$9.236 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$10.09 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
$10.01 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
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:
3.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Electricity - production:
14.58 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Electricity - consumption:
11.62 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Electricity - exports:
6.024 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
3.04 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Oil - consumption:
30,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Oil - exports:
192 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Oil - imports:
25,990 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Natural gas - consumption:
310 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Natural gas - imports:
310 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Current account balance:
-$887 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
-$1.283 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$4.787 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$4.057 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
metals, clothing, wood products
Exports - partners:
Croatia 19.07%, Slovenia 18.58%, Italy 16.87%, Germany 13.38%,
Austria 10.25% (2009)
Imports:
$9.403 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
$8.788 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Croatia 22.17%, Germany 14.04%, Slovenia 13.45%, Italy 11.89%,
Austria 6.61%, Hungary 5.74% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
$3.245 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$7.996 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
$8.048 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
konvertibilna markas (BAM) per US dollar - 1.5088 (2010), 1.4079
(2009), 1.3083 (2008), 1.4419 (2007), 1.5576 (2006)
Communications ::Bosnia and Herzegovina
Telephones - main lines in use:
998,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 78
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.257 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 110
Telephone system:
general assessment: post-war reconstruction of the
telecommunications network, aided by a internationally sponsored
program under EBRD, resulting in sharp increases in the number of
fixed telephone lines available
domestic: fixed-line teledensity roughly 22 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly and, in
2009, reached 70 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 387; no satellite earth stations (2009)
Broadcast media:
3 public TV broadcasters: Radio and TV of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Federation TV (operating 2 networks), and Serb Republic Radio-TV; a
local commercial network of 5 TV stations; 2 private, near-national
TV stations and dozens of small independent TV stations
broadcasting; 3 large public radio broadcasters and a large number
of private radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.ba
Internet hosts:
95,234 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 79
Internet users:
1.422 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 85
Transportation ::Bosnia and Herzegovina
Airports:
25 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 129
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 11 (2010)
Heliports:
5 (2010)
Railways:
total: 1,000 km
country comparison to the world: 89
standard gauge: 1,000 km 1.435-m gauge (590 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 21,846 km
country comparison to the world: 107
paved: 11,425 km (4,714 km of interurban roads)
unpaved: 10,421 km (2006)
Waterways:
Sava River (northern border) open to shipping but use limited (2009)
Ports and terminals:
Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Samac, and Brcko (all
inland waterway ports on the Sava River), Orasje
Military ::Bosnia and Herzegovina
Military branches:
Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH): Army of Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Air and Air Defense Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Zrakoplovstvo i Protuzracna Obrana, ZPO) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
abolished in January 2006; 4-month service obligation; mandatory
retirement at age 35 or after 15 years of service (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,194,832
females age 16-49: 1,156,698 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 980,425
females age 16-49: 948,791 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 26,134
female: 24,518 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Transnational Issues ::Bosnia and Herzegovina
Disputes - international:
sections along the Drina River remain in dispute between Bosnia and
Herzegovina and Serbia; discussions continue with Croatia on several
small disputed sections of the boundary related to maritime access
that hinder final ratification of the 1999 border agreement
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 7,269 (Croatia)
IDPs: 131,600 (Bosnian Croats, Serbs, and Bosniaks displaced in
1992-95 war) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
increasingly a transit point for heroin being trafficked to Western
Europe; minor transit point for marijuana; remains highly vulnerable
to money-laundering activity given a primarily cash-based and
unregulated economy, weak law enforcement, and instances of
corruption
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Botswana (Africa)
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: 581,730 sq km
country comparison to the world: 47
land: 566,730 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)
Total renewable water resources:
14.7 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.19 cu km/yr (41%/18%/41%)
per capita: 107 cu m/yr (2000)
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:
2,029,307
country comparison to the world: 144
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.8% (male 352,399/female 340,058)
15-64 years: 61.4% (male 613,714/female 608,003)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 31,155/female 45,547) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 22 years
male: 21.8 years
female: 22.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.843% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Birth rate:
22.54 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Death rate:
9.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Net migration rate:
4.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 17
note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa
and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2010 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 60% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.79 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 143
male: 12.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.93 years
country comparison to the world: 183
male: 61.11 years
female: 60.75 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.54 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
23.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
300,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2009)
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: 81.2%
male: 80.4%
female: 81.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
8.1% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 10
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 the 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 Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April
2008); Vice President Mompati MERAFHE (since 1 April 2008); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April
2008); Vice President Mompati MERAFHE (since 1 April 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president indirectly elected for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 October 2009
(next to be held in October 2014); vice president appointed by the
president
election results: Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA elected president; percent
of National Assembly vote - NA%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely
advisory 15-member body with 8 ex-officio 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 directly elected by popular vote, 4 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 on 16 October 2009
(next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 53.3%, BNF 21.9%,
BCP 19.2%, 2.3%, other 4.3%; seats by party - BDP 45, BNF 6, BCP 4,
BAM 1, other 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 [Gilson SALESHANDO]; Botswana
Democratic Party or BDP [Daniel KWELAGOBE]; Botswana National Front
or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]; Botswana Peoples Party or BPP [Bernard
BALIKANI]; MELS Movement of Botswana or MELS [Themba JOINA]; New
Democratic Front or NDF [Dick BAYFORD]
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:
First People of the Kalahari (Bushman organization); Pitso Ya Ba
Tswana; Society for the Promotion of Ikalanga Language (Kalanga
elites)
other: diamond mining companies
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 Stephen J. NOLAN
embassy: Embassy Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone
mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
telephone: [267] 395-3982
FAX: [267] 395-6947
Flag description:
light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center;
the blue symbolizes water in the form of rain, while the black and
white bands represent racial harmony
National anthem:
name: "Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land)
lyrics/music: Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE
note: adopted 1966
Economy ::Botswana
Economy - overview:
Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth
rates since independence in 1966, though growth fell below 5% in
2007-08, and turned sharply negative in 2009, with industry falling
nearly 30%. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana
transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to
a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of $13,100 in 2010.
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, 70-80% of export
earnings, and about half of the government's revenues. Botswana's
heavy reliance on a single luxury export was a critical factor in
the sharp economic contraction of 2009. Tourism, financial services,
subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors.
Although unemployment was 7.5% in 2007 according to official
reports, unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. The prevalence
of HIV/AIDS is second highest in the world and threatens Botswana's
impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off in diamond
mining production within the next two decades overshadows long-term
prospects.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$26.56 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
$25.76 billion (2009 est.)
$27.23 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$12.5 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
-5.4% (2009 est.)
2.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$13,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
$12,900 (2009 est.)
$13,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.3%
industry: 45.8%
services: 51.9% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
685,300 formal sector employees (2007)
country comparison to the world: 151
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
7.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
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)
country comparison to the world: 4
Investment (gross fixed):
28.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Public debt:
22.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
18.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
8.1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
10% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 19
15% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13.76% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
16.54% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.146 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 136
$939.1 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$6.679 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
$5.357 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.361 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
$2.06 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$3.991 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 86
$3.556 billion (31 December 2008)
$5.887 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts
Industries:
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore,
silver; livestock processing; textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
6.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Electricity - production:
1.052 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - consumption:
2.648 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
2.181 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Oil - consumption:
15,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Oil - imports:
15,180 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Current account balance:
-$552 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
-$762 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$4.419 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
$3.385 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles
Imports:
$4.518 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
$4.243 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment,
textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products,
metal and metal products
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$7.834 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$8.704 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.222 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
$1.681 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
pulas (BWP) per US dollar - 6.7413 (2010), 7.1602 (2009), 6.7907
(2008), 6.2035 (2007), 5.8447 (2006)
Communications ::Botswana
Telephones - main lines in use:
144,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 133
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.874 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 136
Telephone system:
general assessment: Botswana is participating in regional
development efforts; expanding fully digital system with fiber-optic
cables linking the major population centers in the east as well as a
system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relays links, and
radiotelephone communication stations
domestic: fixed-line teledensity has declined in recent years and
now stands at roughly 7 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular
subscribership is rapidly approaching a teledensity of 100
telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 267; international calls are made via
satellite, using international direct dialing; 2 international
exchanges; digital microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia,
Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Indian Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:
2 TV stations - 1 state-owned and 1 privately-owned; privately-owned
satellite TV subscription service is available; 2 state-owned
national radio stations; 3 privately-owned radio stations broadcast
locally (2007)
Internet country code:
.bw
Internet hosts:
2,739 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 148
Internet users:
120,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 153
Transportation ::Botswana
Airports:
78 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 71
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 69
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 52
under 914 m: 13 (2010)
Railways:
total: 888 km
country comparison to the world: 97
narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 25,798 km
country comparison to the world: 103
paved: 8,410 km
unpaved: 17,388 km (2005)
Military ::Botswana
Military branches:
Botswana Defense Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Arm
Command, Logistics Command (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; official
minimum age is unknown (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 543,097
females age 16-49: 520,896 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 347,070
females age 16-49: 315,743 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 23,496
female: 22,944 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 38
Transnational Issues ::Botswana
Disputes - international:
Botswana still struggles to seal its border from thousands of
Zimbabweans who flee economic collapse and 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 at Kazungula crossing, thereby de facto recognizing
the short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Bouvet Island (Antarctica)
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, Norway designated Bouvet Island and the
adjacent territorial waters a nature reserve. Since 1977, it 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
country comparison to the world: 232
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 by Norway
People ::Bouvet Island
Population:
uninhabited
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 Oslo Police
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 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 225
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
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@Brazil (South America)
Introduction ::Brazil
Background:
Following more than three centuries under Portuguese rule, Brazil
gained its independence in 1822, maintaining a monarchical system of
government until the abolition of slavery in 1888 and the subsequent
proclamation of a republic by the military in 1889. Brazilian coffee
exporters politically dominated the country until populist leader
Getulio VARGAS rose to power in 1930. By far the largest and most
populous country in South America, Brazil underwent more than half a
century of populist and military government until 1985, when 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, one of the first in the area to begin an
economic recovery. Highly unequal income distribution and crime
remain pressing problems. In January 2010, Brazil assumed a
nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2010-11 term.
Geography ::Brazil
Location:
Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Geographic coordinates:
10 00 S, 55 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 8,514,877 sq km
country comparison to the world: 5
land: 8,459,417 sq km
water: 55,460 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: 16,885 km
border countries: Argentina 1,261 km, Bolivia 3,423 km, Colombia
1,644 km, French Guiana 730 km, Guyana 1,606 km, Paraguay 1,365 km,
Peru 2,995 km, Suriname 593 km, Uruguay 1,068 km, Venezuela 2,200 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 2,994 m
Natural resources:
bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum,
tin, rare earth elements, 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)
Total renewable water resources:
8,233 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 59.3 cu km/yr (20%/18%/62%)
per capita: 318 cu m/yr (2000)
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:
201,103,330
country comparison to the world: 5
note: Brazil conducted a census in August 2000, which reported a
population of 169,872,855; that figure was about 3.8% lower than
projections by the US Census Bureau, and is close to the implied
underenumeration of 4.6% for the 1991 census (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.7% (male 27,092,880/female 26,062,244)
15-64 years: 66.8% (male 65,804,108/female 67,047,725)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 5,374,230/female 7,358,082) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.9 years
male: 28.1 years
female: 29.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.166% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Birth rate:
18.11 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Death rate:
6.35 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Net migration rate:
-0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Urbanization:
urban population: 86% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 21.86 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 93
male: 25.39 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.26 years
country comparison to the world: 123
male: 68.7 years
female: 76 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.19 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
730,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
15,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
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 and most widely spoken language); note - less
common languages include Spanish (border areas and schools), German,
Italian, Japanese, English, and a large number of minor Amerindian
languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.6%
male: 88.4%
female: 88.8% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.2% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 61
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:
federal 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 three 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 Dilma ROUSSEFF (since 1 January 2011);
Vice President Michel TEMER (since 1 January 2011); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Dilma ROUSSEFF (since 1 January 2011);
Vice President Michel TEMER (since 1 January 2011)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held on 3
October 2010 with runoff on 31 October 2010 (next to be held on 5
October 2014 and, if necessary, a runoff election on 2 November 2014)
election results: Dilma ROUSSEFF (PT) elected president in a runoff
election; percent of vote - Dilma ROUSSEFF 56.01%, Jose SERRA (PSDB)
43.99%
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 and two-thirds of
members elected every four years, alternately) 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 on 3 October 2010 for
two-thirds of the Senate (next to be held in October 2014 for
one-third of the Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 3
October 2010 (next to be held in October 2014)
election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - PMDB 20, PT 13, PSDB 10, DEM (formerly PFL) 7,
PTdoB 6, PP 5, PDT 4, PR 4, PSB 4, PPS 1, PRB 1, other 3; Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PT 87,
PMDB 80, PSDB 53, DEM (formerly PFL) 43, PP 41, PR 41, PSB 34, PDT
28, PTdoB 21, PSC 17, PCdoB 15, PV 15, PPS 12, other 18
Judicial branch:
Supreme Federal Tribunal or STF (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 [Roberto JEFFERSON]; 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 Sergio GUERRA]; Brazilian
Socialist Party or PSB [Governor Eduardo Henrique Accioly CAMPOS];
Christian Labor Party or PTC [Daniel TOURINHO]; Communist Party of
Brazil or PCdoB [Jose Renato RABELO]; Democratic Labor Party or PDT
[Carlos Roberto LUPI]; the Democrats or DEM [Federal Deputy Rodrigo
MAIA] (formerly Liberal Front Party or PFL); Freedom and Socialism
Party or PSOL [Heloisa HELENA]; Green Party or PV [Jose Luiz de
Franca PENNA]; Humanist Party of Solidarity or PHS [Paulo Roberto
MATOS]; Labor Party of Brazil or PTdoB [Luis Henrique de Oliveira
RESENDE]; Liberal Front Party or PFL (now known as the Democrats or
DEM); National Mobilization Party or PMN [Oscar Noronha FILHO];
Party of the Republic or PR [Sergio TAMER]; Popular Socialist Party
or PPS [Federal Deputy Fernando CORUJA]; Progressive Party or PP
[Francisco DORNELLES]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Vitor Jorge
Abdala NOSSEIS]; Workers' Party or PT [Jose Eduardo DUTRA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Landless Workers' Movement or MST
other: labor unions and federations; large farmers' associations;
religious groups including evangelical Christian churches and the
Catholic Church
International organization participation:
AfDB (nonregional member), BIS, CAN (associate), CPLP, FAO, FATF,
G-15, G-20, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), Mercosur,
MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
Paris Club (associate), PCA, RG, SICA (observer), UN, UN Security
Council (temporary), UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO,
Union Latina, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mauro Luiz Iecker VIEIRA
chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
note: temporary address - 1025 Thomas Jefferson St. NW, Suite 300 W,
Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 238-2805
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 Thomas A. SHANNON
embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal
Cep 70403-900, Brasilia
mailing address: Unit 7500, DPO, 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; the globe has a
white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and
Progress); the current flag was inspired by the banner of the former
Empire of Brazil (1822-1889); on the imperial flag, the green
represented the House of Braganza of Pedro I, the first Emperor of
Brazil, while the yellow stood for the Habsburg Family of his wife;
on the modern flag the green represents the forests of the country
and the yellow rhombus its mineral wealth; the blue circle and
stars, which replaced the coat of arms of the original flag, depict
the sky over Rio de Janeiro on the morning of 15 November 1889 - the
day the Republic of Brazil was declared; the number of stars has
changed with the creation of new states and has risen from an
original 21 to the current 27 (one for each state and the Federal
District)
National anthem:
name: "Hino Nacional Brasileiro" (Brazilian National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Joaquim Osorio Duque ESTRADA/Francisco Manoel DA SILVA
note: music adopted 1890, lyrics adopted 1922; the anthem's music,
composed in 1822, was used unofficially for many years before it was
adopted
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 Brazil is expanding its
presence in world markets. Since 2003, Brazil has steadily improved
its macroeconomic stability, building up foreign reserves, and
reducing its debt profile by shifting its debt burden toward real
denominated and domestically held instruments. In 2008, Brazil
became a net external creditor and two ratings agencies awarded
investment grade status to its debt. After record growth in 2007 and
2008, the onset of the global financial crisis hit Brazil in
September 2008. Brazil experienced two quarters of recession, as
global demand for Brazil's commodity-based exports dwindled and
external credit dried up. However, Brazil was one of the first
emerging markets to begin a recovery. Consumer and investor
confidence revived and GDP growth returned to positive in 2010,
boosted by an export recovery. Brazil's strong growth and high
interest rates make it an attractive destination for foreign
investors. Large capital inflows over the past year have contributed
to the rapid appreciation of its currency and led the government to
raise taxes on some foreign investments. President Dilma ROUSSEFF
has pledged to retain the previous administration's commitment to
inflation targeting by the Central Bank, a floating exchange rate,
and fiscal restraint.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.194 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$2.041 trillion (2009 est.)
$2.045 trillion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.024 trillion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
-0.2% (2009 est.)
5.1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$10,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
$10,300 (2009 est.)
$10,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.1%
industry: 26.4%
services: 67.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
103.6 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 14%
services: 66% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
8.1% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
26% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 43% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
56.7 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 10
60.7 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Public debt:
60.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
59.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
4.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
15.17% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 9
20.48% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
44.65% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
47.25% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$165.8 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 21
$125.3 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.522 trillion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 11
$972.8 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.104 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$1.542 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.167 trillion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 15
$589.4 billion (31 December 2008)
$1.37 trillion (31 December 2007)
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:
11.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Electricity - production:
438.8 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Electricity - consumption:
404.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Electricity - exports:
2.034 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
42.06 billion kWh; note - supplied by Paraguay (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
2.572 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Oil - consumption:
2.46 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Oil - exports:
570,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Oil - imports:
632,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Oil - proved reserves:
13.2 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Natural gas - production:
10.28 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Natural gas - consumption:
18.72 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Natural gas - exports:
NA (2009 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
8.44 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Natural gas - proved reserves:
364.2 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Current account balance:
-$52.73 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
-$24.3 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$199.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$153 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos
Exports - partners:
China 12.49%, US 10.5%, Argentina 8.4%, Netherlands 5.39%, Germany
4.05% (2009)
Imports:
$187.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$127.7 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products,
oil, automotive parts, electronics
Imports - partners:
US 16.12%, China 12.61%, Argentina 8.77%, Germany 7.65%, Japan 4.3%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$290.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
$238.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$310.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$273.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$349.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
$319.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$131 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$117.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
reals (BRL) per US dollar - 1.77 (2010), 1.9976 (2009), 1.8644
(2008), 1.85 (2007), 2.1761 (2006)
Communications ::Brazil
Telephones - main lines in use:
41.497 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 6
Telephones - mobile cellular:
173.959 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 5
Telephone system:
general assessment: good working system including an extensive
microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 64
earth stations; mobile-cellular usage has more than tripled in the
past 5 years
domestic: fixed-line connections have remained relatively stable in
recent years and stand at about 20 per 100 persons; less expensive
mobile-cellular technology has been a major driver in expanding
telephone service to the lower-income segments of the population
with mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 90 per 100 persons in
2009
international: country code - 55; landing point for a number of
submarine cables, including Americas-1, Americas-2, Atlantis-2,
GlobeNet, South Amrica-1, South American Crossing/Latin American
Nautilius, and UNISUR that provide direct connectivity to South and
Central America, the Caribbean, the US, Africa, and Europe;
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 (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-run Radiobras operates a radio and a television network; more
than 1,000 radio stations and more than 100 TV channels operating -
mostly privately owned; private media ownership highly concentrated
(2007)
Internet country code:
.br
Internet hosts:
19.316 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 5
Internet users:
75.982 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 4
Transportation ::Brazil
Airports:
4,072 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 2
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 726
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 176
914 to 1,523 m: 460
under 914 m: 55 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3,346
1,524 to 2,437 m: 87
914 to 1,523 m: 1,617
under 914 m: 1,642 (2010)
Heliports:
13 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate/gas 62 km; gas 9,989 km; liquid petroleum gas 353 km; oil
4,517 km; refined products 4,465 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 28,857 km
country comparison to the world: 10
broad gauge: 5,709 km 1.600-m gauge (459 km electrified)
standard gauge: 194 km 1.440-m gauge
narrow gauge: 22,954 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 1,751,868 km
country comparison to the world: 4
paved: 96,353 km
unpaved: 1,655,515 km (2004)
Waterways:
50,000 km (most in areas remote from industry and population) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 3
Merchant marine:
total: 126
country comparison to the world: 45
by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 18, chemical tanker 6, container 12,
liquefied gas 12, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 42, roll
on/roll off 7
foreign-owned: 26 (Chile 1, Denmark 3, Germany 6, Greece 1, Norway
3, Spain 12)
registered in other countries: 27 (Argentina 1, Bahamas 1, Ghana 1,
Liberia 20, Marshall Islands 1, Panama 3) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
cargo ports (tonnage): Ilha Grande (Gebig), Paranagua, Rio Grande,
Santos, Sao Sebastiao, Tubarao
container ports (TEUs): Santos (2,677,839), Itajai (693,580)
Transportation - note:
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and
offshore waters in the Atlantic Ocean as a significant risk for
piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels
have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway;
crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen
Military ::Brazil
Military branches:
Brazilian Army (Exercito Brasileiro, EB), Brazilian Navy (Marinha do
Brasil (MB), includes Naval Air and Marine Corps (Corpo de
Fuzileiros Navais)), Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira,
FAB) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
21-45 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 9 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 16-49: 52,942,805
females age 16-49: 53,038,688 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 38,518,822
females age 16-49: 44,560,717 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,712,427
female: 1,652,491 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 88
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; two
uncontested boundary disputes with Uruguay over Isla Brasilera at
the tripoint with Argentina at the confluence of the Quarai/Cuareim
and Uruguay rivers, and in the 235 square kilometer Invernada River
region over which tributary represents the legitimate source of the
Quarai/Cuareim River; the Itaipu Dam reservoir covers over a once
contested section of Brazil-Paraguay boundary west of Guaira Falls
on the Rio Parana; an accord placed the long-disputed Isla
Suarez/Ilha de Guajara-Mirim, a fluvial island on the Rio Mamore,
under Bolivian administration in 1958, but sovereignty remains in
dispute
Illicit drugs:
second-largest consumer of cocaine in the world; 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 are often
laundered through the financial system; significant illicit
financial activity in the Tri-Border Area (2008)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@British Indian Ocean Territory (South Asia)
Introduction ::British Indian Ocean Territory
Background:
Formerly administered as part of the British Crown Colony of
Mauritius, the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) was established
as an overseas territory of the UK in 1965. A number of the islands
of the territory were later 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. Between 1967 and 1973, former agricultural workers,
earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to
Mauritius, but also to the Seychelles. Negotiations between 1971 and
1982 resulted in the establishment of a trust fund by the British
Government as compensation for the displaced islanders, known as
Chagossians. Beginning in 1998, the islanders pursued a series of
lawsuits against the British Government seeking further compensation
and the right to return to the territory. In 2006 and 2007, British
court rulings invalidated the immigration policies contained in the
2004 BIOT Constitution Order that had excluded the islanders from
the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego
Garcia. In 2008, the House of Lords, as the final court of appeal in
the UK, ruled in favor of the British Government by overturning the
lower court rulings and finding no right of return for the
Chagossians.
Geography ::British Indian Ocean Territory
Location:
archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about halfway
between Africa and 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
country comparison to the world: 127
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 2004, approximately 4,000 UK and US military
personnel and civilian contractors were living on the island of
Diego Garcia
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 Colin ROBERTS (since July 2008);
Administrator Joanne YEADON (since December 2007); note - both
reside in the UK and are represented by the officer commanding
British Forces on Diego Garcia
cabinet: NA
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: none; the monarchy 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 (the symbols of the territory) centered on the
outer half of the flag; the wavy stripes represent the Indian Ocean;
although not officially described, the six blue stripes may stand
for the six main atolls of the archipelago
Economy ::British Indian Ocean Territory
Economy - overview:
All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego
Garcia, where a joint UK-US military facility is located.
Construction projects and various services needed to support the
military installation are performed by military and contract
employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There
are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. The
territory earns foreign exchange by selling fishing licenses and
postage stamps.
Electricity - production:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
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: country code (Diego Garcia) - 246; international
telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)
Broadcast media:
Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) broadcasts over 3
separate frequencies for US and UK military personnel stationed on
the islands (2009)
Internet country code:
.io
Internet hosts:
827 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 169
Transportation ::British Indian Ocean Territory
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 232
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
note: short section of paved road between port and airfield on Diego
Garcia
Ports and terminals:
Diego Garcia
Military ::British Indian Ocean Territory
Military branches:
no regular military forces
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 claims the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia; in
2001, the former inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago, evicted in
1967 and 1973 and now residing chiefly in Mauritius, were granted UK
citizenship and the right to repatriation; in May 2007, the UK Court
of Appeals upheld the May 2006 High Court of London judgment
reversing the UK government's 2004 Orders of Council that banned
habitation on the islands; a small group of Chagossians visited
Diego Garcia in April 2006; repatriation is complicated by the
exclusive US military lease of Diego Garcia that restricts access to
the largest viable island in the chain
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@British Virgin Islands (Central America and Caribbean)
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: 151 sq km
country comparison to the world: 219
land: 151 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:
24,939 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.8% (male 2,454/female 2,387)
15-64 years: 74.4% (male 9,346/female 8,881)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 734/female 689) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.6 years
male: 32.7 years
female: 32.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.784% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Birth rate:
14.52 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Death rate:
4.41 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Net migration rate:
7.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Urbanization:
urban population: 40% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.045 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.11 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 128
male: 16.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.45 years
country comparison to the world: 58
male: 76.18 years
female: 78.78 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.71 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
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 82%, white 6.8%, other 11.2% (includes Indian and mixed) (2008)
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%, other 2%, none 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
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 16 years
female: 19 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
3.2% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 145
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 (1956)
Constitution:
13 June 2007
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 Boyd MCCLEARY (since 20 August 2010)
head of government: Premier Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 23 August 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of
the House of Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed
premier by the governor
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly (13 elected seats and 1 non-voting ex
officio member in the attorney general; 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 on 20 August 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - VIP 45.2%, NDP 39.6%,
independent 15.2%; seats by party - VIP 10, NDP 2, independent 1
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:
The Family Support Network; The Women's Desk
other: environmentalists
International organization participation:
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS, 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); the islands were named by COLUMBUS in
1493 in honor of Saint Ursula and her 11 virgin followers (some
sources say 11,000) who reputedly were martyred by the Huns in the
4th or 5th century; the figure on the banner holding a lamp
represents the saint, the other lamps symbolize her followers
National anthem:
note: as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is
official (see United Kingdom)
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. More than 934,000 tourists, mainly from the US,
visited the islands in 2008. 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.)
country comparison to the world: 205
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.095 billion (2008)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.6% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$38,500 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 10.7%
services: 88.3% (1996 est.)
Labor force:
12,770 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 213
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 0.6%
industry: 40%
services: 59.4% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
3.6% (1997)
country comparison to the world: 29
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.1% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 180
2% (2005)
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:
45 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Electricity - consumption:
41.85 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Oil - imports:
691 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Current account balance:
$134.3 million (1999)
country comparison to the world: 56
Exports:
$25.3 million (2002)
country comparison to the world: 203
Exports - commodities:
rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Imports:
$187 million f.o.b.
Imports - commodities:
building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
Debt - external:
$36.1 million (1997)
country comparison to the world: 188
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications ::British Virgin Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
20,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 194
Telephones - mobile cellular:
24,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 206
Telephone system:
general assessment: worldwide telephone service
domestic: fixed line connections exceed 80 per 100 persons and
mobile cellular subscribership is approaching 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-284; connected via submarine cable
to Bermuda; the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable
provides connectivity to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean
(2008)
Broadcast media:
1 private TV station; multi-channel TV is available from cable and
satellite subscription services; about a half dozen private radio
stations operating (2007)
Internet country code:
.vg
Internet hosts:
497 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 180
Internet users:
4,000 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 206
Transportation ::British Virgin Islands
Airports:
4 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 184
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 200 km
country comparison to the world: 207
paved: 200 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 149
Ports and terminals:
Road Harbor
Military ::British Virgin Islands
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,230 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,028
females age 16-49: 5,778 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 174
female: 167 (2010 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
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Brunei (East & Southeast Asia)
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 Asia.
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: 5,765 sq km
country comparison to the world: 172
land: 5,265 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)
Total renewable water resources:
8.5 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.09
per capita: 243 cu m/yr (1994)
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: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, 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:
395,027 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.6% (male 53,282/female 50,141)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 135,640/female 136,292)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 6,199/female 6,636) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.1 years
male: 28 years
female: 28.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.733% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Birth rate:
18 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Death rate:
3.32 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
Net migration rate:
2.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Urbanization:
urban population: 75% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.047 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.87 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 141
male: 14.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.96 years
country comparison to the world: 74
male: 73.72 years
female: 78.31 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.88 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Nationality:
noun: Bruneian(s)
adjective: Bruneian
Ethnic groups:
Malay 66.3%, Chinese 11.2%, indigenous 3.4%, other 19.1% (2004 est.)
Religions:
Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, other (includes
indigenous beliefs) 10%
Languages:
Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.7%
male: 95.2%
female: 90.2% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.7% of GDP (2000)
country comparison to the world: 121
Government ::Brunei
Country name:
conventional long form: Brunei Darussalam
conventional short form: Brunei
local long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
local short form: Brunei
Government type:
constitutional sultanate (locally known as Malay Islamic Monarchy)
Capital:
name: Bandar Seri Begawan
geographic coordinates: 4 53 N, 114 56 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait,
Brunei-Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Independence:
1 January 1984 (from the 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 sharia law
supersedes civil law concerning Muslim marriages and inheritance;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age for village elections; universal
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)
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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary
Legislative branch:
The Sultan appointed a Legislative Council with 29 members as of 2
September 2005; the council has met in March of each year since then
elections: last held in March 1962 (date of next election NA)
note: The Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first
time in 20 years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; it passed
constitutional amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15
elected members; no timeframe for an election has been announced
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; Sharia courts deal with
Islamic laws (2006)
Political parties and leaders:
National Development Party or NDP [YASSIN Affendi]
note: Brunei National Solidarity Party or PPKB [Abdul LATIF bin
Chuchu] and People's Awareness Party or PAKAR [Awang Haji MAIDIN bin
Haji Ahmad] were deregistered in 2007; parties are small and have
limited activity
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, C, CP, EAS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITSO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Yusoff Abd HAMID
chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838
FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Alexander
L. BARRASSO
embassy: Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Kebangsaan, 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] 238-4616
FAX: [673] 238-4606
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; yellow is the color of royalty
and symbolizes the sultanate; the white and black bands denote
Brunei's chief ministers; the emblem includes five main components:
a swallow-tailed flag, the royal umbrella representing the monarchy,
the wings of four feathers symbolizing justice, tranquility,
prosperity, and peace, the two upraised hands signifying the
government's pledge to preserve and promote the welfare of the
people, and the crescent moon denoting Islam, the state religion;
the state motto "Always render service with God's guidance" appears
in yellow Arabic script on the crescent; a ribbon below the crescent
reads "Brunei, the Abode of Peace"
National anthem:
name: "Allah Peliharakan Sultan" (God Bless His Majesty)
lyrics/music: Pengiran Haji Mohamed YUSUF bin Abdul Rahim/Awang Haji
BESAR bin Sagap
note: adopted 1951
Economy ::Brunei
Economy - overview:
Brunei has a small well-to-do economy that encompasses a mixture of
foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation,
welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas
production account for just over half of GDP and more than 90% of
exports. Per capita GDP is among the highest in Asia, 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. A new monetary authority was
established in January 2011 with responsibilities that include
monetary policy, monitoring of financial institutions, and currency
trading activities. Other plans for the future include upgrading the
labor force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and
tourist sectors, increasing agricultural production, and, in
general, further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$19.88 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
$19.68 billion (2009 est.)
$20.04 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$11.96 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
-1.8% (2009 est.)
-1.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$50,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$50,700 (2009 est.)
$52,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.7%
industry: 74.1%
services: 25.3% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
188,800 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 4.2%
industry: 62.8%
services: 33% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.7% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 31
4% (2006)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.7% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
0.3% (2007 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.5% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
5.5% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$3.374 billion (30 March 2009)
country comparison to the world: 108
$3.046 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$8.569 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 106
$7.597 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.274 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
$2.38 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, cattle, goats,
eggs
Industries:
petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
-5.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Electricity - production:
3.069 billion kWh (2008)
country comparison to the world: 123
Electricity - consumption:
2.98 billion kWh (2008)
country comparison to the world: 127
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
146,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Oil - consumption:
16,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Oil - exports:
152,900 bbl/day (2007)
country comparison to the world: 58
Oil - imports:
238 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Oil - proved reserves:
1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Natural gas - production:
13.4 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Natural gas - consumption:
4.2 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Natural gas - exports:
9.2 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Natural gas - proved reserves:
390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Current account balance:
$7.024 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$7.101 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$10.67 billion (2008)
country comparison to the world: 83
$8.25 billion (2007)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, natural gas, garments
Exports - partners:
Japan 38.04%, Indonesia 25.95%, South Korea 14.17%, Australia 7.24%
(2009)
Imports:
$2.61 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
$2.055 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
chemicals
Imports - partners:
Singapore 38.4%, Malaysia 18.7%, Japan 7.2%, China 5.42%, Thailand
5.19%, US 4.45%, UK 4.25% (2009)
Debt - external:
$0 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 195
Exchange rates:
Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar - 1.45 (2009), 1.45 (2009), 2
(2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004)
Communications ::Brunei
Telephones - main lines in use:
80,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 149
Telephones - mobile cellular:
425,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 163
Telephone system:
general assessment: service throughout the country is good;
international service is good to Southeast Asia, Middle East,
Western Europe, and the US
domestic: every service available
international: country code - 673; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to
Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; the Asia-America Gateway
submarine cable network, scheduled for completion by late 2008, will
provide new links to Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-controlled Radio Television Brunei (RTB) operates 4 channels;
3 Malaysian TV stations are available; foreign TV broadcasts are
available via satellite and cable systems; RTB operates 5 radio
networks broadcasting on multiple frequencies; British Forces
Broadcast Service (BFBS) provides radio broadcasts on 2 FM stations;
some radio broadcast stations from Malaysia are available via
repeaters (2009)
Internet country code:
.bn
Internet hosts:
50,997 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 88
Internet users:
314,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 128
Transportation ::Brunei
Airports:
2 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 207
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
3 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 37 km; oil 18 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 2,971 km
country comparison to the world: 166
paved: 2,411 km
unpaved: 560 km (2008)
Waterways:
209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m; the Belait,
Brunei, and Tutong rivers are major transport links) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 97
Merchant marine:
total: 9
country comparison to the world: 117
by type: chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 8 (2010)
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) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service; non-Malays
are ineligible to serve (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 111,166
females age 16-49: 115,071 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 93,809
females age 16-49: 97,345 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 3,509
female: 3,427 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 21
Transnational Issues ::Brunei
Disputes - international:
Brunei and Malaysia agreed in September 2008 to resolve their
offshore and deepwater seabed dispute, resume hydrocarbon
exploration, and renounce any territorial claims along their land
boundary; despite no public territorial claim to Louisa Reef, Brunei
implicitly lays claim by including it within the natural
prolongation of its continental shelf and basis for a seabed median
with Vietnam; 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
page last updated on January 13, 2011
======================================================================
@Bulgaria (Europe)
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 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: 110,879 sq km
country comparison to the world: 104
land: 108,489 sq km
water: 2,390 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)
Total renewable water resources:
19.4 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 6.92 cu km/yr (3%/78%/19%)
per capita: 895 cu m/yr (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-Sulfur 94, 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, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes
from Europe to Middle East and Asia
People ::Bulgaria
Population:
7,148,785 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.8% (male 509,544/female 484,816)
15-64 years: 68.5% (male 2,426,060/female 2,508,772)
65 years and over: 17.7% (male 518,711/female 756,784) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 41.6 years
male: 39.4 years
female: 43.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.768% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 228
Birth rate:
9.43 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Death rate:
14.31 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Net migration rate:
-2.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Urbanization:
urban population: 71% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 17.26 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 108
male: 20.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.35 years
country comparison to the world: 114
male: 69.74 years
female: 77.17 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.41 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
346 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
100 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
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 (official) 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: 98.2%
male: 98.7%
female: 97.7% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
4.1% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 103
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 (Sofia), Sofiya-Grad (Sofia City),
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 on 12 July 1991
Legal system:
civil and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Georgi PARVANOV (since 22 January 2002);
Vice President Angel MARIN (since 22 January 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Boyko BORISSOV (since 27 July
2009); Deputy Prime Ministers Simeon DJANKOV and Tsvetan TSVETANOV
(since 27 July 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
elected by the National Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
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 on 22 and 29 October 2006 (next to be held in
2011); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) elected
by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers nominated by the
prime minister and elected by the National Assembly
election results: Georgi PARVANOV reelected president; percent of
vote - Georgi PARVANOV 77.3%, Volen SIDEROV 22.7%; Boyko BORISSOV
elected prime minister; result of legislative vote - 162 to 77 with
1 abstention
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sabranie (240 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 5 July 2009 (next to be held in mid-2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - GERB 39.7%, BSP 17.7%,
MRF 14.4%, ATAKA 9.4%, Blue Coalition 6.8%, RZS 4.1%, other 7.9%;
seats by party - GERB 117, BSP 40, MRF 37, ATAKA 21, Blue Coalition
15, RZS 8, independents 2
Judicial branch:
independent judiciary comprised of judges, prosecutors and
investigating magistrates who are appointed, promoted, demoted, and
dismissed by a 25-member Supreme Judicial Council (consists of the
chairmen of the two Supreme Courts, the Chief Prosecutor, and 22
members, half of whom are elected by the National Assembly and the
other half by the bodies of the judiciary for a 5-year term in
office); three levels of case review; 182 courts of which two
Supreme Courts act as the last instance on civil and criminal cases
(the Supreme Court of Cassation) and appeals of government decisions
(the Supreme Administrative Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Agrarian National Union or ANU [Stefan LICHEV]; ATAKA (Attack party)
[Volen SIDEROV]; Blue Coalition [Ivan KOSTOV and Martin DIMITROV] (a
coalition of center-right parties dominated by UDF and DSB);
Bulgarian New Democracy [Borislav RALCHEV]; Bulgarian Socialist
Party or BSP [Sergei STANISHEV]; Citizens for the European
Development of Bulgaria or GERB [Boyko BORISSOV]; Coalition for
Bulgaria or CfB [Sergei STANISHEV] (coalition of parties dominated
by BSP); Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Ivan KOSTOV];
Gergyovden [Petar STOYANOVICH]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization or IMRO [Krasimir KARAKACHANOV]; Liberal Initiative for
Democratic European Development or LIDER [Khristo KOVACHKI];
Movement for Rights and Freedoms or MRF [Ahmed DOGAN]; National
Movement for Stability and Progress or NDSV [Hristina HRISTOVA]
(formerly National Movement Simeon II or NMS2); New Time [Emil
KOSHLUKOV]; Order, Law, Justice or RZS [Yane YANEV]; Union of
Democratic Forces or UDF [Martin DIMITROV]; Union of Free Democrats
or UFD [Stefan SOFIYANSKI]; United Agrarians [Anastasia MOZER]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB;
Podkrepa Labor Confederation
other: numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with
various agendas
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO,
G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO,
NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Elena 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 James B. WARLICK, Jr
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; the
pan-Slavic white-blue-red colors were modified by substituting a
green band (representing freedom) for the blue
note: the national emblem, formerly on the hoist side of the white
stripe, has been removed
National anthem:
name: "Mila Rodino" (Dear Homeland)
lyrics/music: Tsvetan Tsvetkov RADOSLAVOV
note: adopted 1964; the anthem was composed in 1885 by a student en
route to fight in the Serbo-Bulgarian War
Economy ::Bulgaria
Economy - overview:
Bulgaria, a former Communist country that entered the EU on 1
January 2007, averaged more than 6% growth from 2004 to 2008, driven
by significant amounts of foreign direct investment and consumption.
Successive governments have demonstrated a commitment to economic
reforms and responsible fiscal planning, but the global downturn
sharply reduced domestic demand, exports, capital inflows, and
industrial production. GDP contracted by approximately 5% in 2009,
and stagnated in 2010, despite a significant recovery in exports.
The economy is expected to grow modestly in 2011, however.
Corruption in the public administration, a weak judiciary, and the
presence of organized crime remain significant challenges.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$91.83 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$91.83 billion (2009 est.)
$96.67 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$44.84 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
-5% (2009 est.)
6.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
$12,700 (2009 est.)
$13,300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.5%
industry: 27.6%
services: 64.9% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
2.61 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 7.5%
industry: 36.4%
services: 56.1% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
6.3% (2008 est.)
Population below poverty line:
14% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 24.1% (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
29.8 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 114
26.4 (2001)
Investment (gross fixed):
22.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Public debt:
16.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
14.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
1.6% (2009)
Central bank discount rate:
0.55% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 78
5.77% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.34% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
10.86% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$12.7 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 68
$12.91 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$35.37 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$33.93 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$34.54 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$33.89 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$7.103 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 69
$8.858 billion (31 December 2008)
$21.79 billion (31 December 2007)
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:
0.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Electricity - production:
44.83 billion kWh (2008)
country comparison to the world: 51
Electricity - consumption:
29.9 billion kWh (2008)
country comparison to the world: 59
Electricity - exports:
5.407 billion kWh (2008)
Electricity - imports:
3.097 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
3,227 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Oil - consumption:
125,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Oil - exports:
76,570 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Oil - imports:
189,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Oil - proved reserves:
15 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Natural gas - production:
218 million cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 74
Natural gas - consumption:
3.35 billion cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 70
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 198
Natural gas - imports:
3.48 billion cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 38
Natural gas - proved reserves:
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Current account balance:
-$1.528 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
-$4.348 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$19.33 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$16.53 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels
Exports - partners:
Germany 11.21%, Greece 9.43%, Italy 9.24%, Romania 8.52%, Turkey
7.33%, Belgium 5.61%, France 4.44% (2009)
Imports:
$22.78 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$22.22 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics;
fuels, minerals, and raw materials
Imports - partners:
Russia 13.14%, Germany 12.23%, Italy 7.78%, Greece 6.17%, Romania
5.65%, Turkey 5.48%, Ukraine 4.81%, Austria 4.08% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$15.07 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$18.53 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$36.15 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$39.56 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$51.28 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$49.28 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.372 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$1.194 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
leva (BGN) per US dollar - 1.5138 (2010), 1.404 (2009), 1.3171
(2008), 1.4366 (2007), 1.5576 (2006)
Communications ::Bulgaria
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.164 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 52
Telephones - mobile cellular:
10.617 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 62
Telephone system:
general assessment: inherited an extensive but antiquated
telecommunications network from the Soviet era; quality has improved
with a modern digital trunk line now connecting switching centers in
most of the regions; remaining areas are connected by digital
microwave radio relay
domestic: the Bulgaria Telecommunications Company's fixed-line
monopoly terminated in 2005 in an effort to upgrade fixed-line
services; mobile-cellular teledensity, fostered by multiple service
providers, approached 150 telephones per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 359; submarine cable provides
connectivity to Ukraine and Russia; a combination submarine cable
and land fiber-optic system provides connectivity to Italy, Albania,
and Macedonia; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intersputnik in the
Atlantic Ocean region, 2 Intelsat in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean
regions) (2009)
Broadcast media:
4 national terrestrial television stations with 1 state-owned and 3
privately-owned; a vast array of TV stations are available from
cable and satellite TV providers; state-owned national radio
broadcasts over 3 networks; large number of private radio stations
broadcasting, especially in urban areas (2007)
Internet country code:
.bg
Internet hosts:
785,546 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 46
Internet users:
3.395 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 63
Transportation ::Bulgaria
Airports:
210 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 30
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 130
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 17
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
under 914 m: 96 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 80
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 73 (2010)
Heliports:
3 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 2,926 km; oil 339 km; refined products 156 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 4,294 km
country comparison to the world: 38
standard gauge: 4,049 km 1.435-m gauge (2,880 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 40,231 km
country comparison to the world: 89
paved: 39,587 km (includes 418 km of expressways)
unpaved: 644 km (2008)
Waterways:
470 km (2009)
country comparison to the world: 85
Merchant marine:
total: 37
country comparison to the world: 79
by type: bulk carrier 16, cargo 10, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas
2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 4,
specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 27 (Germany 25, Russia 2)
registered in other countries: 31 (Comoros 8, Malta 7, Panama 6,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 10) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Burgas, Varna
Military ::Bulgaria
Military branches:
Bulgarian Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Bulgarian Air
Forces (Bulgarski Voennovazdyshni Sily, BVVS) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
ended in January 2008; service obligation 6-9 months (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,660,930
females age 16-49: 1,646,170 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,337,201
females age 16-49: 1,360,039 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 35,604
female: 34,199 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
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; vulnerable to money
laundering because of corruption, organized crime; some money
laundering of drug-related proceeds through financial institutions
(2008)
page last updated on January 18, 2011
======================================================================
@Burkina Faso (Africa)
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. Current
President Blaise COMPAORE came to power in a 1987 military coup and
has won every election since then. 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
country comparison to the world: 74
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)
Total renewable water resources:
17.5 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.8 cu km/yr (13%/1%/86%)
per capita: 60 cu m/yr (2000)
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, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, 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:
16,241,811
country comparison to the world: 61
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.2% (male 3,646,661/female 3,621,648)
15-64 years: 51.3% (male 4,025,917/female 4,054,865)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 156,895/female 240,246) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.8 years
male: 16.6 years
female: 17 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.095% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Birth rate:
43.98 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Death rate:
13.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 80
Urbanization:
urban population: 20% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 82.98 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 12
male: 90.53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 75.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.32 years
country comparison to the world: 203
male: 51.39 years
female: 55.31 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.21 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
130,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
9,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
adjective: Burkinabe
Ethnic groups:
Mossi over 40%, other approximately 60% (includes Gurunsi, Senufo,
Lobi, Bobo, Mande, and 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: 21.8%
male: 29.4%
female: 15.2% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 6 years
male: 7 years
female: 6 years (2009)
Education expenditures:
4.6% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 86
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); note - commemorates the day that
Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French Community
Constitution:
approved by referendum 2 June 1991; formally adopted 11 June 1991;
last amended January 2002
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Tertius ZONGO (since 4 June 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 November 2010
(next to be held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the president
with the consent of the legislature
election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president; percent of
popular vote - Blaise COMPAORE 80.2%, Hama Arba DIALLO 8.2%,
Benewende Stanislas SANKARA 6.3%
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 on 6 May 2007 (next
to be held in May 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CDP 73, ADF-RDA 14, UPR 5, UNIR-MS 4, CFD-B 3, UPS 2, PDP-PS 2, RDB
2, PDS 2, PAREN 1, PAI 1, RPC 1, UDPS 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders:
African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation or
ADF-RDA [Gilbert OUEDRAOGO]; Citizen's Popular Rally or RPC [Antoine
QUARE]; Coalition of Democratic Forces of Burkina or CFD-B [Amadou
Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP [Roch
Marc-Christian KABORE]; Democratic and Popular Rally or RDP [Nana
THIBAUT]; Movement for Tolerance and Progress or MTP [Nayabtigungou
Congo KABORE]; Party for African Independence or PAI [Soumane
TOURE]; Party for Democracy and Progress-Socialist Party or PDP-PS
[Ali LANKOANDE]; Party for Democracy and Socialism or PDS [Felix
SOUBEIGA]; Party for National Rebirth or PAREN [Jeanne TRAORE];
Rally for the Development of Burkina or RDB [Antoine KARGOUGOU];
Rally of Ecologists of Burkina Faso or RDEB [Ram OUEDRAGO];
Republican Party for Integration and Solidarity or PARIS; Union for
Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Fidele HIEN]; Union for
Rebirth - Sankarist Movement or UNIR-MS [Benewende STANISLAS]; Union
for the Republic or UPR [Toussaint Abel COULIBALY]; Union of
Sankarist Parties or UPS [Ernest Nongma OUEDRAOGO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB [Tole SAGNON];
Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP [Chrysigone ZOUGMORE];
Group of 14 February [Benewende STANISLAS]; National Confederation
of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB [Laurent OUEDRAOGO]; National
Organization of Free Unions or ONSL [Paul KABORE]
other: watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in
both organizations and communities
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM,
OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR,
UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Paramanga Ernest YONLI
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 Thomas DOUGHERTY
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
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow
five-pointed star in the center; red recalls the country's struggle
for independence, green is for hope and abundance,and yellow
represents the country's mineral wealth
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
National anthem:
name: "Le Ditanye" (Anthem of Victory)
lyrics/music: Thomas SANKARA
note: adopted 1974; also known as "Une Seule Nuit" (One Single
Night), Burkina Faso"s anthem was written by the country"s
president, an avid guitar player
Economy ::Burkina Faso
Economy - overview:
Burkina Faso is a poor, landlocked country that relies heavily on
cotton and gold exports for revenue. The country has few natural
resources and a weak industrial base. About 90% of the population is
engaged in subsistence agriculture, which is vulnerable to periodic
drought. Cotton is the main cash crop. Since 1998, Burkina Faso has
embarked upon a gradual privatization of state-owned enterprises and
in 2004 revised its investment code to attract foreign investment.
As a result of this new code and other legislation favoring the
mining sector, the country has seen an upswing in gold exploration
and production. By 2010, gold had become the main source of export
revenue.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$20.06 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
$19.07 billion (2009 est.)
$18.48 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$8.672 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
3.2% (2009 est.)
5.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
$1,200 (2009 est.)
$1,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 30.1%
industry: 20.7%
services: 49.2% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
6.668 million
country comparison to the world: 64
note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to
neighboring countries for seasonal employment (2007)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 90%
industry and services: 10% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
77% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 197
Population below poverty line:
46.4% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 32.2% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39.5 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 64
48.2 (1994)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
2.6% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 103
4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.416 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 127
$1.303 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$2.406 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
$2.22 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.373 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
$1.236 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
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:
5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Electricity - production:
611.6 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Electricity - consumption:
568.8 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Oil - consumption:
9,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Oil - imports:
8,283 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Current account balance:
-$486 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
-$330 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$991 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
$772 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, livestock, gold
Exports - partners:
Singapore 16.76%, Belgium 12.78%, China 7.59%, Ghana 6.89%, India
6.36%, Denmark 5.76%, Niger 5.13%, Thailand 4.52% (2009)
Imports:
$1.48 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
$1.186 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum
Imports - partners:
Cote d'Ivoire 24.31%, France 19.48%, Togo 6.42% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.588 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
$1.296 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.002 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
$1.784 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 506.04
(2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006)
Communications ::Burkina Faso
Telephones - main lines in use:
167,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 132
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.299 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 109
Telephone system:
general assessment: system includes microwave radio relay,
open-wire, and radiotelephone communication stations; in 2006 the
government sold a 51 percent stake in the national telephone company
and ultimately plans to retain only a 23 percent stake in the company
domestic: fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100
persons; mobile-cellular usage, fostered by multiple providers, is
increasing rapidly from a low base
international: country code - 226; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
2 TV stations - 1 state-owned and 1 privately-owned; state-owned
radio runs a national and regional network; substantial number of
privately-owned radio broadcast stations; transmissions of several
international broadcasters available in Ouagadougou (2007)
Internet country code:
.bf
Internet hosts:
1,877 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 155
Internet users:
178,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 144
Transportation ::Burkina Faso
Airports:
24 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 132
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 22
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 6 (2010)
Railways:
total: 622 km
country comparison to the world: 109
narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge
note: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote d'Ivoire
(2008)
Roadways:
total: 92,495 km
country comparison to the world: 53
paved: 3,857 km
unpaved: 88,638 km (2004)
Military ::Burkina Faso
Military branches:
Army, Air Force of Burkina Faso (Force Aerienne de Burkina Faso,
FABF), National Gendarmerie (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; women may serve in
supporting roles (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,608,963 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,280,776
females age 16-49: 2,278,474 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 188,394
female: 185,975 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.2% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 120
Transnational Issues ::Burkina Faso
Disputes - international:
in September 2007, Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) intervened to attempt to resolve the dispute over two
villages along the Benin-Burkina Faso border that remain from a 2005
ICJ decision; in recent years citizens and rogue security forces rob
and harass local populations on both sides of the poorly defined
Burkina Faso-Niger border; despite the presence of more than 9,000
UN forces (UNOCI) in Cote d'Ivoire since 2004, ethnic conflict
continues to spread into neighboring states that can no longer send
their migrant workers to work in Ivorian cocoa plantations
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Burma (East & Southeast Asia)
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. In September 1988, the military deposed
NE WIN and established a new ruling junta. Despite multiparty
legislative elections in 1990 that resulted in the main opposition
party - the National League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a
landslide victory, the 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. She was
finally released in November 2010. After the ruling junta in August
2007 unexpectedly increased fuel prices, tens of thousands of
Burmese marched in protest, led by prodemocracy activists and
Buddhist monks. In late September 2007, the government brutally
suppressed the protests, killing at least 13 people and arresting
thousands for participating in the demonstrations. Since then, the
regime has continued to raid homes and monasteries and arrest
persons suspected of participating in the pro-democracy protests.
Burma in early May 2008 was struck by Cyclone Nargis which official
estimates claimed left over 80,000 dead and 50,000 injured. Despite
this tragedy, the junta proceeded with its May constitutional
referendum, the first vote in Burma since 1990. Parliamentary
elections held in November 2010, considered flawed by many in the
international community, saw the junta's Union Solidarity and
Development Party garnering over 70 percent of the seats. Parliament
is constitutionally mandated to convene within 90 days of the
election; the president, two vice presidents, and ministers will be
selected at that time.
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: 676,578 sq km
country comparison to the world: 40
land: 653,508 sq km
water: 23,070 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, 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)
Total renewable water resources:
1,045.6 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 33.23 cu km/yr (1%/1%/98%)
per capita: 658 cu m/yr (2000)
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:
53,414,374
country comparison to the world: 24
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.3% (male 6,193,263/female 5,990,658)
15-64 years: 69.3% (male 16,510,648/female 16,828,462)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 1,121,412/female 1,493,298) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.5 years
male: 26 years
female: 27.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.096% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Birth rate:
19.49 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Death rate:
8.23 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Net migration rate:
-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 134
Urbanization:
urban population: 33% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 50.76 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 50
male: 57.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 43.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.52 years
country comparison to the world: 167
male: 62.23 years
female: 66.94 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.28 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.7% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
240,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
25,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
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
water contact disease: leptospirosis
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
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 (offical) minority ethnic groups have their own languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.9%
male: 93.9%
female: 86.4% (2006 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 8 years
female: 8 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
1.2% of GDP (2001)
country comparison to the world: 181
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; the US
Government did not adopt the name, which is a derivative of the
Burmese short-form name Myanma Naingngandaw
Government type:
military regime
Capital:
name: Rangoon (Yangon)
geographic coordinates: 16 48 N, 96 09 E
time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Nay Pyi Taw is administrative capital
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, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon, Rakhine (Arakan), Shan
Independence:
4 January 1948 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947)
Constitution:
3 January 1974; suspended since 18 September 1988; a constitution
officially received 92.48% support in a flawed May 2008 referendum
that most observers judged fell far short of international standards
of free and fair elections; note - a new constitution is to take
effect when a parliament is convened possibly in late January 2011
Legal system:
based on English common law; 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 Lt. Gen THEIN SEIN (since 24
October 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet is overseen by the military regime that assumed
power 18 September 1988 under the name State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC); changed in 1997 to SPDC
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: none
Legislative branch:
bicameral, consists of the House of Nationalities [Amyotha Hluttaw]
(224 seats, 168 directly elected and 56 appointed by the military;
members serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives
[Pythu Hluttaw] (440 seats, 330 directly elected and 110 appointed
by the military; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 7 November 2010 (next to be held in December
2015)
election results: House of Nationalities - percent of vote by party
- USDP 74.8%, others (NUP, SNDP, RNDP, NDF, AMRDP) 25.2%; seats by
party - USDP 129, others 39; House of Representatives - percent of
vote by party - USDP 79.6%, others (NUP, SNDP, RNDP, NDF, AMRDP)
20.4%; seats by party - USDP 259, others 66
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:
All Mon Region Democracy Party or AMRDP; National Democratic Force
or NDF [KHIN MAUNG SWE]; National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG
SHWE, AUNG SAN SUU KYI]; note - the party is defunct because it did
not register for the 2010 election; National Unity Party or NUP [TUN
YE]; Rakhine Nationalities Development Party or RNDP; Shan
Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD [HKUN HTUN OO]; Union
Solidarity and Development Party or USDP [THEIN SEIN]; numerous
smaller parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Thai border: Ethnic Nationalities Council or ENC; Federation of
Trade Unions-Burma or FTUB (exile trade union and labor advocates);
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 a parallel government in
exile); National Council-Union of Burma or NCUB (exile coalition of
opposition groups)
Inside Burma: Kachin Independence Organization or KIO; Karen
National Union or KNU; Karenni National People's Party or KNPP;
Union Solidarity and Development Association or USDA (pro-regime, a
social and political mass-member organization) [HTAY OO, general
secretary] became the Union Solidarity and Development Party in
2010; United Wa State Army or UWSA; 88 Generation Students
(pro-democracy movement); several other Shan factions
International organization participation:
ADB, ARF, 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), SAARC (observer), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires HAN THU -
note: Burma does not have an ambassador to the United States
chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-3344
FAX: [1] (202) 332-4351
consulate(s) general: none; Burma has a Mission to the UN in New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Larry M. DINGER - note: The
United States does not have an ambassador to Burma
embassy: 110 University Avenue, Kamayut Township, Rangoon
mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546
telephone: [95] (1) 536-509, 535-756, 538-038
FAX: [95] (1) 650-306
Flag description:
design consists of three equal horizontal stripes of yellow (top),
green, and red; centered on the green band is a large white
five-pointed star that partially overlaps onto the adjacent colored
stripes; the design revives the triband colors used by Burma from
1943-45, during the Japanese occupation
National anthem:
name: "Kaba Ma Kyei" (Till the End of the World, Myanmar)
lyrics/music: SAYA TIN
note: adopted 1948; Burma is among a handful of non-European nations
that have anthems rooted in indigenous traditions; the beginning
portion of the anthem is a traditional Burmese anthem before
transitioning into a Western-style orchestrated work
Economy ::Burma
Economy - overview:
Burma, a resource-rich country, suffers from pervasive government
controls, inefficient economic policies, corruption, and rural
poverty. Despite Burma's emergence as a natural gas exporter,
socio-economic conditions have deteriorated under the regime's
mismanagement, leaving most of the public in poverty, while military
leaders and their business cronies exploit the country's ample
natural resources. The economy suffers from serious macroeconomic
imbalances - including rising inflation, fiscal deficits, multiple
official exchange rates that overvalue the Burmese kyat, a distorted
interest rate regime, unreliable statistics, and an inability to
reconcile national accounts to determine a realistic GDP figure.
Burma's poor investment climate hampers the inflow of foreign
investment; in recent years, foreign investors have shied away from
nearly every sector except for natural gas, power generation,
timber, and mining. The business climate is widely perceived as
opaque, corrupt, and highly inefficient. Over 60% of the FY 2009-10
budget is allocated to state owned enterprises - most operating at a
deficit. The government has recently privatized a number of state
owned enterprises, but most of the benefits have accrued to regime
insiders and cronies. The most productive sectors will continue to
be in extractive industries - especially oil and gas, mining, and
timber - with the latter two causing significant environmental
degradation. Other areas, such as manufacturing, tourism and
services, struggle in the face of inadequate infrastructure,
unpredictable trade policies, neglected health and education
systems, and endemic corruption. A major banking crisis in 2003
caused 20 private banks to close; private banks still operate under
tight restrictions, limiting the private sector's access to credit.
The United States, the European Union, Canada, and Australia have
imposed financial and economic sanctions on Burma, prohibiting most
financial transactions with Burmese entities, imposing travel bans
on Burmese officials and others connected to the ruling regime, and
banning imports of certain Burmese products. These sanctions
affected the country's fledgling garment industry, isolated the
struggling banking sector, and raised the costs of doing business
with Burmese companies, particularly firms tied to Burmese regime
leaders. The global crisis of 2008-09 caused exports and domestic
consumer demand to drop. Remittances from overseas Burmese workers -
who had provided significant financial support for their families -
slowed or dried up as jobs were lost and migrant workers returned
home. 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 serious foreign
investment, exports, and tourism.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$60.07 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$58.27 billion (2009 est.)
$57.24 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$35.65 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
1.8% (2009 est.)
1.1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
$1,100 (2009 est.)
$1,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 43.2%
industry: 20%
services: 36.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
31.68 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 70%
industry: 7%
services: 23% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
4.9% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
32.7% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
15.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
1.5% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
12% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 34
12% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
17% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
17% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$4.907 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 89
$4.038 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: this number reflects the vastly overvalued official exchange
rate of 5.38 kyat per dollar in 2007; at the unofficial black market
rate of 1,305 kyat per dollar for 2007, the stock of kyats would
equal only US$2.465 billion and Burma's velocity of money (the
number of times money turns over in the course of a year) would be
six, in line with the velocity of money for other countries in the
region; in 2009, the unofficial black market rate averaged 1,090
kyat per dollar.
Stock of broad money:
$7.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
$6.231 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$8.552 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
$6.858 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane; hardwood; fish
and fish products
Industries:
agricultural processing; wood and wood products; copper, tin,
tungsten, iron; cement, construction materials; pharmaceuticals;
fertilizer; oil and natural gas; garments, jade and gems
Industrial production growth rate:
4.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Electricity - production:
6.286 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Electricity - consumption:
4.403 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
18,880 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Oil - consumption:
42,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Oil - exports:
2,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Oil - imports:
18,250 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Oil - proved reserves:
50 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Natural gas - production:
12.4 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Natural gas - consumption:
3.85 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Natural gas - exports:
8.55 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Natural gas - proved reserves:
283.2 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Current account balance:
$652 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$705 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$7.841 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
$6.862 billion (2009 est.)
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
Exports - commodities:
natural gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice, clothing,
jade and gems
Exports - partners:
Thailand 46.57%, India 12.99%, China 9.01%, Japan 5.65% (2009)
Imports:
$4.532 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
$4.02 billion (2009 est.)
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
Imports - commodities:
fabric, petroleum products, fertilizer, plastics, machinery,
transport equipment; cement, construction materials, crude oil; food
products, edible oil
Imports - partners:
China 33.1%, Thailand 26.28%, Singapore 15.18% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.762 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
$3.561 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$7.145 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
$7.079 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
kyats (MMK) per US dollar - 1,000 (2010), 1,055 (2009), 1,205
(2008), 1,296 (2007), 1,280 (2006)
Communications ::Burma
Telephones - main lines in use:
812,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 86
Telephones - mobile cellular:
448,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 160
Telephone system:
general assessment: meets minimum requirements for local and
intercity service for business and government
domestic: system barely capable of providing basic service;
mobile-cellular phone system is grossly underdeveloped with a
subscribership base of only 1 per 100 persons
international: country code - 95; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to
Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2,
Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and ShinSat (2009)
Broadcast media:
government controls all domestic broadcast media; 3 state-controlled
television stations with 1 of the stations controlled by the armed
forces; a fourth TV channel, a pay-TV station, is a joint
state-private venture; access to satellite TV is limited with
residents required to register and pay a fee for all satellite
television receivers; 2 state-controlled domestic radio stations;
transmissions of several international broadcasters are available in
Burma; the opposition-backed station Democratic Voice of Burma
broadcasts into Burma via shortwave (2009)
Internet country code:
.mm
Internet hosts:
172 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 197
Internet users:
110,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 158
Transportation ::Burma
Airports:
76 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 72
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 37
over 3,047 m: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 39
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 23 (2010)
Heliports:
6 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 2,228 km; oil 558 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 3,955 km
country comparison to the world: 44
narrow gauge: 3,955 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 27,000 km
country comparison to the world: 101
paved: 3,200 km
unpaved: 23,800 km (2006)
Waterways:
12,800 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 10
Merchant marine:
total: 26
country comparison to the world: 90
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 19, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3,
specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 3 (Cyprus 1, Germany 1, Japan 1)
registered in other countries: 3 (Panama 3) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Moulmein, Rangoon, Sittwe
Military ::Burma
Military branches:
Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw): Army (Tatmadaw Kyi), Navy (Tatmadaw
Yay), Air Force (Tatmadaw Lay) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-35 years of age (men) and 18-27 years of age (women) for
compulsory military service; service obligation 2 years; male (ages
18-45) and female (ages 18-35) professionals (including doctors,
engineers, mechanics) serve up to 3 years; service terms may be
streched to 5 years in an officially declared emergency; forced
conscription of children, although officially prohibited, reportedly
continues (2011)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 14,558,921
females age 16-49: 14,539,703 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 10,281,131
females age 16-49: 10,988,695 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 526,557
female: 510,538 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Transnational Issues ::Burma
Disputes - international:
over half of Burma's population consists of diverse ethnic groups
who have substantial numbers of kin in neighboring countries;
Thailand must deal with Karen and other ethnic refugees, asylum
seekers, and rebels, as well as illegal cross-border activities from
Burma; Thailand is studying the feasibility of jointly constructing
the Hatgyi Dam on the Salween River near the border with Burma;
citing environmental, cultural, and social concerns, China is
reconsidering construction of 13 dams on the Salween River but
energy-starved Burma with backing from Thailand remains intent on
building five hydro-electric dams downstream, despite identical
regional and international protests; India seeks cooperation from
Burma to keep Indian Nagaland separatists, such as the United
Liberation Front of Assam, from hiding in remote Burmese Uplands;
after 21 years, Bangladesh in January 2008 resumed talks with Burma
on delimiting a maritime boundary
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 503,000 (government offensives against ethnic insurgent groups
near the eastern borders; most IDPs are ethnic Karen, Karenni, Shan,
Tavoyan, and Mon) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Burma is a source country for women, children,
and men trafficked for the purpose of forced labor and commercial
sexual exploitation; Burmese women and children are trafficked to
East and Southeast Asia for commercial sexual exploitation, domestic
servitude, and forced labor; Burmese children are subjected to
conditions of forced labor in Thailand as hawkers and beggars; women
are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation to Malaysia and
China; some trafficking victims transit Burma from Bangladesh to
Malaysia and from China to Thailand; Burma's internal trafficking
remains the most serious concern occurring primarily from villages
to urban centers and economic hubs for labor in industrial zones,
agricultural estates, and commercial sexual exploitation; the
Burmese military continues to engage in the unlawful conscription of
child soldiers, and continues to be the main perpetrator of forced
labor inside Burma; ethnic insurgent groups also used compulsory
labor of adults and unlawful recruitment of children; the regime's
widespread use of and lack of accountability in forced labor and
recruitment of child soldiers is particularly worrying and
represents the top causal factor for Burma's significant trafficking
problem
tier rating: Tier 3 - serious problems remain in Burma, and in some
areas, most notably in the area of forced labor, the Government of
Burma is not making significant efforts to comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking, warranting a ranking
of Tier 3; in other areas, particularly with regard to international
sex trafficking of women and girls, the Government of Burma is
making significant efforts (2010)
Illicit drugs:
remains world's second largest producer of illicit opium with an
estimated production in 2008 of 340 metric tons, an increase of 26%,
and poppy cultivation in 2008 totaled 22,500 hectares, a 4% increase
from 2007; production in the United Wa State Army's areas of
greatest control remains low; Shan state is the source of 94% of
Burma's poppy cultivation; 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 (2008)
page last updated on January 24, 2011
======================================================================
@Burundi (Africa)
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. More than 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 September 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
country comparison to the world: 146
land: 25,680 sq km
water: 2,150 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)
Total renewable water resources:
3.6 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.29 cu km/yr (17%/6%/77%)
per capita: 38 cu m/yr (2000)
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, Wetlands
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:
9,863,117
country comparison to the world: 85
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.3% (male 2,213,667/female 2,189,197)
15-64 years: 51.2% (male 2,399,466/female 2,470,743)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 95,324/female 142,933) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.8 years
male: 16.5 years
female: 17.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.561% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Birth rate:
41.43 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Death rate:
9.87 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Net migration rate:
4.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Urbanization:
urban population: 10% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 6.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 63.38 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 29
male: 68.02 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 58.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 58.29 years
country comparison to the world: 191
male: 56.65 years
female: 59.98 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.25 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
110,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
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
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
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: 59.3%
male: 67.3%
female: 52.2% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 9 years
female: 7 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
7.2% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 17
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 22 S, 29 21 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
17 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rural, 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:
ratified by popular referendum 28 February 2005
Legal system:
based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal (adult)
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA - Hutu (since 26 August
2005); First Vice President Therence SINUNGURUZA - Tutsi (since 29
August 2010); Second Vice President Gervais RUFYIKIRI - Hutu (since
29 August 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA - Hutu (since 26
August 2005); First Vice President Therence SINUNGURUZA - Tutsi
(since 29 August 2010); Second Vice President Gervais RUFYIKIRI -
Hutu (since 29 August 2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term (eligible for a second term); note - the constitution adopted
in February 2005 permited the post-transition president to be
elected by a two-thirds majority of the parliament; elections last
held 28 June 2010 (next to be held in 2015); vice presidents
nominated by the president, endorsed by parliament
election results: Pierre NKURUNZIZA elected president by popular
vote; Pierre NKURUNZIZA 91.6%, other 8.4%; note - opposition parties
withdrew from the election due to alleged government interference in
the electoral process
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlement, consists of a Senate (54 seats;
34 members elected by indirect vote to serve five-year terms, with
remaining seats assigned to ethnic groups and former chiefs of
state) and 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)
elections: Senate - last held on 23 July 2010 (next to be held in
2015); National Assembly - last held on 23 July 2010 (next to be
held in 2015)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - TBD; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CNDD
81.2%, UPRONA 11.6%, FRODEBU 5.9%, others 1.3%; seats by party -
CNDD 81, UPRONA 17, FRODEBU 5, other 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court; High Court of
Justice (composed of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court)
Political parties and leaders:
governing parties: Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Leonce
NGENDAKUMANA]; National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front
for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD-FDD [Jeremie NGENDAKUMANA];
Unity for National Progress or UPRONA [Bonaventure NIYOYANKANA]
note: a multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are:
National Council for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD [Leonard
NYANGOMA]; 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:
Forum for the Strengthening of Civil Society or FORSC [Pacifique
NININAHAZWE] (civil society umbrella organization); Observatoire de
lutte contre la corruption et les malversations economiques or
OLUCOME [Gabriel RUFYIRI] (anti-corruption pressure group)
other: Hutu and Tutsi militias (loosely organized)
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, EAC, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Angele NIYUHIRE
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 Pamela J. H. SLUTZ
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); green symbolizes hope and optimism, white purity
and peace, and red the blood shed in the struggle for independence;
the three stars in the disk represent the three major ethnic groups:
Hutu, Twa, Tutsi, as well as the three elements in the national
motto: unity, work, progress
National anthem:
name: "Burundi Bwacu" (Our Beloved Burundi)
lyrics/music: Jean-Baptiste NTAHOKAJA/Marc BARENGAYABO
note: adopted 1962
Economy ::Burundi
Economy - overview:
Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an
underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantly
agricultural which accounts for about 35% of GDP and employs more
than 90% of the population. Burundi's primary exports are coffee and
tea, which account for 90% of foreign exchange earnings, though
exports are a relatively small share of GDP. Burundi's export
earning - and its ability to pay for imports - rests primarily on
weather conditions and international coffee and tea prices. The
Tutsi minority, 14% of the population, dominates the coffee trade.
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 15 adults has HIV/AIDS. Food,
medicine, and electricity remain in short supply. Burundi's GDP grew
around 4% annually in 2006-09. 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. Burundi will
continue to remain heavily dependent on aid from bilateral and
multilateral donors; the delay of funds after a corruption scandal
cut off bilateral aid in 2007 reduced government's revenues and its
ability to pay salaries. Burundi joined the East African Community,
which should boost Burundi's regional trade ties, and received $700
million in debt relief in 2009. Instability spilling over from
eastern Congo-Kinshasa and the ban on minerals smuggled across
Burundi's border will be the main challenges to economic growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.418 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
$3.29 billion (2009 est.)
$3.178 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.469 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
3.5% (2009 est.)
4.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 228
$300 (2009 est.)
$300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 31.6%
industry: 21.4%
services: 47% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
4.245 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 85
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%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 28% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
42.4 (1998)
country comparison to the world: 52
Investment (gross fixed):
25.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
10.7% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
10% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 44
10.08% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.08% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
16.52% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$329.3 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 166
$293.6 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$568.3 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
$506.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$465.7 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
$415.2 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
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:
7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Electricity - production:
92 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Electricity - consumption:
125.6 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
40 million kWh; note - supplied by the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Oil - consumption:
3,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Oil - imports:
2,495 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Current account balance:
-$136 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
-$127 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$71 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
$68 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides
Exports - partners:
Germany 21.6%, Switzerland 14.86%, Belgium 9.32%, Sweden 8.94%,
Pakistan 5.82% (2009)
Imports:
$336 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
$275 million (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 16.87%, Belgium 11.17%, Uganda 8.62%, Kenya 7.57%,
China 5.66%, France 5.35%, Germany 4.46%, India 4.24%, Tanzania
4.21% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$320 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
$323 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.2 billion (2003)
country comparison to the world: 147
Exchange rates:
Burundi francs (BIF) per US dollar - 1,250.75 (2010), 1,230.18
(2009), 1,198 (2008), 1,065 (2007), 1,030 (2006)
Communications ::Burundi
Telephones - main lines in use:
31,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 177
Telephones - mobile cellular:
838,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 149
Telephone system:
general assessment: sparse system of open-wire, radiotelephone
communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relays
domestic: telephone density one of the lowest in the world;
fixed-line connections stand at well less than 1 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular usage is increasing but remains at a meager 10 per
100 persons
international: country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-controlled La Radiodiffusion et Television Nationale de
Burundi (RTNB) operates the lone TV broadcast station and the only
national radio network; about 10 privately-owned radio broadcast
stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are
available in Bujumbura (2007)
Internet country code:
.bi
Internet hosts:
201 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 194
Internet users:
157,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 147
Transportation ::Burundi
Airports:
8 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 161
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 12,322 km
country comparison to the world: 129
paved: 1,286 km
unpaved: 11,036 km (2004)
Waterways:
mainly on Lake Tanganyika between Bujumbura, Burundi's principal
port, and lake ports in Tanzania, Zambia, and the Democratic
Republic of Congo (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Bujumbura
Military ::Burundi
Military branches:
National Defense Force (Forces de Defense Nationale, FDN): Army
(includes naval detachment and Air Wing), National Gendarmerie (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
military service is voluntary; the armed forces law of 31 December
2004 did not specify a minimum age for enlistment, but the
government had previously said each recruit must have a primary
school-leaving certificate; mandatory retirement age 45 (enlisted),
50 (NCOs), and 55 (officers) (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,099,541
females age 16-49: 2,118,918 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,337,935
females age 16-49: 1,414,035 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 111,829
female: 111,802 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
5.9% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Transnational Issues ::Burundi
Disputes - international:
Burundi and Rwanda dispute sections of border on the
Akanyaru/Kanyaru and the Kagera/Nyabarongo rivers, which have
changed course since the 1960s, when the boundary was delimited;
cross-border conflicts among Tutsi, Hutu, other ethnic groups,
associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government
forces persist in the Great Lakes region
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 9,849 (Democratic Republic of the
Congo)
IDPs: 100,000 (armed conflict between government and rebels; most
IDPs in northern and western Burundi) (2007)
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Cambodia (East & Southeast Asia)
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 and it 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 surviving
Khmer Rouge leaders have been tried or are awaiting trial for crimes
against humanity by a hybrid UN-Cambodian tribunal supported by
international assistance. Elections in July 2003 were relatively
peaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between contending
political parties before a coalition government was formed. In
October 2004, King Norodom SIHANOUK abdicated the throne and his
son, Prince Norodom SIHAMONI, was selected to succeed him. Local
elections were held in Cambodia in April 2007, with little of the
pre-election violence that preceded prior elections. National
elections in July 2008 were relatively peaceful.
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: 181,035 sq km
country comparison to the world: 89
land: 176,515 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, 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)
Total renewable water resources:
476.1 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 4.08 cu km/yr (1%/0%/98%)
per capita: 290 cu m/yr (2000)
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, Whaling
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:
14,453,680
country comparison to the world: 66
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.6% (male 2,388,922/female 2,336,439)
15-64 years: 63.8% (male 4,498,568/female 4,743,677)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 197,649/female 329,038) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.6 years
male: 21.8 years
female: 23.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.705% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Birth rate:
25.58 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Death rate:
8.19 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Net migration rate:
-0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 136
Urbanization:
urban population: 22% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.045 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 56.94 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 37
male: 64.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 49.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.28 years
country comparison to the world: 177
male: 59.95 years
female: 64.72 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.9 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
75,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
6,900 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
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, Japanese encephalitis, and
malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Cambodian(s)
adjective: Cambodian
Ethnic groups:
Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
Religions:
Buddhist 96.4%, Muslim 2.1%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.2% (1998
census)
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.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
1.6% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 176
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: 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:
23 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 1 municipality (krong,
singular and plural)
provinces: Banteay Mean Choay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong
Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Keb,
Krachen, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Choay, Pailin, Pouthisat, Preah
Seihanu (Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanokiri, Siem
Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
municipalities: Phnum Penh (Phnom Penh)
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; 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)
[co-prime minister from 1993 to 1997]; Permanent Deputy Prime
Minister MEN SAM AN (since 25 September 2008); Deputy Prime
Ministers SAR KHENG (since 3 February 1992); SOK AN, TEA BANH, HOR
NAMHONG, NHEK BUNCHHAY (since 16 July 2004); BIN CHHIN (since 5
September 2007); KEAT CHHON, YIM CHHAI LY (since 24 September 2008);
KE KIMYAN (since 12 March 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and
appointed by the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the king chosen by a Royal Throne Council from among all
eligible males of royal descent; following legislative elections, a
member of the majority party or majority coalition named prime
minister by the Chairman of the National Assembly and appointed by
the king
Legislative branch:
bicameral, consists of 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) and the National Assembly (123 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 22 January 2006 (next to be held in
January 2012); National Assembly - last held on 27 July 2008 (next
to be held in July 2013)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - CPP 69%,
FUNCINPEC 21%, SRP 10%; seats by party - CPP 45, FUNCINPEC 10, SRP
2; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 58%, SRP 22%,
HRP 7%; NRP 6%; FUNCINPEC 5%; others 2%; seats by party - CPP 90,
SRP 26, HRP 3, FUNCINPEC 2, NRP 2
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 People's Party or CPP [CHEA SIM]; Human Rights Party or
HRP [KHEM SOKHA, also spelled KEM SOKHA]; National United Front for
an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or
FUNCINPEC [KEV PUT REAKSMEI]; Nationalist Party or NP [CHHIM SEAK
LENG] (formerly the NRP); Sam Rangsi Party or SRP [SAM RANGSI, also
spelled SAM RAINSY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Cambodian Freedom Fighters or CFF; Partnership for Transparency Fund
or PTF (anti-corruption organization); Students Movement for
Democracy; The Committee for Free and Fair Elections or Comfrel
other: human rights organizations; vendors
International organization participation:
ADB, ARF, ASEAN, CICA (observer), 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, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador HENG HEM
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 Carol A. RODLEY
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; red and blue are traditional
Cambodian colors
note: only national flag to incorporate an actual building in its
design
National anthem:
name: "Nokoreach" (Royal Kingdom)
lyrics/music: CHUON NAT/F. PERRUCHOT and J. JEKYLL
note: adopted 1941, restored 1993; the anthem, based on a Cambodian
folk tune, was restored after the defeat of the Communist regime
Economy ::Cambodia
Economy - overview:
From 2004 to 2007, the economy grew about 10% per year, driven
largely by an expansion in the garment sector, construction,
agriculture, and tourism. GDP contracted 1.5% in 2009 as a result of
the global economic slowdown, but climbed more than 4% in 1010,
driven by renewed exports. With the January 2005 expiration of a WTO
Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, Cambodian textile producers were
forced to compete directly with lower-priced countries such as
China, India, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. The garment industry
currently employs more than 280,000 people - about 5% of the work
force - and contributes more than 70% of Cambodia's exports. In
2005, exploitable oil deposits were found beneath Cambodia's
territorial waters, representing a new revenue stream for the
government if commercial extraction begins. Mining also is
attracting significant investor interest, particularly in the
northern parts of the country. The government has said opportunities
exist for mining bauxite, gold, iron and gems. In 2006, a
US-Cambodia bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement
(TIFA) was signed, and several rounds of discussions have been held
since 2007. Rubber exports increased about 25% in 2009 due to rising
global demand. The tourism industry has continued to grow rapidly,
with foreign arrivals exceeding 2 million per year in 2007-08,
however, economic troubles abroad dampened growth in 2009. The
global financial crisis is weakening demand for Cambodian exports,
and construction is declining due to a shortage of credit. The
long-term development of the economy remains a daunting challenge.
The Cambodian government is working with bilateral and multilateral
donors, including the World Bank and IMF, to address the country's
many pressing needs. 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 less than
25 years old. The population lacks education and productive skills,
particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from
an almost total lack of basic infrastructure.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$29.46 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
$28.3 billion (2009 est.)
$28.73 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$11.36 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
-1.5% (2009 est.)
5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
$2,000 (2009 est.)
$2,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 29%
industry: 30%
services: 41% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
8 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 67.9%
industry: 12.7%
services: 19.5% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
2.5% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
31% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 34.2% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
43 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
40 (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
-0.7% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 83
5.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
17% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 40
16.01% (31 December 2008)
Stock of narrow money:
$850.7 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 142
$747.2 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$4.982 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
$3.899 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.195 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$1.991 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca, silk
Industries:
tourism, garments, construction, rice milling, fishing, wood and
wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
4.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Electricity - production:
1.273 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Electricity - consumption:
1.272 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
167 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Oil - imports:
30,970 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Current account balance:
-$918 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
-$865.7 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$5.212 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
$4.302 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear
Exports - partners:
US 45.32%, Singapore 9.46%, Germany 7.52%, UK 7.07%, Canada 6.31%,
Vietnam 4.15% (2009)
Imports:
$6.944 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
$5.876 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials,
machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products
Imports - partners:
Thailand 24.83%, Vietnam 19.73%, China 14.08%, Singapore 11.34%,
Hong Kong 7.41%, Taiwan 5.1%, South Korea 4.06% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.84 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$3.289 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.338 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
$4.284 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
riels (KHR) per US dollar - 4,217.96 (2010), 4,139.33 (2009),
4,070.94 (2008), 4,006 (2007), 4,103 (2006)
Communications ::Cambodia
Telephones - main lines in use:
54,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 159
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.593 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 91
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate fixed-line and/or cellular service in
Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; mobile-cellular phone
systems are widely used in urban areas to bypass deficiencies in the
fixed-line network; mobile-phone coverage is rapidly expanding in
rural areas
domestic: fixed-line connections stand at well less than 1 per 100
persons; mobile-cellular usage, aided by increasing competition
among service providers, is increasing and stands at 40 per 100
persons
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) (2009)
Broadcast media:
mixture of state-owned, joint public-private, and privately-owned
broadcast media; 9 TV broadcast stations with most operating on
multiple channels, including 1 state-operated station broadcasting
from multiple locations, 6 stations either jointly operated or
privately-owned with some broadcasting from several locations, and 2
TV relay stations - one relaying a French television station and the
other relaying a Vietnamese television station; multi-channel cable
and satellite systems are available; roughly 50 radio broadcast
stations - 1 state-owned broadcaster with multiple stations and a
large mixture of public and private broadcasters; several
international broadcasters are available (2009)
Internet country code:
.kh
Internet hosts:
5,452 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 138
Internet users:
78,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 166
Transportation ::Cambodia
Airports:
17 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 141
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Railways:
total: 690 km
country comparison to the world: 105
narrow gauge: 690 km 1.000-m gauge
note: under restoration (2010)
Roadways:
total: 38,093 km
country comparison to the world: 91
paved: 2,977 km
unpaved: 35,116 km (2007)
Waterways:
2,400 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 37
Merchant marine:
total: 620
country comparison to the world: 20
by type: bulk carrier 40, cargo 526, carrier 5, chemical tanker 5,
container 5, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 7,
petroleum tanker 12, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 426 (Belgium 1, Canada 2, China 203, Cyprus 8, Egypt
12, Estonia 1, French Polynesia 1, Gabon 1, Greece 2, Hong Kong 11,
Indonesia 2, Japan 2, Latvia 1, Lebanon 6, Netherlands 1, Romania 1,
Russia 60, Singapore 4, South Korea 11, Syria 22, Taiwan 1, Turkey
26, UAE 2, UK 3, Ukraine 37, US 4, Vietnam 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Phnom Penh, Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville)
Military ::Cambodia
Military branches:
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer
Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
conscription law of October 2006 requires all males between 18-30 to
register for military service; 18-month service obligation (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,980,995
females age 16-49: 3,970,244 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,751,618
females age 16-49: 2,835,807 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 168,519
female: 166,418 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Transnational Issues ::Cambodia
Disputes - international:
Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary with missing
boundary markers and claims of Thai encroachments into Cambodian
territory; maritime boundary with Vietnam is hampered by unresolved
dispute over sovereignty of offshore islands; Thailand accuses
Cambodia of obstructing inclusion of Thai areas near Preah Vihear
temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962, as part
of a planned UN World Heritage site
Illicit drugs:
narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the
government, military, and police; limited methamphetamine
production; vulnerable to money laundering due to its cash-based
economy and porous borders
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Cameroon (Africa)
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 slow
movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in
the hands of 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
country comparison to the world: 53
land: 472,710 sq km
water: 2,730 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: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 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)
Total renewable water resources:
285.5 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.99 cu km/yr (18%/8%/74%)
per capita: 61 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from
Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes
volcanism: Mt. Cameroon (elev. 4,095 m, 13,435 ft), which last
erupted in 2000, is the most frequently active volcano in West
Africa; lakes in Oku volcanic field have released fatal levels of
gas on occasion, killing some 1,700 people in 1986
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, Wetlands, Whaling
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:
19,294,149
country comparison to the world: 58
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40.9% (male 3,891,762/female 3,822,870)
15-64 years: 55.9% (male 5,298,143/female 5,250,493)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 283,289/female 332,744) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.3 years
male: 19.2 years
female: 19.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.157% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Birth rate:
33.58 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Death rate:
12.01 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 79
Urbanization:
urban population: 57% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 62.15 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 32
male: 66.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 57.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.04 years
country comparison to the world: 202
male: 53.21 years
female: 54.9 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.25 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
5.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
540,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
39,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
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: 67.9%
male: 77%
female: 59.8% (2001 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 9 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
2.9% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 150
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 regions (regions, singular - region); Adamaoua, Centre, Est,
Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, North-West (Nord-Ouest), Ouest, Sud,
South-West (Sud-Ouest)
Independence:
1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)
Constitution:
approved by referendum 20 May 1972; adopted 2 June 1972; 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 Philemon YANG (since 30 June 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from proposals submitted
by the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 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 on 22 July 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CPDM 140, SDF 14, UDC 4, UNDP 4, MP 1, vacant 17
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:
Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or CPDM [Paul BIYA];
Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou Ndam NJOYA]; Movement
for the Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA]; Movement
for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [Marcel
YONDO]; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari
BELLO BOUBA]; Progressive Movement or MP; Social Democratic Front or
SDF [John FRU NDI]; Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC [Augustin
Frederic KODOCK]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Human Rights Defense Group [Albert MUKONG, president]; Southern
Cameroon National Council [Ayamba Ette OTUN]
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM,
OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph FOE-ATANGANA
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 Janet E. GARVEY
embassy: Avenue Rosa Parks, Yaounde
mailing address: P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, US
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [237] 2220 15 00; Consular: [237] 2220 16 03
FAX: [237] 2220 16 00 Ext. 4531; Consular FAX: [237] 2220 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; the
vertical tricolor recalls the flag of France; red symbolizes unity,
yellow the sun, happiness, and the savannahs in the north, and green
hope and the forests in the south; the star is referred to as the
"star of unity"
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
National anthem:
name: "O Cameroun, Berceau de nos Ancetres" (O Cameroon, Cradle of
Our Forefathers)
lyrics/music: Rene Djam AFAME, Samuel Minkio BAMBA, Moise Nyatte
NKO"O [French], Benard Nsokika FONLON [English]/Rene Djam AFAME
note: adopted 1957; Cameroon's anthem, also known as "Chant de
Ralliement" (The Rallying Song), has been used unofficially since
1948 although officially adopted in 1957; the anthem has French and
English versions whose lyrics differ
Economy ::Cameroon
Economy - overview:
Because of its modest 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 stagnate per
capita income, a relatively inequitable distribution of income, a
top-heavy civil service, and a generally unfavorable climate for
business enterprise. Since 1990, the government has embarked on
various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur business
investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and
recapitalize the nation's banks. The IMF is pressing for more
reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and
poverty reduction programs. Weak prices for oil and cocoa led to the
significant slowdown in growth in 2009. The government is under
pressure to reduce its budget deficit, which by the government's own
forecast will hit 2.8% of GDP, but the presidential election in 2011
may make fiscal austerity difficult.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$44.65 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
$43.44 billion (2009 est.)
$43.05 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$21.88 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
0.9% (2009 est.)
3.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
$2,300 (2009 est.)
$2,300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 30.9%
services: 49.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
7.836 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 70%
industry: 13%
services: 17% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
30% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Population below poverty line:
48% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 35.4% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
44.6 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 43
47.7 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Public debt:
16.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
16.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 104
4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$2.888 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 111
$3.074 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$4.831 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
$4.921 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$848.8 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
$1.523 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
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% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Electricity - production:
5.601 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Electricity - consumption:
4.801 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
77,310 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Oil - consumption:
26,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Oil - exports:
107,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Oil - imports:
45,520 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Oil - proved reserves:
200 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Natural gas - production:
20 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Natural gas - consumption:
20 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Natural gas - proved reserves:
135.1 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Current account balance:
-$826 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
-$1.137 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$4.371 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$4.079 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum,
coffee, cotton
Exports - partners:
Netherlands 13.99%, Spain 12.25%, Italy 11.84%, China 9.14%, US
6.16%, France 5.51%, South Korea 4.66%, Belgium 4.33%, UK 4% (2009)
Imports:
$4.869 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
$4.405 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food
Imports - partners:
France 21.03%, Nigeria 10.79%, China 10.25%, Belgium 6.62%, US 4.31%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$4.023 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$3.676 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.344 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$3.231 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs 506.04 (2010),
472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006)
Communications ::Cameroon
Telephones - main lines in use:
323,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 110
Telephones - mobile cellular:
7.397 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 80
Telephone system:
general assessment: system includes cable, microwave radio relay,
and tropospheric scatter; Camtel, the monopoly provider of
fixed-line service, provides connections for only about 1 per 100
persons; equipment is old and outdated, and connections with many
parts of the country are unreliable
domestic: mobile-cellular usage, in part a reflection of the poor
condition and general inadequacy of the fixed-line network, has
increased sharply, reaching a subscribership base of 40 per 100
persons
international: country code - 237; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC
fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and
Asia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
government maintains tight control over broadcast media; state-owned
Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), broadcasting on both a television
and radio network, was the only officially recognized and fully
licensed broadcaster until August 2007 when the government finally
issued licenses to 2 private TV broadcasters and 1 private radio
broadcaster; about 70 privately-owned unlicensed radio stations
operating but are subject to closure at any time; foreign news
services required to partner with state-owned national station (2007)
Internet country code:
.cm
Internet hosts:
90 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 204
Internet users:
749,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 106
Transportation ::Cameroon
Airports:
34 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 111
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 23
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 6 (2010)
Pipelines:
oil 889 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 987 km
country comparison to the world: 90
narrow gauge: 987 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 50,000 km
country comparison to the world: 81
paved: 5,000 km
unpaved: 45,000 km (2004)
Waterways:
major rivers in the south, such as the Wouri and the Sanaga, are
largely non-navigable; in the north, the Benue, which connects
through Nigeria to the Niger River, is navigable in the rainy season
only to the port of Garoua (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Douala, Garoua, Limboh Terminal
Military ::Cameroon
Military branches:
Cameroon Armed Forces (Forces Armees Camerounaises, FAC): Army
(L'Armee de Terre), Navy (includes naval infantry), Air Force (Armee
de l'Air du Cameroun, AAC), Fire Fighter Corps, Gendarmerie (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-23 years of age for male and female voluntary military service;
no conscription; high school graduation required; service obligation
4 years; the government makes periodic calls for volunteers (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,553,576
females age 16-49: 4,443,217 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,721,307
females age 16-49: 2,647,640 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 213,538
female: 209,549 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 113
Transnational Issues ::Cameroon
Disputes - international:
Joint Border Commission with Nigeria reviewed 2002 ICJ ruling on the
entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences, including June
2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately ceded sovereignty of the
Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a full phase-out of Nigerian
control and patriation of residents in 2008; Cameroon and Nigeria
agree on maritime delimitation in March 2008; sovereignty dispute
between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth
of the Ntem River; 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): 20,000-30,000 (Chad); 3,000 (Nigeria);
24,000 (Central African Republic) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Cameroon is a source, transit, and destination
country for women and children trafficked for the purposes of forced
labor and commercial sexual exploitation; most victims are children
trafficked within country, with girls primarily trafficked for
domestic servitude and sexual exploitation; both boys and girls are
also trafficked within Cameroon for forced labor in sweatshops,
bars, restaurants, and on tea and cocoa plantations; children are
trafficked into Cameroon from neighboring states for forced labor in
agriculture, fishing, street vending, and spare-parts shops;
Cameroon is a transit country for children trafficked between Gabon
and Nigeria, and from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia; it is a source
country for women transported by sex-trafficking rings to Europe
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cameroon is on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
combat human trafficking in 2007, particularly in terms of efforts
to prosecute and convict trafficking offenders; while Cameroon
reported some arrests of traffickers, none of them were prosecuted
or punished; the government does not identify trafficking victims
among vulnerable populations nor does it monitor the number of
victims it intercepts (2008)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Canada (North America)
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 faces the political challenges of meeting
public demands for quality improvements in health care and education
services, as well as responding to the particular concerns of
predominantly francophone Quebec. Canada also aims to develop its
diverse energy resources while maintaining its commitment to the
environment.
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
country comparison to the world: 2
land: 9,093,507 sq km
water: 891,163 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than the US
Land boundaries:
total: 8,893 km
border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
Coastline:
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, rare earth elements,
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)
Total renewable water resources:
3,300 cu km (1985)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 44.72 cu km/yr (20%/69%/12%)
per capita: 1,386 cu m/yr (1996)
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
volcanism: the vast majority of volcanoes in Western Canada's Coast
Mountains remain dormant
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:
33,759,742 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 2,761,711/female 2,626,836)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 11,633,950/female 11,381,735)
65 years and over: 15.2% (male 2,220,189/female 2,862,787) (2010
est.)
Median age:
total: 40.7 years
male: 39.6 years
female: 41.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.804% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Birth rate:
10.28 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Death rate:
7.87 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Net migration rate:
5.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Urbanization:
urban population: 80% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.056 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.99 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 186
male: 5.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 81.29 years
country comparison to the world: 10
male: 78.72 years
female: 84 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.58 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
73,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
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) 58.8%, French (official) 21.6%, other 19.6% (2006
Census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 17 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 75
Government ::Canada
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Canada
Government type:
a parliamentary democracy, a federation, and a constitutional
monarchy
Capital:
name: Ottawa
geographic coordinates: 45 25 N, 75 42 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 (recognized by UK)
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:
head of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General David JOHNSTON (since 1 October 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Stephen Joseph 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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: 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 generally designated prime minister by the governor general
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat
(105 seats; members appointed by the governor general on the advice
of the prime minister and serve until 75 years of age) and the House
of Commons or Chambre des Communes (308 seats; members elected by
direct, popular vote to serve a maximum of five-year terms)
elections: House of Commons - last held on 14 October 2008 (next to
be held no later than 15 October 2012)
election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party -
Conservative Party 37.6%, Liberal Party 26.2%, New Democratic Party
18.2%, Bloc Quebecois 10%, Greens 6.8%, other 1%; seats by party -
Conservative Party 145, Liberal Party 77, New Democratic Party 37,
Bloc Quebecois 48, 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 Queen's Bench, Superior Court, Supreme Court,
and Court of Justice)
Political parties and leaders:
Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Conservative Party of Canada
[Stephen HARPER] (a merger of the Canadian Alliance and the
Progressive Conservative Party); Green Party [Elizabeth MAY];
Liberal Party [Michael IGNATIEFF]; New Democratic Party [Jack LAYTON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: agricultural sector; automobile industry; business groups;
chemical industry; commercial banks; communications sector; energy
industry; environmentalists; public administration groups; steel
industry; trade unions
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic
Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C,
CDB, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OIF, OPCW,
OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SECI (observer), UN, UNAMID,
UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gary DOER
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), Tucson
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David C. JACOBSON
embassy: 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8
mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430; P.O. Box
866, Station B, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5T1
telephone: [1] (613) 688-5335
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 maple leaf has long been a Canadian symbol;
the official colors of Canada are red and white
National anthem:
name: "O Canada"
lyrics/music: Adolphe-Basile ROUTHIER [French], Robert Stanley WEIR
[English]/Calixa LAVALLEE
note: adopted 1980; originally written in 1880, "O Canada" served as
an unofficial anthem many years before its official adoption; the
anthem has French and English versions whose lyrics differ; as a
Commonwealth realm, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save
the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom)
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, its
principal trading partner. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surplus
with the US, which absorbs about three-fourths of Canadian exports
each year. Canada is the US's largest foreign supplier of energy,
including oil, gas, uranium, and electric power. Given its great
natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant,
Canada enjoyed solid economic growth from 1993 through 2007.
Buffeted by the global economic crisis, the economy dropped into a
sharp recession in the final months of 2008, and Ottawa posted its
first fiscal deficit in 2009 after 12 years of surplus. Canada's
major banks, however, emerged from the financial crisis of 2008-09
among the strongest in the world, owing to the country's tradition
of conservative lending practices and strong capitalization. During
2010, Canada's economy grew only 3%, because of weak exports.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.335 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$1.297 trillion (2009 est.)
$1.33 trillion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.564 trillion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
-2.5% (2009 est.)
0.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$39,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$38,700 (2009 est.)
$40,000 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.3%
industry: 26.4%
services: 71.3% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
18.59 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2%
manufacturing: 13%
construction: 6%
services: 76%
other: 3% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
8.3% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
10.8%; 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
(2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 24.8% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.1 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 100
31.5 (1994)
Investment (gross fixed):
22.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Public debt:
82.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
82.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
0.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
0.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 132
1.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
2.4% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
4.73% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$560.8 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 10
$470.9 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.469 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$1.144 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.963 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$2.606 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.681 trillion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 10
$1.002 trillion (31 December 2008)
$2.187 trillion (31 December 2007)
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:
5.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Electricity - production:
620.7 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Electricity - consumption:
536.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Electricity - exports:
55.73 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
23.5 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
3.289 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Oil - consumption:
2.151 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Oil - exports:
2.001 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Oil - imports:
1.192 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Oil - proved reserves:
175.2 billion bbl
country comparison to the world: 2
note: includes oil sands (1 January 2010 est.)
Natural gas - production:
161.3 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Natural gas - consumption:
94.62 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Natural gas - exports:
94.67 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Natural gas - imports:
16.59 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.754 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Current account balance:
-$40.21 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
-$38.08 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$406.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$323.3 billion (2009 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 75.02%, UK 3.37%, China 3.09% (2009)
Imports:
$406.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$327.3 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil,
chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods
Imports - partners:
US 51.1%, China 10.88%, Mexico 4.56% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$54.36 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.009 trillion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 15
$781.1 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$528.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$494.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$602.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$576.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Canadian dollars (CAD) per US dollar - 1.0346 (2010), 1.1431 (2009),
1.0364 (2008), 1.0724 (2007), 1.1334 (2006)
Communications ::Canada
Telephones - main lines in use:
18.251 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 16
Telephones - mobile cellular:
23.081 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 38
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent service provided by modern technology
domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations
international: country code - 1; submarine cables provide links to
the US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 7 (5 Intelsat - 4
Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean, and 2 Intersputnik - Atlantic
Ocean region) (2007)
Broadcast media:
2 public television broadcasting networks each with a large number
of network affilates; several private-commercial networks also with
multiple network affiliates; overall, about 150 TV stations;
multi-channel satellite and cable systems provide access to a wide
range of stations including US stations; mix of public and
commercial radio broadcasters with the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation (CBC), the public radio broadcaster, operating 4 radio
networks, Radio Canada International, and radio services to
indigenous populations in the north; roughly 2,000 licensed radio
stations in Canada (2008)
Internet country code:
.ca
Internet hosts:
7.77 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 13
Internet users:
26.96 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 16
Transportation ::Canada
Airports:
1,404 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 4
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 514
over 3,047 m: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 148
914 to 1,523 m: 249
under 914 m: 79 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 890
1,524 to 2,437 m: 73
914 to 1,523 m: 377
under 914 m: 440 (2010)
Heliports:
12 (2010)
Pipelines:
crude and refined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980 km
(2009)
Railways:
total: 46,688 km
country comparison to the world: 5
standard gauge: 46,688 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 1,042,300 km
country comparison to the world: 6
paved: 415,600 km (includes 17,000 km of expressways)
unpaved: 626,700 km (2008)
Waterways:
636 km
country comparison to the world: 78
note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint
Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with United States (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 184
country comparison to the world: 36
by type: bulk carrier 66, cargo 12, carrier 1, chemical tanker 14,
combination ore/oil 1, container 2, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 64,
petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 6
foreign-owned: 15 (France 1, Netherlands 1, Norway 4, US 9)
registered in other countries: 223 (Australia 7, Bahamas 102,
Barbados 13, Cambodia 2, Cyprus 2, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 70, Liberia
4, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 4, Norway 1, Panama 5, Spain 5, US 1,
Vanuatu 5) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Fraser River Port, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, Port-Cartier, Quebec
City, Saint John (New Brunswick), Sept-Isles, Vancouver
Military ::Canada
Military branches:
Canadian Forces: Land Forces Command (LFC), Maritime Command
(MARCOM), Air Command (AIRCOM), Canada Command (homeland security)
(2010)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (with
parental consent); 16 years of age for reserve and military college
applicants; Canadian citizenship or permanent residence status
required; maximum 34 years of age; service obligation 3-9 years
(2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,051,656
females age 16-49: 7,780,644 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,642,190
females age 16-49: 6,402,896 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 220,538
female: 208,033 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Transnational Issues ::Canada
Disputes - international:
managed maritime boundary disputes with the US at Dixon Entrance,
Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Gulf of Maine
including the disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock; Canada,
the US, and other countries dispute the status of the Northwest
Passage; US works closely with Canada to intensify security measures
for monitoring and controlling legal and illegal movement of people,
transport, and commodities across the international border;
sovereignty dispute with Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy
Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland; commencing the
collection of technical evidence for submission to the Commission on
the Limits of the Continental Shelf in support of claims for
continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from its declared
baselines in the Arctic, as stipulated in Article 76, paragraph 8,
of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
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; increasing ecstasy
production, some of which is destined for the US; vulnerable to
narcotics money laundering because of its mature financial services
sector
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Cape Verde (Africa)
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:
Africa
Area:
total: 4,033 sq km
country comparison to the world: 175
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 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)
Total renewable water resources:
0.3 cu km (1990)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.02 cu km/yr (7%/2%/91%)
per capita: 39 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust;
volcanically and seismically active
volcanism: Fogo (elev. 2,829 m, 9,281 ft), which last erupted in
1995, is Cape Verde's only active volcano
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel;
water shortages; desertification; environmental damage has
threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand
extraction; overfishing
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, Wetlands
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:
508,659 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.2% (male 76,012/female 74,993)
15-64 years: 58.5% (male 123,376/female 127,653)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 10,040/female 17,400) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.3 years
male: 21.4 years
female: 23.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.459% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Birth rate:
21.67 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Death rate:
6.41 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Net migration rate:
-0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Urbanization:
urban population: 60% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 27.89 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 78
male: 31.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.41 years
country comparison to the world: 144
male: 68.24 years
female: 72.64 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.54 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.04% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
775 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 144
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
225 (as of 2001)
country comparison to the world: 103
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 (official), 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.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
5.7% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 39
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:
25 September 1992; a major revision on 23 November 1995
substantially increased the powers of the president; a 1999 revision
created the position of national ombudsman (Provedor de Justica)
Legal system:
based on the legal system of Portugal; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Pedro Verona Rodrigues 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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 12 February 2006
(next to be held in 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 elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 22 January 2006 (next to be held on 6
February 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAICV 52.3%, MPD 44%,
UCID 2.7%; seats by party - PAICV 41, MPD 29, UCID 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 and Independent Cape Verdean
Union or UCID [Antonio MONTEIRO]; Democratic Christian Party or PDC
[Manuel RODRIGUES]; Democratic Renovation Party or PRD [Victor
FIDALGO]; Movement for Democracy or MPD [Jorge SANTOS]; Party for
Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO]; Party of Work
and Solidarity or PTS [Isaias RODRIGUES]; Social Democratic Party or
PSD [Joao ALEM]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: environmentalists; political pressure groups
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union
Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Fatima Lima VEIGA
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
consulate(s) general: Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Dana BROWN
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:
five unequal horizontal bands; the top-most band of blue - equal to
one half the width of the flag - is followed by three bands of
white, red, and white, each equal to 1/12 of the width, and a bottom
stripe of blue equal to one quarter of the flag width; a circle of
10, yellow, five-pointed stars is centered on the red stripe and
positioned 3/8 of the length of the flag from the hoist side; blue
stands for the sea and the sky, the circle of stars represents the
10 major islands united into a nation, the stripes symbolize the
road to formation of the country through peace (white) and effort
(red)
National anthem:
name: "Cantico da Liberdade" (Song of Freedom)
lyrics/music: Amilcar Spencer LOPES/Adalberto Higino Tavares SILVA
note: adopted 1996
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 and poor soil for agriculture on several of the islands. The
economy is service oriented with commerce, transport, tourism, and
public services accounting for about three-fourths of GDP. Although
nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of food
production in GDP is low. 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 its large pool of emigrants; remittances
supplement GDP by more than 20%. Despite the lack of resources,
sound economic management has produced steadily improving incomes.
Continued 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. Cape Verde became a member of the
WTO in July 2008.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.861 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
$1.781 billion (2009 est.)
$1.749 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.573 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
1.8% (2009 est.)
5.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
$3,600 (2009 est.)
$3,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 16.2%
services: 74.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
196,100 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 169
Unemployment rate:
21% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Population below poverty line:
30% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 40.6% (2000)
Investment (gross fixed):
36.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
7.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 54
7.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.98% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
9.99% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$585 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 155
$628.4 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.314 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
$1.399 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.179 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
$1.256 billion (31 December 2009 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:
4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Electricity - production:
250 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Electricity - consumption:
232.5 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Oil - consumption:
2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Oil - imports:
1,619 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Current account balance:
-$286 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
-$319 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$114 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
$105 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides
Exports - partners:
Spain 53.98%, Portugal 22.23%, Morocco 7.13% (2009)
Imports:
$858 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
$835 million (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels
Imports - partners:
Portugal 44.86%, Netherlands 15.51%, Spain 6.1%, Italy 4.46%, Brazil
4.21% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$296 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
$284 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$325 million (2002)
country comparison to the world: 169
Exchange rates:
Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 88.58 (2010), 79.377
(2009), 73.84 (2008), 81.235 (2007), 87.946 (2006)
Communications ::Cape Verde
Telephones - main lines in use:
72,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 153
Telephones - mobile cellular:
392,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 165
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; broadband services launched in 2004
international: country code - 238; landing point for the Atlantis-2
fiber-optic transatlantic telephone cable that provides links to
South America, Senegal, and Europe; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and
Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
(2007)
Broadcast media:
state-run TV and radio broadcast network plus a growing number of
private broadcasters; Portuguese public TV and radio services for
Africa are available; transmissions of a few international
broadcasters are obtainable (2007)
Internet country code:
.cv
Internet hosts:
26 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 215
Internet users:
150,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 148
Transportation ::Cape Verde
Airports:
10 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 156
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 1,350 km
country comparison to the world: 178
paved: 932 km
unpaved: 418 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 13
country comparison to the world: 104
by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 3, passenger/cargo 7
foreign-owned: 3 (Spain 1, UK 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Porto Grande
Military ::Cape Verde
Military branches:
People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP): Army, Coast Guard
(includes maritime air wing) (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.) for selective compulsory military service;
14-month conscript service obligation (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 128,858
females age 16-49: 133,581 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 103,894
females age 16-49: 114,721 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 6,077
female: 6,075 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 165
Transnational Issues ::Cape Verde
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
used as a transshipment point for Latin American cocaine destined
for Western Europe, particularly because of Lusophone links to
Brazil, Portugal, and Guinea-Bissau; has taken steps to deter drug
money laundering, including a 2002 anti-money laundering reform that
criminalizes laundering the proceeds of narcotics trafficking and
other crimes and the establishment in 2008 of a Financial
Intelligence Unit (2008)
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Cayman Islands (Central America and Caribbean)
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. When the Federation dissolved in 1962, the
Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.
Geography ::Cayman Islands
Location:
Caribbean, three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little
Cayman) 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: 264 sq km
country comparison to the world: 210
land: 264 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 on 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:
50,209
country comparison to the world: 206
note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.6% (male 4,824/female 4,783)
15-64 years: 71.1% (male 16,994/female 17,884)
65 years and over: 9.3% (male 2,139/female 2,411) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.4 years
male: 38 years
female: 38.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.338% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Birth rate:
12.29 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Death rate:
5 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Net migration rate:
16.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 2
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2010
est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.016 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 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 (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.78 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 169
male: 7.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.57 years
country comparison to the world: 20
male: 77.91 years
female: 83.27 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.88 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
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:
Church of God 25.5%, Roman Catholic 12.6%, Presbyterian / United
Church 9.2%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.4%, Baptist 8.3%, Pentecostal
6.7%, Anglican 3.9%, other religions 4%, non-denominational 5.7%,
other 6.5%, none 6.1%, unspecified 3.2% (2007)
Languages:
English (official) 95%, Spanish 3.2%, other 1.8% (1999 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
2.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 161
Government ::Cayman Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: George Town (on Grand Cayman)
geographic coordinates: 19 18 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:
The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009, 6 November 2009
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);
represented by Governor Duncan TAYLOR (since 15 January 2010)
head of government: Premier McKeeva BUSH (since 6 November 2009)
cabinet: The Cabinet (six members are appointed by the governor on
the advice of the premier, selected from among the elected members
of the Legislative Assembly)
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or coalition appointed by the governor as premier
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; 18 members elected by
popular vote and 2 ex officio members from The Cabinet; to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held on 20 May 2009 (next to be held not later than
May 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
UDP 9, PPM 5, independent 1
Judicial branch:
Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal; Summary Court
Political parties and leaders:
People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Kurt TIBBETTS]; United
Democratic Party or UDP [McKeeva BUSH]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
National Trust
other: environmentalists
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); consular services provided
through the US Embassy in Jamaica
Flag description:
a blue field, 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 crest with a pineapple,
representing the connection with Jamaica, and a turtle, representing
Cayman's seafaring tradition, above a shield bearing a golden lion,
symbolizing Great Britain, below which are three green stars
(representing the three islands) surmounting white and blue wavy
lines representing the sea and a scroll at the bottom bearing the
motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
National anthem:
name: "Beloved Isle Cayman"
lyrics/music: Leila E. ROSS
note: adopted 1993; served as an unofficial anthem since 1930; as a
territory of the United Kingdom, in addition to the local anthem,
"God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
Economy ::Cayman Islands
Economy - overview:
With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore
financial center. More than 93,000 companies were registered in the
Cayman Islands as of 2008, including almost 300 banks, 800 insurers,
and 10,000 mutual funds. 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 1.9 million in 2008, with about half
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):
$2.25 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
$2.23 billion (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.25 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.1% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
0.9% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$43,800 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 3.2%
services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
Labor force:
39,000
country comparison to the world: 198
note: nearly 55% are non-nationals (2007)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1.9%
industry: 19.1%
services: 79% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 37
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):
4.1% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 121
4.4% (2004)
Stock of narrow money:
$334.3 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 165
Stock of broad money:
$5.564 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 109
$183.5 million (31 December 2007)
$188.4 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming
Industries:
tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction
materials, furniture
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
546 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Electricity - consumption:
507.8 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Oil - consumption:
3,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Oil - imports:
3,294 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Exports:
$13.8 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 210
$2.52 million (2004)
Exports - commodities:
turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Imports:
$876.5 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 173
$866.9 million (2004)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels
Debt - external:
$70 million (1996)
country comparison to the world: 184
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 0.8496 (2006)
Communications ::Cayman Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
38,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 170
Telephones - mobile cellular:
33,800 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 201
Telephone system:
general assessment: reasonably good system
domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003; introduction of
competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004
international: country code - 1-345; landing points for the MAYA-1,
Eastern Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS), and the Cayman-Jamaica Fiber
System submarine cables that provide links to the US and parts of
Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean) (2007)
Broadcast media:
4 television stations; cable and satellite subscription services
offer a variety of international programming; government-owned Radio
Cayman operates 2 networks broadcasting on 5 stations; 10
privately-owned radio stations operate alongside Radio Cayman (2007)
Internet country code:
.ky
Internet hosts:
21,910 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 108
Internet users:
23,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 188
Transportation ::Cayman Islands
Airports:
3 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 193
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 785 km
country comparison to the world: 186
paved: 785 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 113
country comparison to the world: 46
by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 3, chemical tanker 56, liquefied gas
1, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 10, vehicle carrier 15
foreign-owned: 99 (Germany 6, Greece 11, Italy 6, Japan 19,
Switzerland 1, UK 2, US 54) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Cayman Brac, George Town
Military ::Cayman Islands
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 12,108 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 9,860
females age 16-49: 10,287 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 326
female: 347 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Cayman Islands
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
major offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to
the US and Europe (2008)
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Central African Republic (Africa)
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. Unrest in the neighboring nations of
Chad, Sudan, and the DRC continues to affect stability in the
Central African Republic as well.
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
country comparison to the world: 44
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)
Total renewable water resources:
144.4 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.03 cu km/yr (80%/16%/4%)
per capita: 7 cu m/yr (2000)
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, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
People ::Central African Republic
Population:
4,844,927
country comparison to the world: 116
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40.9% (male 928,277/female 917,739)
15-64 years: 55% (male 1,235,940/female 1,244,958)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 71,439/female 113,135) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.1 years
male: 18.7 years
female: 19.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.149% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Birth rate:
36.79 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Death rate:
15.3 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 78
Urbanization:
urban population: 39% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 101.6 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 7
male: 109.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 93.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 49.68 years
country comparison to the world: 214
male: 48.45 years
female: 50.95 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.68 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
6.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
160,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
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: 48.6%
male: 64.8%
female: 33.5% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 7 years
male: 8 years
female: 5 years (2009)
Education expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 179
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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup)
head of government: Prime Minister Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (since
22 January 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: under the new constitution, the president elected for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held on
13 March and 8 May 2005 (next to be held on 23 January 2011); 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 (105 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 13 March 2005 and 8 May 2005 (next to be
held on 23 January 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
KNK 42, MLPC 11, RDC 8, PSD 4, FPP 2, ADP 2, LONDO 1, independents
34, other 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court (three judges
appointed by the president, three by the president of the National
Assembly, and three 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 Rally 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]; Londo Association or LONDO; 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; National Unity Party or PUN [Jean-Paul NGOUPANDE]; Patriotic
Front for Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA]; People's Union for the
Republic or UPR [Pierre Sammy MAKFOY]; Social Democratic Party or
PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Monam (combating gender-base violence)
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(subscriber), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stanislas MOUSSA-KEMBE
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 Frederick B. COOK
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; a yellow five-pointed star to
the hoist side of the blue band; banner combines the Pan-African and
French flag colors; red symbolizes the blood spilled in the struggle
for independence, blue represents the sky and freedom, white peace
and dignity, green hope and faith, and yellow tolerance; the star
represents aspiration towards a vibrant future
National anthem:
name: "Le Renaissance" (The Renaissance)
lyrics/music: Barthelemy BOGANDA/Herbert PEPPER
note: adopted 1960; Barthelemy BOGANDA, who wrote the anthem's
lyrics, was the first prime minister of the autonomous French
territory
Economy ::Central African Republic
Economy - overview:
Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains the
backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with
about 60% of the population living in outlying areas. The
agricultural sector generates more than 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. Distribution of
income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the
international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.468 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
$3.345 billion (2009 est.)
$3.289 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.113 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
1.7% (2009 est.)
2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
$700 (2009 est.)
$700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 55%
industry: 20%
services: 25% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
1.926 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 121
Unemployment rate:
8% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
note: 23% unemployment for Bangui
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 33% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
61.3 (1993)
country comparison to the world: 6
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 92
4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$288.8 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 167
$241.3 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$343.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
$292.9 million (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$357.6 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 167
$339.1 million (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
timber, 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)
country comparison to the world: 107
Electricity - production:
115 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Electricity - consumption:
107 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Oil - consumption:
2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Oil - imports:
2,203 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Current account balance:
-$77 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Exports:
$146.7 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco
Exports - partners:
Belgium 32.57%, China 10.49%, Indonesia 10.36%, Morocco 10.24%,
Democratic Republic of the Congo 6.87%, France 5.79% (2009)
Imports:
$237.3 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Imports - commodities:
food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment,
motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:
South Korea 19.29%, France 11.95%, US 7.78%, Cameroon 7.39%,
Netherlands 6.77% (2009)
Debt - external:
$1.153 billion (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US
dollar - 506.04 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 481.8 (2007), 522.59 (2006)
note: since 1 January 1999, the Central African CFA franc (XAF) has
been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro;
Central African CFA franc (XAF) coins and banknotes are not accepted
in countries using West African CFA francs (XOF), and vice versa,
even though the two currencies trade at par
Communications ::Central African Republic
Telephones - main lines in use:
12,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 199
Telephones - mobile cellular:
168,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 174
Telephone system:
general assessment: network consists principally of microwave radio
relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication
domestic: limited telephone service with less than 1 fixed-line
connection per 100 persons; spurred by the presence of multiple
mobile-cellular service providers, cellular usage is increasing from
a low base; most fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone services
are concentrated in Bangui
international: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:
government-owned network, Radiodiffusion Television Centrafricaine,
provides domestic TV broadcasting; licenses for 2 private TV
stations are pending; state-owned radio network is supplemented by a
small number of privately-owned broadcast stations as well as a few
community radio stations; transmissions of at least 2 international
broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.cf
Internet hosts:
20 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 217
Internet users:
22,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 191
Transportation ::Central African Republic
Airports:
37 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 106
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 35
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 6 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 24,307 km (2000)
country comparison to the world: 105
Waterways:
2,800 km (the primary navigable river is the Ubangi, which joins the
River Congo; it was the traditional route for the export of products
because it connected with the Congo-Ocean railway at Brazzaville;
because of the warfare on both sides of the River Congo from 1997,
however, routes through Cameroon became preferred by importers and
exporters) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 35
Ports and terminals:
Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga
Military ::Central African Republic
Military branches:
Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA):
Ground Forces (includes Military Air Service), General Directorate
of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG), National Police (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for selective military service; 2-year conscript
service obligation (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,121,548
females age 16-49: 1,118,432 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 637,474
females age 16-49: 643,188 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 54,024
female: 53,203 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 136
Transnational Issues ::Central African Republic
Disputes - international:
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): 7,900 (Sudan); 3,700 (Democratic
Republic of the Congo); note - UNHCR resumed repatriation of
Southern Sudanese refugees in 2006
IDPs: 197,000 (ongoing unrest following coup in 2003) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Central African Republic is a source, transit,
and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for
the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; the majority
of victims are children trafficked within the country for sexual
exploitation, domestic servitude, street vending, and forced
agricultural, mine, market and restaurant labor; to a lesser extent,
children are trafficked from the Central African Republic to
Cameroon, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo; rebels
conscript children into armed forces within the country
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Central African Republic is on the
Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year for its failure to
show evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in 2007;
efforts to address trafficking through vigorous law enforcement
measures and victim protection efforts were minimal, though
awareness about trafficking appeared to be increasing in the
country; the government does not actively investigate cases, work to
identify trafficking victims among vulnerable populations, or rescue
and provide care to victims; the government has not taken measures
to reduce demand for commercial sex acts (2008)
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Chad (Africa)
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 has sporadically flared up despite
several peace agreements between the government and the rebels. In
2005, new rebel groups emerged in western Sudan and made probing
attacks into eastern Chad despite signing peace agreements in
December 2006 and October 2007. Power remains in the hands of an
ethnic minority. In June 2005, President Idriss DEBY held a
referendum successfully removing constitutional term limits and won
another controversial election in 2006. Sporadic rebel campaigns
continued throughout 2006 and 2007. The capital experienced a
significant rebel threat in early 2008.
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
country comparison to the world: 21
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 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)
Total renewable water resources:
43 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.23 cu km/yr (17%/0%/83%)
per capita: 24 cu m/yr (2000)
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, Hazardous Wastes, 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:
10,543,464 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.7% (male 2,445,841/female 2,381,319)
15-64 years: 50.4% (male 2,386,428/female 2,816,050)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 126,351/female 173,219) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.6 years
male: 15.5 years
female: 17.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.038% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Birth rate:
40.12 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Death rate:
15.79 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Net migration rate:
-3.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Urbanization:
urban population: 27% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 97.05 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 9
male: 103 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 90.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.99 years
country comparison to the world: 217
male: 46.95 years
female: 49.07 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.18 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
200,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
14,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
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
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Chadian(s)
adjective: Chadian
Ethnic groups:
Sara 27.7%, Arab 12.3%, Mayo-Kebbi 11.5%, Kanem-Bornou 9%, Ouaddai
8.7%, Hadjarai 6.7%, Tandjile 6.5%, Gorane 6.3%, Fitri-Batha 4.7%,
other 6.4%, unknown 0.3% (1993 census)
Religions:
Muslim 53.1%, Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.2%, animist 7.3%, other
0.5%, unknown 1.7%, atheist 3.1% (1993 census)
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: 25.7%
male: 40.8%
female: 12.8% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 6 years
male: 8 years
female: 4 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
1.9% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 173
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 06 N, 15 02 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
22 regions (regions, singular - region); Barh el Gazel, Batha,
Borkou, Chari-Baguirmi, Ennedi, Guera, Hadjer-Lamis, Kanem, Lac,
Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Kebbi Est,
Mayo-Kebbi Ouest, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile,
Tibesti, Ville de N'Djamena, Wadi Fira
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 Emmanuel NADINGAR (since 5 March
2010)
cabinet: Council of State; members are appointed by the president on
the recommendation of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a 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 election held on 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
KOUMAKOYE 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:
unicameral National Assembly (155 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms); note - the 1996 constitution called
for a Senate that has never been formed
elections: National Assembly - last held on 21 April 2002 (next to
be held by February 2011); note - legislative elections, originally
scheduled for 2006, were first delayed by National Assembly action
and subsequently by an accord, signed in August 2007, between
government and opposition parties
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MPS 110, RDP 12, FAR 9, RNDP 5, UNDR 5, URD 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
KOUMAKOYE]; 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 Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal
Abdelkader KAMOUGUE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
rebel groups
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Adam BECHIR
chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Louis NIGRO
embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
telephone: [235] 251-62-11, 251-70-09, 251-77-59
FAX: [235] 251-56-54
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red;
the flag combines the blue and red French (former colonial) colors
with the red and yellow of the Pan-African colors; blue symbolizes
the sky, hope, and the south of the country, which is relatively
well-watered; yellow represents the sun, as well as the desert in
the north of the country; red stands for progress, unity, and
sacrifice
note: 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
National anthem:
name: "La Tchadienne" (The Chadian)
lyrics/music: Louis GIDROL and his students/Paul VILLARD
note: adopted 1960
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. At least 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. Chinese companies are also
expanding exploration efforts and are currently building a 300-km
pipleline and the country's first refinery. The nation's total oil
reserves are estimated at 1.5 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):
$18.56 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
$18.2 billion (2009 est.)
$18.49 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$7.592 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
-1.6% (2009 est.)
10.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
$1,800 (2009 est.)
$1,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 50.5%
industry: 7%
services: 42.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
4.293 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 83
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)
industry and services: 20% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA% est.)
Population below poverty line:
80% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 30.8% (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):
14.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
10% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 93
4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$920.9 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 139
$937.8 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.257 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
$1.008 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$943.8 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
$566.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca);
cattle, sheep, goats, camels
Industries:
oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, brewing, natron (sodium
carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Electricity - production:
100 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Electricity - consumption:
93 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
115,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Oil - exports:
157,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Oil - imports:
1,571 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Oil - proved reserves:
1.5 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Current account balance:
-$2.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
-$2.305 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$3.036 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$2.709 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil, cattle, cotton, gum arabic
Exports - partners:
US 90.06%, France 4.81%, China 1.6% (2009)
Imports:
$2.631 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
$2.539 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods,
foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:
France 17.74%, Cameroon 12.7%, China 11.23%, US 7.59%, Italy 6.54%,
Ukraine 5.33%, Netherlands 4.37% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$868 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
$685 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$1.749 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA (31 December 2010)
$4.5 billion (2006 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs 506.04 (2010),
472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 480.1 (2007), 522.59 (2006)
Communications ::Chad
Telephones - main lines in use:
13,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 198
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.686 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 119
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate system of radiotelephone
communication stations with high costs and low telephone density
domestic: fixed-line connections for only about 1 per 1000 persons
coupled with mobile-cellular subscribership base of only about 25
per 100 persons
international: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
1 state-owned TV broadcast station; state-owned radio network,
Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne (RNT), operates national and
regional stations; about 10 private radio stations; some stations
rebroadcast programs from international broadcasters (2007)
Internet country code:
.td
Internet hosts:
5 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 226
Internet users:
168,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 145
Transportation ::Chad
Airports:
56 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 83
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 48
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 21
under 914 m: 10 (2010)
Pipelines:
oil 250 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 33,400 km
country comparison to the world: 96
paved: 267 km
unpaved: 33,133 km (2002)
Waterways:
Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season (2010)
Military ::Chad
Military branches:
Armed Forces: Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale du Tchad, ANT),
Chadian Air Force (Force Aerienne Tchadienne, FAT), Gendarmerie
(2008)
Military service age and obligation:
20 years of age for conscripts, with 3-year service obligation; 18
years of age for volunteers; no minimum age restriction for
volunteers with consent from a guardian; women are subject to 1 year
of compulsory military or civic service at age of 21 (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,025,929
females age 16-49: 2,377,898 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,141,776
females age 16-49: 1,354,111 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 125,073
female: 125,069 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 89
Transnational Issues ::Chad
Disputes - international:
since 2003, Janjawid armed militia and the Sudanese military have
driven hundreds of thousands of Darfur residents into 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): 234,000 (Sudan); 54,200 (Central
African Republic)
IDPs: 178,918 (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Chad is a source, transit, and destination
country for children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and
commercial sexual exploitation; the majority of children are
trafficked within Chad for involuntary domestic servitude, forced
cattle herding, forced begging, forced labor in petty commerce or
the fishing industry, or for commercial sexual exploitation; to a
lesser extent, Chadian children are also trafficked to Cameroon, the
Central African Republic, and Nigeria for cattle herding; children
may also be trafficked from Cameroon and the Central African
Republic to Chad's oil producing regions for sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the Government of Chad does not
fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of
trafficking and is not making any significant efforts to do so;
although facing resource constraints, the government has the
capacity to conduct basic anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts,
yet did not do so during the last year; it showed no results in
enforcing government policy prohibiting the recruitment of child
soldiers; Chad has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2009)
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Chile (South America)
Introduction ::Chile
Background:
Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern
Chile was under Inca rule while the indigenous Mapuche inhabited
central and southern Chile. Although Chile declared its independence
in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was not achieved until
1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-83), Chile defeated Peru and
Bolivia and won its present northern regions. It was not until the
1880s that the Mapuche Indians were completely subjugated. After a
series of elected governments, a three-year-old Marxist government
of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 by a military coup 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, reduced poverty
rates by over half, 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: 756,102 sq km
country comparison to the world: 38
land: 743,812 sq km
water: 12,290 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)
Total renewable water resources:
922 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 12.55 cu km/yr (11%/25%/64%)
per capita: 770 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
volcanism: Chile experiences significant volcanic activity due to
the more than three-dozen active volcanoes situated within the Andes
Mountains; Lascar (elev. 5,592 m, 18,346 ft), which last erupted in
2007, is the most active volcano in the northern Chilean Andes;
Llaima (elev. 3,125 m, 10,253 ft) in central Chile, which last
erupted in 2009, is another of the country's most active; Chaiten's
2008 eruption forced major evacuations; other notable historically
active volcanoes include Cerro Hudson, Copahue, Guallatiri,
Llullaillaco, Nevados de Chillan, San Pedro, and Villarrica
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:
16,746,491 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.2% (male 1,966,017/female 1,877,963)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 5,625,963/female 5,628,146)
65 years and over: 9.1% (male 627,746/female 875,872) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.7 years
male: 30.7 years
female: 32.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.856% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Birth rate:
14.46 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Death rate:
5.9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 77
Urbanization:
urban population: 88% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 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 (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.52 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 164
male: 8.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.53 years
country comparison to the world: 56
male: 74.26 years
female: 80.96 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.9 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
31,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Nationality:
noun: Chilean(s)
adjective: Chilean
Ethnic groups:
white and white-Amerindian 95.4%, Mapuche 4%, other indigenous
groups 0.6% (2002 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical 15.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other
Christian 1%, other 4.6%, none 8.3% (2002 census)
Languages:
Spanish (official), Mapudungun, German, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.7%
male: 95.8%
female: 95.6% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 14 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 135
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
note: the Chilean Government announced on 4 March 2010 that the end
of DST would be delayed until 4 April 2010 providing respite to
those affected by the 8.8 magnitude earthquake of February 2010
Administrative divisions:
15 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General Carlos
Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Arica y Parinacota,
Atacama, Biobio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins,
Los Lagos, Los Rios, 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 US-style adversarial system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Sebastian PINERA Echenique (since 11 March
2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Sebastian PINERA Echenique (since 11
March 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a single four-year
term; election last held on 13 December 2009 with runoff election
held on 17 January 2010 (next to be held in December 2013)
election results: Sebastian PINERA Echenique elected president;
percent of vote - Sebastian PINERA Echenique 51.6%; Eduardo FREI
48.4%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the
Senate or Senado (38 seats; members elected by popular vote to 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 on 13 December 2009 (next to be held
in December 2013); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 13 December
2009 (next to be held in December 2013)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - CPD 9 (PDC 4, PPD 3, PS 2), APC 9 (RN 6, UDI 3); Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CC 58
(UDI 37, RN 18, other 3), CPD 57 (PDC 19, PPD 18, PS 11, PRSD 5, PC
3, other 1), PRI 3, independent 2
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 (eight-members - two each from the Senate, Chamber of
Deputies, Supreme Court, and National Security Council - review the
constitutionality of laws approved by Congress)
Political parties and leaders:
Broad Social Movement or MAS; Clean Chile Vote Happy or CLVF
(including Broad Social Movement, Country Force, and Regionalist
Party of Independents or PRI); Coalition for Change or CC (formerly
known as the Alliance for Chile (Alianza) or APC) (including
National Renewal or RN [Carlos LARRAIN Pena], Independent Democratic
Union or UDI [Juan Antonio COLOMA Correa], and Chile First [Vlado
MIROSEVIC]); Coalition of Parties for Democracy (Concertacion) or
CPD (including Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Ignacio WALKER],
Party for Democracy or PPD [Carolina TOHA Morales], Radical Social
Democratic Party or PRSD [Jose Antonio GOMEZ Urrutia], and Socialist
Party or PS [Osvaldo ANDRADE]); Partido Ecologista del Sur; Together
We Can Do More (including Communist Party or PC [Guillermo TEILLIER
del Valle], and Humanist Party or PH [Danilo MONTEVERDE])
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Roman Catholic Church, particularly conservative groups such as Opus
Dei; United Labor Central or CUT includes trade unionists from the
country's five largest labor confederations
other: revitalized university student federations at all major
universities
International organization participation:
APEC, BIS, CAN (associate), CD, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA,
Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OECD, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, RG, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arturo FERNANDOIS Vohringer
chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746
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 Alejandro D. WOLFF
embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago
mailing address: APO AA 34033
telephone: [56] (2) 330-3000
FAX: [56] (2) 330-3710, 330-3160
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; 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 represents the blood
spilled to achieve independence
note: design was influenced by the US flag
National anthem:
name: "Himno Nacional de Chile" (National Anthem of Chile)
lyrics/music: Eusebio LILLO Robles and Bernardo DE VERA y
Pintado/Ramon CARNICER y Battle
note: music adopted 1828, original lyrics adopted 1818, adapted
lyrics adopted 1847; under Augusto PINOCHET"s military rule, a verse
glorifying the army was added; however, as a protest, some citizens
refused to sing this verse; it was removed when democracy was
restored in 1990
Economy ::Chile
Economy - overview:
Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high level of
foreign trade and a reputation for strong financial institutions and
sound policy that have given it the strongest sovereign bond rating
in South America. Exports account for more than one-fourth of GDP,
with commodities making up some three-quarters of total exports.
Copper alone provides one-third of government revenue. 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 situation 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. In the years since then, growth has averaged 4% per year.
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 claims to have more bilateral or
regional trade agreements than any other country. It has 57 such
agreements (not all of them full free trade agreements), including
with the European Union, Mercosur, China, India, South Korea, and
Mexico. Over the past seven years, foreign direct investment inflows
have quadrupled to some $15 billion in 2010, but FDI had dropped to
about $7 billion in 2009 in the face of diminished investment
throughout the world. The Chilean government conducts a rule-based
countercyclical fiscal policy, accumulating surpluses in sovereign
wealth funds during periods of high copper prices and economic
growth, and allowing deficit spending only during periods of low
copper prices and growth. As of September 2008, those sovereign
wealth funds - kept mostly outside the country and separate from
Central Bank reserves - amounted to more than $20 billion. Chile
used $4 billion from this fund to finance a fiscal stimulus package
to fend off recession. In December 2009, the OECD invited Chile to
become a full member, after a two year period of compliance with
organization mandates. The economy started to show signs of a
rebound in the fourth quarter, 2009, and GDP grew more than 5% in
2010. The magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck Chile in February
2010 was one of the top ten strongest earthquakes on record. It
caused considerable damage near the epicenter, located about 70
miles from Concepcion - and about 200 miles southwest of Santiago.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$260 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$246.9 billion (2009 est.)
$250.6 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$199.2 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
-1.5% (2009 est.)
3.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$14,900 (2009 est.)
$15,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.6%
industry: 40.5%
services: 53.9% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
7.58 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 13.2%
industry: 23%
services: 63.9% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
8.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
9.6% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
18.2% (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 41.7% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
54.9 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 14
57.1 (2000)
Investment (gross fixed):
23.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Public debt:
6.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
6.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
1.5% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
0.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 52
8.25% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
13.26% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$29.81 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 57
$23.68 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$160.3 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 45
$127.5 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$153.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$133.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$209.5 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 29
$132.4 billion (31 December 2008)
$212.9 billion (31 December 2007)
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:
3.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Electricity - production:
60.6 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Electricity - consumption:
57.29 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
1.628 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
10,850 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Oil - consumption:
277,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Oil - exports:
49,250 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Oil - imports:
311,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Oil - proved reserves:
150 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Natural gas - production:
1.65 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Natural gas - consumption:
2.34 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Natural gas - imports:
690 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Natural gas - proved reserves:
97.97 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Current account balance:
$1.033 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$4.217 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$64.28 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$53.74 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
copper, fruit, fish products, paper and pulp, chemicals, wine
Exports - partners:
China 16.46%, US 11.31%, Japan 9.06%, South Korea 6.49%, Brazil
4.64%, Mexico 4.09% (2009)
Imports:
$54.23 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$39.75 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, electrical and
telecommunications equipment, industrial machinery, vehicles,
natural gas
Imports - partners:
US 21.77%, China 12.76%, Argentina 9.55%, Brazil 6.46%, South Korea
5.35% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$26.08 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$25.29 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$84.51 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$72.76 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$136.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
$121.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$51.15 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$41.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Chilean pesos (CLP) per US dollar - 525.34 (2010), 560.86 (2009),
509.02 (2008), 526.25 (2007), 530.29 (2006)
Communications ::Chile
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.575 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 43
Telephones - mobile cellular:
16.45 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 44
Telephone system:
general assessment: privatization begun in 1988; most advanced
telecommunications infrastructure in South America; modern system
based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities; domestic
satellite system with 3 earth stations
domestic: number of fixed-line connections have stagnated in recent
years as mobile-cellular usage continues to increase, reaching a
level of 100 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 56; landing points for the Pan
American, South America-1, and South American Crossing/Latin America
Nautilius submarine cables providing links to the US and to Central
and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
national and local terrestrial television channels, coupled with
extensive cable TV networks; the state-owned Television Nacional de
Chile (TVN) network is self-financed through commercial advertising
revenues and is not under direct government control; large number of
privately-owned TV stations; about 250 radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.cl
Internet hosts:
1.056 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 43
Internet users:
7.009 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 39
Transportation ::Chile
Airports:
366 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 22
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 84
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 24
under 914 m: 24 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 282
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 50
under 914 m: 217 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 2,673 km; liquid petroleum gas 519 km; oil 892 km; refined
products 769 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 5,483 km
country comparison to the world: 34
broad gauge: 1,706 km 1.676-m gauge (850 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 3,777 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 80,505 km
country comparison to the world: 59
paved: 16,745 km (includes 2,414 km of expressways)
unpaved: 63,760 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
total: 48
country comparison to the world: 71
by type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 10, chemical tanker 8, container 1,
liquefied gas 2, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 8,
roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Norway 1)
registered in other countries: 48 (Argentina 6, Belize 1, Brazil 1,
Cyprus 1, Isle of Man 8, Liberia 7, Panama 17, Singapore 7) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Coronel, Huasco, Lirquen, Puerto Ventanas, San Antonio, San Vicente,
Valparaiso
Military ::Chile
Military branches:
Army of the Nation, Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile, includes Naval
Aviation, Marine Corps, and Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine
Directorate (Directemar)), Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Chile,
FACh), Carabineros Corps (Cuerpo de Carabineros) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-45 years of age for voluntary male and female military service,
although the right to compulsory recruitment is retained; service
obligation - 12 months for Army, 22 months for Navy and Air Force
(2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,301,900
females age 16-49: 4,232,956 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,599,328
females age 16-49: 3,544,156 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 143,778
female: 138,058 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.7% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 52
Transnational Issues ::Chile
Disputes - international:
Chile and Peru rebuff Bolivia's reinvigorated claim to restore the
Atacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, but Chile has offered
instead unrestricted but not sovereign maritime access through Chile
to Bolivian gas and other commodities; Chile rejects Peru's
unilateral legislation to change its latitudinal maritime boundary
with Chile to an equidistance line with a southwestern axis favoring
Peru, in October 2007, Peru took its maritime complaint with Chile
to the ICJ; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic
Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claims; the
joint boundary commission, established by Chile and Argentina in
2001, has yet to map and demarcate the delimited boundary in the
inhospitable Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment country for cocaine destined for Europe and the
region; some money laundering activity, especially through the
Iquique Free Trade Zone; imported precursors passed on to Bolivia;
domestic cocaine consumption is rising, making Chile a significant
consumer of cocaine (2008)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@China (East & Southeast Asia)
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, MAO's 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. China
since the early 1990s has increased its global outreach and
participation in international organizations.
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: 9,596,961 sq km
country comparison to the world: 4
land: 9,569,901 sq km
water: 27,060 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, rare earth elements, 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)
Total renewable water resources:
2,829.6 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 549.76 cu km/yr (7%/26%/68%)
per capita: 415 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern
coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts; land
subsidence
volcanism: China contains some historically active volcanoes
including Changbaishan (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu, or
P'aektu-san), Hainan Dao, and Kunlun although most have been
relatively inactive in recent centuries
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, 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:
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:
1,330,141,295 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.8% (male 140,877,745/female 124,290,090)
15-64 years: 72.1% (male 495,724,889/female 469,182,087)
65 years and over: 8.1% (male 51,774,115/female 56,764,042) (2010
est.)
Median age:
total: 35.2 years
male: 34.5 years
female: 35.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.494% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Birth rate:
12.17 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Death rate:
6.89 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Net migration rate:
-0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Urbanization:
urban population: 43% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.17 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.51 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 114
male: 15.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.51 years
country comparison to the world: 93
male: 72.54 years
female: 76.77 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.54 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
700,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
39,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: Japanese encephalitis and dengue fever
soil contact disease: hantaviral hemorrhagic fever with renal
syndrome (HFRS)
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Chinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups:
Han Chinese 91.5%, Zhuang, Manchu, Hui, Miao, Uighur, Tujia, Yi,
Mongol, Tibetan, Buyi, Dong, Yao, Korean, and other nationalities
8.5% (2000 census)
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) (official), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei
(Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects,
minority languages (see Ethnic groups entry)
note: Mongolian is official in Nei Mongol, Uighur is official in
Xinjiang Uygur, and Tibetan is official in Xizang (Tibet)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.6%
male: 95.7%
female: 87.6% (2007)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
1.9% of GDP (1999)
country comparison to the world: 172
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 55 N, 116 23 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;
many people in Xinjiang Province observe an unofficial "Xinjiang
timezone" of UTC+6, two hours behind Beijing
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 Uygur,
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:
1 October 1949 (People's Republic of China established); notable
earlier dates: 221 BC (unification under the Qin Dynasty); 1 January
1912 (Qing Dynasty replaced by the Republic of China)
National holiday:
Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, 1
October (1949)
Constitution:
most recent promulgation 4 December 1982 with amendments in 1988,
1993, 1999, 2004
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;
party organs exercise authority over judiciary; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003); Vice
President XI Jinping (since 15 March 2008)
head of government: Premier WEN Jiabao (since 16 March 2003);
Executive Vice Premier LI Keqiang (17 March 2008), Vice Premier HUI
Liangyu (since 17 March 2003), Vice Premier ZHANG Dejiang (since 17
March 2008), and Vice Premier WANG Qishan (since 17 March 2008)
cabinet: State Council appointed by National People's Congress
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected by National People's
Congress for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
elections last held on 15-17 March 2008 (next to be held in
mid-March 2013); premier nominated by president, confirmed by
National People's Congress
election results: HU Jintao elected president by National People's
Congress with a total of 2,963 votes; XI Jinping elected vice
president with a total of 2,919 votes
Legislative branch:
unicameral National People's Congress or Quanguo Renmin Daibiao
Dahui (2,987 seats; members elected by municipal, regional, and
provincial people's congresses, and People's Liberation Army to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held in December 2007-February 2008 (date of next
election to be held in late 2012 to early 2013)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - 2,987
note: only members of the CCP, its eight allied parties, and
sympathetic independent candidates are elected
Judicial branch:
Supreme People's Court (judges appointed by the National People's
Congress); Local People's Courts (comprise higher, intermediate, and
basic courts); Special People's Courts (primarily military,
maritime, railway transportation, and forestry 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
International organization participation:
ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner),
BIS, CDB, CICA, EAS, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-24 (observer), G-77, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAIA
(observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS
(observer), OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SCO, SICA
(observer), UN, UN Security Council, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador ZHANG Yesui
chancery: 3505 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 495-2266
FAX: [1] (202) 495-2190
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jon M. HUNTSMAN, Jr.
embassy: 55 An Jia Lou Lu, 100600 Beijing
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [86] (10) 8531-3000
FAX: [86] (10) 8531-3300
consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, Wuhan
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; the color red represents
revolution, while the stars symbolize the four social classes - the
working class, the peasantry, the urban petty bourgeoisie, and the
national bourgeoisie (capitalists) - united under the Communist
Party of China
National anthem:
name: "Yiyonggjun Jinxingqu" (The March of the Volunteers)
lyrics/music: TIAN Han/NIE Er
note: adopted 1949; the anthem, though banned during the Cultural
Revolution, is more commonly known as "Zhongguo Guoge" (Chinese
National Song); it was originally the theme song to the 1935 Chinese
movie, "Sons and Daughters in a Time of Storm"
Economy ::China
Economy - overview:
China's economy since the late 1970s has changed from a closed,
centrally planned system to a more market-oriented one that plays a
major role in the global economy - in 2010 China became the world's
largest exporter. Reforms began with the phasing out of
collectivized agriculture, and expanded to include the gradual
liberalization of prices, fiscal decentralization, increased
autonomy for state enterprises, creation of a diversified banking
system, development of stock markets, rapid growth of the private
sector, and opening to foreign trade and investment. China generally
has implemented reforms in a gradualist fashion. In recent years,
China has renewed its support for state-owned enterprises in sectors
it considers important to "economic security," explicitly looking to
foster globally competitive national champions. After keeping its
currency tightly linked to the US dollar for years, 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.
From mid 2005 to late 2008 cumulative appreciation of the renminbi
against the US dollar was more than 20%, but the exchange rate
remained virtually pegged to the dollar from the onset of the global
financial crisis until June 2010, when Beijing allowed resumption of
a gradual appreciation. 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 that adjusts for price differences, China in 2010 stood
as the second-largest economy in the world after the US, having
surpassed Japan in 2001. The dollar values of China's agricultural
and industrial output each exceeded those of the US, although China
was second to the US in the value of services it produced. Still,
per capita income is below the world average. The Chinese government
faces numerous economic development challenges, including: (a)
reducing its high domestic savings rate and correspondingly low
domestic demand; (b) sustaining adequate job growth for tens of
millions of migrants and new entrants to the work force; (c)
reducing corruption and other economic crimes; and (d) containing
environmental damage and social strife related to the economy's
rapid transformation. Economic development has progressed further in
coastal provinces than in the interior, and approximately 200
million rural laborers and their dependents have relocated to urban
areas to find work. One demographic consequence of the "one child"
policy is that China is now one of the most rapidly aging countries
in the world. Deterioration in the environment - notably air
pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table,
especially in the north - is another long-term problem. China
continues to lose arable land because of erosion and economic
development. The Chinese government is seeking to add energy
production capacity from sources other than coal and oil, focusing
on nuclear and alternative energy development. In 2009, the global
economic downturn reduced foreign demand for Chinese exports for the
first time in many years, but China rebounded quickly, outperforming
all other major economies in 2010 with GDP growth around 10%. The
economy appears set to remain on a strong growth trajectory in 2011,
lending credibility to the stimulus policies the regime rolled out
during the global financial crisis. The government vows to continue
reforming the economy and emphasizes the need to increase domestic
consumption in order to make the economy less dependent on exports
for GDP growth in the future, but China likely will make only
marginal progress toward these rebalancing goals in 2011. Two
economic problems China currently faces are inflation - which, late
in 2010, surpassed the government's target of 3% - and local
government debt, which swelled as a result of stimulus policies, and
is largely off-the-books and potentially low-quality.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$9.872 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
$8.95 trillion (2009 est.)
$8.204 trillion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.745 trillion
note: because China's exchange rate is determine by fiat, rather
than by market forces, the official exchange rate measure of GDP is
not an accurate measure of China's output; GDP at the official
exchange rate substantially understates the actual level of China's
output vis-a-vis the rest of the world; in China's situation, GDP at
purchasing power parity provides the best measure for comparing
output across countries (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
10.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
9.1% (2009 est.)
9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
$6,800 (2009 est.)
$6,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.6%
industry: 46.8%
services: 43.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
819.5 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 39.5%
industry: 27.2%
services: 33.2% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.3% (September 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
4.2% (December 2008 est.)
note: official data for urban areas only; including migrants may
boost total unemployment to 9%; substantial unemployment and
underemployment in rural areas
Population below poverty line:
2.8%
note: 21.5 million rural population live below the official
"absolute poverty" line (approximately $90 per year); an additional
35.5 million rural population live above that level but below the
official "low income" line (approximately $125 per year) (2007)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.5%
highest 10%: 15%
note: data are for urban households only (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
41.5 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 54
40 (2001)
Investment (gross fixed):
47.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Public debt:
17.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
16.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
-0.7% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
2.79% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 129
2.79% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.81% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
5.31% (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$3.838 trillion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 4
$3.242 trillion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$10.08 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
$8.933 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$8.156 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
$7.24 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$5.008 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
$2.794 trillion (31 December 2008)
$6.226 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
world leader in gross value of agricultural output; rice, wheat,
potatoes, corn, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, apples, cotton,
oilseed; pork; fish
Industries:
world leader in gross value of industrial output; 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:
11% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Electricity - production:
3.451 trillion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Electricity - consumption:
3.438 trillion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Electricity - exports:
16.64 billion kWh (2008)
Electricity - imports:
3.842 billion kWh (2008)
Oil - production:
3.991 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Oil - consumption:
8.2 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Oil - exports:
388,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Oil - imports:
4.393 million bbl/day (2008)
country comparison to the world: 4
Oil - proved reserves:
20.35 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Natural gas - production:
82.94 billion cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 8
Natural gas - consumption:
87.08 billion cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 9
Natural gas - exports:
3.32 billion cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 31
Natural gas - imports:
7.462 billion cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 27
Natural gas - proved reserves:
3.03 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Current account balance:
$272.5 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
$297.1 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.506 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
$1.204 trillion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
electrical and other machinery, including data processing equipment,
apparel, textiles, iron and steel, optical and medical equipment
Exports - partners:
US 20.03%, Hong Kong 12.03%, Japan 8.32%, South Korea 4.55%, Germany
4.27% (2009)
Imports:
$1.307 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
$954.3 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
electrical and other machinery, oil and mineral fuels, optical and
medical equipment, metal ores, plastics, organic chemicals
Imports - partners:
Japan 12.27%, Hong Kong 10.06%, South Korea 9.04%, US 7.66%, Taiwan
6.84%, Germany 5.54% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.622 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
$2.426 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$406.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$349.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$574.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$473.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$278.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$229.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Renminbi yuan (RMB) per US dollar - 6.7852 (2010), 6.8314 (2009),
6.9385 (2008), 7.61 (2007), 7.97 (2006)
Communications ::China
Telephones - main lines in use:
313.68 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 1
Telephones - mobile cellular:
747 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 1
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; China continues to develop its telecommunications
infrastructure, and is partnering with foreign providers to expand
its global reach; China in the summer of 2008 began a major
restructuring of its telecommunications industry, resulting in the
consolidation of its six telecom service operators to three, China
Telecom, China Mobile and China Unicom, each providing both
fixed-line and mobile services
domestic: interprovincial fiber-optic trunk lines and cellular
telephone systems have been installed; mobile-cellular
subscribership is increasing rapidly; the number of Internet users
exceeded 250 million by summer 2008; a domestic satellite system
with 55 earth stations is in place
international: country code - 86; a number of submarine cables
provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the US;
satellite earth stations - 7 (5 Intelsat - 4 Pacific Ocean and 1
Indian Ocean; 1 Intersputnik - Indian Ocean region; and 1 Inmarsat -
Pacific and Indian Ocean regions) (2008)
Broadcast media:
all broadcast media are owned by, or affiliated with, the Communist
Party of China or a government agency; no privately-owned television
or radio stations with state-run Chinese Central TV, provincial, and
municipal stations offering more than 2,000 channels; the Central
Propaganda Department lists subjects that are off limits to domestic
broadcast media with the government maintaining authority to approve
all programming; foreign-made TV programs must be approved prior to
broadcast (2008)
Internet country code:
.cn
Internet hosts:
15.251 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 6
Internet users:
389 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 1
Transportation ::China
Airports:
502 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 15
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 442
over 3,047 m: 63
2,438 to 3,047 m: 137
1,524 to 2,437 m: 132
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 83 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 60
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 27 (2010)
Heliports:
48 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 32,545 km; oil 20,097 km; refined products 10,915 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 77,834 km
country comparison to the world: 3
standard gauge: 77,084 km 1.435-m gauge (24,433 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 750 km 0.750-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 3,583,715 km (includes 53,913 km of expressways) (2007)
country comparison to the world: 2
Waterways:
110,000 km navigable (2010)
country comparison to the world: 1
Merchant marine:
total: 2,010
country comparison to the world: 3
by type: barge carrier 6, bulk carrier 571, cargo 639, carrier 5,
chemical tanker 98, container 204, liquefied gas 55, passenger 9,
passenger/cargo 83, petroleum tanker 271, refrigerated cargo 35,
roll on/roll off 9, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 24
foreign-owned: 18 (Germany 1, Hong Kong 15, Japan 2)
registered in other countries: 1,623 (Bahamas 4, Bangladesh 1,
Belize 64, Bermuda 13, Cambodia 203, Comoros 1, Cyprus 6, France 5,
Georgia 11, Germany 2, Honduras 2, Hong Kong 432, India 1, Indonesia
1, Kiribati 28, Liberia 10, Malta 11, Marshall Islands 16, North
Korea 1, Norway 25, Panama 574, Philippines 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis
1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 82, Sierra Leone 12, Singapore
26, South Korea 9, Thailand 1, Togo 2, Tuvalu 9, UK 7, unknown 59)
(2010)
Ports and terminals:
Dalian, Guangzhou, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen,
Tianjin
Military ::China
Military branches:
People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces, Navy (includes
marines and naval aviation), Air Force (Zhongguo Renmin Jiefangjun
Kongjun, PLAAF; includes Airborne Forces), and Second Artillery
Corps (strategic missile force); People's Armed Police (PAP); PLA
Reserve Force (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-22 years of age for selective compulsory military service, with
24-month service obligation; no minimum age for voluntary service
(all officers are volunteers); 18-19 years of age for women high
school graduates who meet requirements for specific military jobs;
in 2010, a decision was made to allow women in combat roles (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 381,747,145
females age 16-49: 360,385,629 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 314,668,817
females age 16-49: 298,745,786 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 10,699,186
female: 9,460,217 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 22
Transnational Issues ::China
Disputes - international:
continuing talks and confidence-building measures work toward
reducing tensions over Kashmir that nonetheless remains militarized
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; China and India continue their
security and foreign policy dialogue started in 2005 related to the
dispute over most of their rugged, militarized boundary, regional
nuclear proliferation, and other matters; China claims most of
India's Arunachal Pradesh to the base of the Himalayas; lacking any
treaty describing the boundary, Bhutan and China continue
negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve
territorial disputes due to cartographic discrepancies; Chinese maps
show an international boundary symbol off the coasts of the littoral
states of the South China Seas, where China has interrupted
Vietnamese hydrocarbon exploration; China asserts sovereignty over
Scarborough Reef along with the Philippines and Taiwan, and over the
Spratly Islands together with Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan,
Vietnam, and Brunei; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties
in the South China Sea" eased tensions in the Spratly's but is not
the legally binding "code of conduct" sought by some parties;
Vietnam and China continue to expand construction of facilities in
the Spratly's 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 continue to reject 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 exploration and exploitation; certain islands
in the Yalu and Tumen rivers are in dispute with North Korea; North
Korea and China seek to stem illegal migration to China by North
Koreans, fleeing privations and oppression, by building a fence
along portions of the border and imprisoning North Koreans deported
by China; China and Russia have demarcated the once disputed islands
at the Amur and Ussuri confluence and in the Argun River in
accordance with their 2004 Agreement; China and Tajikistan have
begun demarcating the revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation
of 2002; the decade-long demarcation of the China-Vietnam land
boundary was completed in 2009; citing environmental, cultural, and
social concerns, China has reconsidered construction of 13 dams on
the Salween River, but energy-starved Burma, with backing from
Thailand, remains intent on building five hydro-electric dams
downstream despite regional and international protests; Chinese and
Hong Kong authorities met in March 2008 to resolve ownership and use
of lands recovered in Shenzhen River channelization, including
96-hectare Lok Ma Chau Loop; Hong Kong developing plans to reduce
2,000 out of 2,800 hectares of its restricted Closed Area by 2010
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 300,897 (Vietnam); estimated
30,000-50,000 (North Korea)
IDPs: 90,000 (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: China is a source, transit, and destination
country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of
sexual exploitation and forced labor; the majority of trafficking in
China occurs within the country's borders, but there is also
considerable international trafficking of Chinese citizens to
Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North
America; Chinese women are lured abroad through false promises of
legitimate employment, only to be forced into commercial sexual
exploitation, largely in Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan;
women and children are trafficked to China from Mongolia, Burma,
North Korea, Russia, and Vietnam for forced labor, marriage, and
prostitution; some North Korean women and children seeking to leave
their country voluntarily cross the border into China and are then
sold into prostitution, marriage, or forced labor
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - China is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for the fourth consecutive year for its failure to provide evidence
of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly in
terms of punishment of trafficking crimes and the protection of
Chinese and foreign victims of trafficking; victims are sometimes
punished for unlawful acts that were committed as a direct result of
their being trafficked, such as violations of prostitution or
immigration/emigration controls; the Chinese Government continued to
treat North Korean victims of trafficking solely as economic
migrants, routinely deporting them back to horrendous conditions in
North Korea; additional challenges facing the Chinese Government
include the enormous size of its trafficking problem and the
significant level of corruption and complicity in trafficking by
some local government officials (2008)
Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for heroin produced in the Golden Triangle
region of Southeast Asia; growing domestic consumption of synthetic
drugs, and heroin from Southeast and Southwest Asia; source country
for methamphetamine and heroin chemical precursors, despite new
regulations on its large chemical industry (2008)
page last updated on January 24, 2011
======================================================================
@Christmas Island (Australia-Oceania)
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:
Oceania
Area:
total: 135 sq km
country comparison to the world: 221
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 season (December to April) and dry season; heat
and humidity moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Natural resources:
phosphate, 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:
1,402 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 233
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate:
0% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Birth rate:
NA
Death rate:
NA
Net migration rate:
NA
Sex ratio:
NA (2009 est.)
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 from
Canberra by the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: The Settlement
geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E
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
Suffrage:
18 years of age
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator Brian LACY (since 5 October 2009)
elections: the monarchy 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 on 17 October 2009 (next to be held in 2011)
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, the lower triangle is blue with the Southern
Cross constellation, representing Australia, superimposed; a
centered yellow disk displays a green map of the island
note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes
National anthem:
note: as a territory of Australia, "Advance Australia Fair" remains
official as the national anthem, while "God Save the Queen" serves
as the royal anthem (see Australia)
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, but closed in 1998.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$NA
Labor force:
NA
Agriculture - products:
NA
Industries:
tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
phosphate
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.1151 (2010), 1.2822
(2009), 1.2059 (2008), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006)
Communications ::Christmas Island
Telephones - main lines in use:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: service provided by the Australian network
domestic: GSM mobile-cellular telephone service replaced older
analog system in February 2005
international: country code - 61-8; satellite earth station - 1
(Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2005)
Broadcast media:
1 community radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio
and television stations are received via satellite (2009)
Internet country code:
.cx
Internet hosts:
2,542 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 149
Internet users:
464 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 216
Transportation ::Christmas Island
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 235
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Railways:
total: 18 km
country comparison to the world: 133
standard gauge: 18 km 1.435-m (not in operation) (2010)
Roadways:
total: 140 km
country comparison to the world: 210
paved: 30 km
unpaved: 110 km (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Flying Fish Cove
Military ::Christmas Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues ::Christmas Island
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Clipperton Island (North America)
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
country comparison to the world: 244
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
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 directly by the Minister of
Overseas France
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
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia-Oceania)
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. From the 1820s to 1978, members of the CLUNIE-ROSS
family controlled the islands and the copra produced from local
coconuts. Annexed by the UK in 1857, the Cocos Islands 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:
Oceania
Area:
total: 14 sq km
country comparison to the world: 240
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;
site of a World War I naval battle in November 1914 between the
Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney and the German raider SMS
Emden; after being heavily damaged in the engagement, the Emden was
beached by her captain on North Keeling Island
People ::Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Population:
596 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 237
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate:
0% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Birth rate:
NA
Death rate:
NA
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 Government Attorney-General's Department
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: West Island
geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 96 50 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:
18 years of age
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator (nonresident) Brian LACY (since 5
October 2009)
cabinet: NA
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy 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 2007 (next to be held in May 2009)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
The Cocos Islands Youth Support Centre
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
National anthem:
note: as a territory of Australia, "Advance Australia Fair" remains
official as the national anthem, while "God Save the Queen" serves
as the royal anthem (see Australia)
Economy ::Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Economy - overview:
Coconuts, grown throughout the islands, 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.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Industries:
copra products and tourism
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
copra
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.1151 (2010), 1.2822
(2009), 1.2059 (2008), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006)
Communications ::Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
287 (1992)
country comparison to the world: 229
Telephone system:
general assessment: connected within Australia's telecommunication
system; a local mobile-cellular network is in operation
domestic: NA
international: country code - 61; telephone, telex, and facsimile
communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; satellite
earth station - 1 (Intelsat) (2001)
Broadcast media:
1 local radio station staffed by community volunteers; broadcasts of
several Australian radio and TV stations are received via satellite
(2009)
Internet country code:
.cc
Internet hosts:
35,312 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 96
Transportation ::Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 234
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 22 km
country comparison to the world: 220
paved: 10 km
unpaved: 12 km (2007)
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
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Colombia (South America)
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 four-decade long conflict between government forces
and anti-government insurgent groups, principally the Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) 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 areas of the countryside are
under guerrilla influence or are contested by security forces. More
than 31,000 former paramilitaries had demobilized by the end of 2006
and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) as a formal
organization had ceased to function. In the wake of the paramilitary
demobilization, emerging criminal groups arose, whose members
include some former paramilitaries. The Colombian Government has
stepped up efforts to reassert government control throughout the
country, and now has a presence in every one of its administrative
departments. However, neighboring countries worry about the violence
spilling over their borders. In January 2011, Colombia assumed a
nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2011-12 term.
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
country comparison to the world: 26
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: 6,309 km
border countries: Brazil 1,644 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km,
Peru 1,800 km, 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)
Total renewable water resources:
2,132 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 10.71 cu km/yr (50%/4%/46%)
per capita: 235 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes;
periodic droughts
volcanism: Galeras (elev. 4,276 m, 14,029 ft) is one of Colombia's
most active volcanoes, having erupted in 2009 and 2010 causing major
evacuations; it has been deemed a "Decade Volcano" by the
International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the
Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and
close proximity to human populations; Nevado del Ruiz (elev. 5,321
m, 17,453 ft), 129 km (80 mi) west of Bogota, erupted in 1985
producing lahars that killed 23,000 people; the volcano last erupted
in 1991; additionally, after 500 years of dormancy, Nevado del Huila
reawakened in 2007 and has experienced frequent eruptions since
then; other historically active volcanoes include Cumbal, Dona
Juana, Nevado del Tolima, and Purace
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:
44,205,293 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.7% (male 6,192,707/female 5,919,959)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 14,292,342/female 14,717,249)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 1,093,432/female 1,461,683) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.6 years
male: 26.7 years
female: 28.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.184% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Birth rate:
17.76 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Death rate:
5.24 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Net migration rate:
-0.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Urbanization:
urban population: 74% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.87 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 111
male: 20.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.31 years
country comparison to the world: 97
male: 70.98 years
female: 77.84 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.18 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
170,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
9,800 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
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 (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.4%
male: 90.1%
female: 90.7% (2005 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.9% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 111
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; amended many times
Legal system:
based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US
procedures was enacted into law in 2004 and reached full
implementation in January 2008; judicial review of executive and
legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon (since 7
August 2010); Vice President Angelino GARZON (since 7 August 2010);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon (since 7
August 2010); Vice President Angelino GARZON (since 7 August 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected by popular vote for
a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on
30 May 2010 with a runoff election 20 June 2010 (next to be held in
May 2014)
election results: Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon elected president in
runoff election; percent of vote - Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon
69.06%, Antanas MOCKUS 27.52%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado (102
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and
the Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (166
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 14 March 2010 (next to be held in
March 2014); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 14 March 2010
(next to be held in March 2014)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - U Party 28, PC 22, PL 16, PIN 9, CR 8, PDA 8, Green Party 5,
other parties 5; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - U Party 47, PC 37, PL 36, CR 16, PIN
12, PDA 4, Green Party 3, other parties 10; note - as of 1 January
2011, the Senate currently has 101 seats after one seat became
vacant due to a PL senator losing their seat for illegal collusion
with the FARC; the Chamber of Representatives also has one seat
vacant after only 165 of the 166 candidates were credentialed
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:
Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA [Clara LOPEZ]; Conservative Party
or PC [Fernando ARAUJO]; Green Party [Luis GARZON]; Liberal Party or
PL [Rafael PARDO]; National Integration Party or PIN [Angel ALIRIO
Moreno]; Radical Change or CR [German VARGAS Lleras]; Social
National Unity Party or U Party [Juan Francisco LOZANO Ramirez]
note: Colombia has seven major political parties, and numerous
smaller movements
Political pressure groups and leaders:
National Liberation Army or ELN; Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia or FARC
note: two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia
International organization participation:
BCIE, CAN, Caricom (observer), CDB, FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES,
LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG,
UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gabriel SILVA Lujan
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 R. BROWNFIELD
embassy: Calle 24 Bis No. 48-50, Bogota, D.C.
mailing address: Carrera 45 No. 24B-27, Bogota, D.C.
telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811
FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red;
the flag retains the three main colors of the banner of Gran
Columbia, the short-lived South American republic that broke up in
1830; various interpretations of the colors exist and include:
yellow for the gold in Colombia's land, blue for the seas on its
shores, and red for the blood spilled in attaining freedom;
alternatively, the colors have been described as representing more
elemental concepts such as sovereignty and justice (yellow), loyalty
and vigilance (blue), and valour and generosity (red); or simply the
principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity
note: similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the
Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center
National anthem:
name: "Himno Nacional de la Republica de Colombia" (National Anthem
of the Republic of Colombia)
lyrics/music: Rafael NUNEZ/Oreste SINDICI
note: adopted 1920; the anthem was created from an inspirational
poem written by President Rafael NUNEZ
Economy ::Colombia
Economy - overview:
Colombia experienced accelerating growth between 2002 and 2007,
chiefly due to improvements in domestic security, rising commodity
prices, and to President URIBE's promarket economic policies.
Foreign direct investment reached a record $10 billion in 2008, and
continues to flow in, especially in the oil sector. A series of
policies enhanced Colombia's investment climate: pro-business
reforms in the oil and gas sectors and export-led growth fueled
mainly by the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act.
Inequality, underemployment, and narcotrafficking remain significant
challenges, and Colombia's infrastructure requires major
improvements to sustain economic expansion. Because of the global
financial crisis and weakening demand for Colombia's exports,
Colombia's economy grew only 2.7% in 2008, and 0.8% in 2009 but
rebounded to around 4.5% in 2010. The government has encouraged
exporters to diversify their customer base beyond the United States
and Venezuela, traditionally Colombia's largest trading partners;
the SANTOS administration continues to pursue free trade agreements
with Asian and South American partners and awaits the approval of a
Canadian trade accord by Canada's and EU's parliaments. The business
sector remains concerned about Venezuela's trade restrictions on
Colombian exports, an appreciating domestic currency, and the
pending US Congressional approval of the US-Colombia Trade Promotion
Agreement.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$431.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$413.7 billion (2009 est.)
$410.4 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$283.1 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
0.8% (2009 est.)
2.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
$9,500 (2009 est.)
$9,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.3%
industry: 38%
services: 52.7% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
21.27 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 18%
industry: 18.9%
services: 63.1% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
11.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
12% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
46.8% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 45% (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
58.5 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 8
53.8 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
22.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Public debt:
44.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
45.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
4.2% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3% (October 2010)
country comparison to the world: 79
5.5% (31 December 2009)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.98% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
17.18% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$31.83 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 54
$24.41 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$104.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$82.39 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$123 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$96.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$133.3 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 39
$87.03 billion (31 December 2008)
$102 billion (31 December 2007)
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:
5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Electricity - production:
50.58 billion kWh (2007)
country comparison to the world: 48
Electricity - consumption:
38.59 billion kWh (2007)
country comparison to the world: 53
Electricity - exports:
876.7 million kWh (2007)
Electricity - imports:
39.4 million kWh (2007)
Oil - production:
686,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Oil - consumption:
288,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Oil - exports:
294,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Oil - imports:
16,540 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Oil - proved reserves:
2.1 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Natural gas - production:
9 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Natural gas - consumption:
8.1 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Natural gas - exports:
900 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Natural gas - proved reserves:
112 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Current account balance:
-$5.946 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
-$4.991 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$40.24 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
$34.03 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, coffee, coal, nickel, emeralds, apparel, bananas, cut
flowers
Exports - partners:
US 39%, Venezuela 12%, Netherlands 4% (2009)
Imports:
$36.26 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$31.48 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods,
chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity
Imports - partners:
US 28%, China 11%, Mexico 7%, Brazil 6.5%, France 4.5%, Germany 4%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$26.92 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$24.99 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$57.74 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$52.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$84.62 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$75.22 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$19.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$16.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Colombian pesos (COP) per US dollar - 1,893.1 (2010), 2,157.6
(2009), 2,243.6 (2008), 2,013.8 (2007), 2,358.6 (2006)
Communications ::Colombia
Telephones - main lines in use:
7.5 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 25
Telephones - mobile cellular:
42.16 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 29
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system in many respects with a nationwide
microwave radio relay system, a domestic satellite system with 41
earth stations, and a fiber-optic network linking 50 cities;
telecommunications sector liberalized during the 1990s; multiple
providers of both fixed-line and mobile-cellular services
domestic: fixed-line connections stand at about 15 per 100 persons;
mobile cellular telephone subscribership is about 90 per 100
persons; competition among cellular service providers is resulting
in falling local and international calling rates and contributing to
the steep decline in the market share of fixed line services
international: country code - 57; landing points for the ARCOS,
Colombia-Florida Subsea Fiber (CFX-1), Maya-1, Pan American, and the
South America-1 submarine cables providing links to the US, parts of
the Caribbean, and Central and South America; satellite earth
stations - 10 (6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 3 fully digitalized
international switching centers) (2009)
Broadcast media:
combination of state-owned and privately-owned broadcast media
provide service; more than 500 radio stations and large number of
national, regional, and local TV stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.co
Internet hosts:
2.527 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 32
Internet users:
22.538 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 18
Transportation ::Colombia
Airports:
990 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 7
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 116
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 41
914 to 1,523 m: 50
under 914 m: 15 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 874
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 35
914 to 1,523 m: 228
under 914 m: 610 (2010)
Heliports:
2 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 4,567 km; oil 6,097 km; refined products 3,382 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 3,802 km
country comparison to the world: 45
standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 3,652 km 0.914-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 164,257 km (2005)
country comparison to the world: 31
Waterways:
18,000 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 6
Merchant marine:
total: 13
country comparison to the world: 105
by type: cargo 11, petroleum tanker 1, specialized tanker 1
registered in other countries: 3 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Panama 2)
(2010)
Ports and terminals:
Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Puerto Bolivar, Santa Marta,
Turbo
Military ::Colombia
Military branches:
National Army (Ejercito Nacional), National Navy (Armada Republica
de Colombia, includes Naval Aviation, Naval Infantry (Infanteria de
Marina, IM), and Coast Guard), Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de
Colombia, FAC) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-24 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 11,556,939
females age 16-49: 11,609,122 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,957,960
females age 16-49: 9,763,655 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 432,280
female: 416,051 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Transnational Issues ::Colombia
Disputes - international:
in December 2007, ICJ allocates San Andres, Providencia, and Santa
Catalina islands to Colombia under 1928 Treaty but does not rule on
82 degrees W meridian as maritime boundary with Nicaragua; managed
dispute with Venezuela over maritime boundary and
Venezuelan-administered Los Monjes Islands near the Gulf of
Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics, guerrilla, and
paramilitary activities penetrate all neighboring borders and have
caused Colombian citizens to flee mostly into neighboring countries;
Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Jamaica, and the US assert various
claims to Bajo Nuevo and Serranilla Bank
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 1.8-3.5 million (conflict between government and illegal armed
groups and drug traffickers) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world's leading
coca cultivator with 167,000 hectares in coca cultivation in 2007, a
6% increase over 2006, producing a potential of 535 mt of pure
cocaine; the world's largest producer of coca derivatives; supplies
cocaine to nearly all of the US market and the great majority of
other international drug markets; in 2005, aerial eradication
dispensed herbicide to treat over 130,000 hectares but aggressive
replanting on the part of coca growers means Colombia remains a key
producer; a significant portion of narcotics proceeds are either
laundered or invested in Colombia through the black market peso
exchange; important supplier of heroin to the US market; opium poppy
cultivation is estimated to have fallen 25% between 2006 and 2007;
most Colombian heroin is destined for the US market (2008)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Comoros (Africa)
Introduction ::Comoros
Background:
Comoros has endured more than 20 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 in a bloodless coup, and
helped negotiate the 2000 Fomboni Accords power-sharing agreement in
which the federal presidency rotates among the three islands, and
each island maintains its own local government. AZALI won the 2002
presidential election, and each island in the archipelago elected
its own president. AZALI stepped down in 2006 and President SAMBI
was elected to office. In 2007, Mohamed BACAR effected Anjouan's
de-facto secession from the Union, refusing to step down in favor of
fresh Anjouanais elections when Comoros' other islands held
legitimate elections in July. The African Union (AU) initially
attempted to resolve the political crisis by applying sanctions and
a naval blockade on Anjouan, but in March 2008, AU and Comoran
soldiers seized the island. The move was generally welcomed by the
island's inhabitants.
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: 2,235 sq km
country comparison to the world: 179
land: 2,235 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: Karthala 2,360 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 35.87%
permanent crops: 23.32%
other: 40.81% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
1.2 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.01 cu km/yr (48%/5%/47%)
per capita: 13 cu m/yr (1999)
Natural hazards:
cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); volcanic
activity on Grand Comore
volcanism: Karthala (elev. 2,361 m, 7,746 ft) on Grand Comore Island
last erupted in 2007; a 2005 eruption forced thousands of people to
be evacuated and produced a large ash cloud
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, 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:
important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
People ::Comoros
Population:
773,407 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.2% (male 159,282/female 158,073)
15-64 years: 54.8% (male 203,533/female 208,591)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 10,474/female 12,485) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.9 years
male: 18.6 years
female: 19.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.731% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Birth rate:
34.71 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Death rate:
7.4 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 76
Urbanization:
urban population: 28% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 64.61 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 27
male: 72.41 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 56.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.83 years
country comparison to the world: 172
male: 61.41 years
female: 66.32 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.78 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA (2007 est.)
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.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 12 years
female: 10 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
7.6% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 14
Government ::Comoros
Country name:
conventional long form: Union of the Comoros
conventional short form: Comoros
local long form: Udzima wa Komori (Comorian); Union des Comores
(French); Jumhuriyat al Qamar al Muttahidah (Arabic)
local short form: Komori (Comorian); Comores (French); Juzur al
Qamar (Arabic)
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Moroni
geographic coordinates: 11 42 S, 43 14 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
3 islands and 4 municipalities*; Grande Comore (N'gazidja), Anjouan
(Ndzuwani), 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 Islamic law in a new consolidated code; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
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 on 14 May 2006 (next
to be held on 7 November 2010)
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 18 by universal
suffrage to serve for five years);
elections: last held on 6 and 20 December 2009 (next to be held in
2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
pro-union coalition 19, autonomous coalition 4, independents 1; note
- 9 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:
Camp of the Autonomous Islands or CdIA (a coalition of parties
organized by the islands' presidents in opposition to the Union
President); Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros or CRC [AZALI
Assowmani]; 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:
other: environmentalists
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AMF, AOSIS, AU, COMESA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC,
Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Representative to the UN and Ambassador to the US
Mohamed TOIHIRI
chancery: Mission to the US, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 418,
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, N'gazidja, Nzwani, and Mahore (Mayotte - territorial
collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros)
note: the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols
of Islam
National anthem:
name: "Udzima wa ya Masiwa" (The Union of the Great Islands)
lyrics/music: Said Hachim SIDI ABDEREMANE/Said Hachim SIDI
ABDEREMANE and Kamildine ABDALLAH
note: adopted 1978
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.
Export income is heavily reliant on the three main crops of vanilla,
cloves, and ylang-ylang and Comoros' export earnings are easily
disrupted by disasters such as fires. 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 - lacks a comprehensive strategy to
attract foreign investment and 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. Political
problems have inhibited growth, which has averaged only about 1% in
2006-09. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement
GDP. In September 2009 the IMF approved Comoros for a three-year $21
million loan. The IMF gave generally positive reports of the
country's program performance as of October 2010. The African
Development Bank approved a $34.6 million debt-relief package loan
for Comoros in September 2010, and Comoros will attempt to qualifry
for debt relief in 2012 under the IMF and World Bank's Heavily
Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$789.4 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
$776.2 million (2009 est.)
$762.5 million (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$557 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
1.8% (2009 est.)
1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
$1,000 (2009 est.)
$1,000 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 40%
industry: 4%
services: 56% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
268,500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:
20% (1996 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Population below poverty line:
60% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.9%
highest 10%: 55.2% (2004)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Central bank discount rate:
2.21% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 81
5.36% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.5% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
10.5% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$104.7 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 179
$98.36 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$168.6 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 182
$143.7 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$79.75 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
$60.57 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
vanilla, cloves, ylang-ylang, perfume essences, copra, coconuts,
bananas, cassava (tapioca)
Industries:
fishing, tourism, perfume distillation
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
22 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Electricity - consumption:
20.46 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Oil - imports:
766 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Current account balance:
$8 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Exports:
$32 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 202
Exports - commodities:
vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves, copra
Exports - partners:
Turkey 25.2%, France 20.44%, Singapore 17.44%, Algeria 8.02%, Italy
6.09%, Saudi Arabia 5% (2009)
Imports:
$143 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 205
Imports - commodities:
rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products,
cement, transport equipment
Imports - partners:
France 15.5%, China 14.66%, India 10.55%, UAE 7.88%, Pakistan 5.69%,
Kenya 4.51% (2009)
Debt - external:
$232 million (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Exchange rates:
Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - 361.4 (2007), 391.8 (2006),
395.6 (2005), 396.21 (2004), 435.9 (2003)
note: the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677
Comoran francs per euro
Communications ::Comoros
Telephones - main lines in use:
25,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 183
Telephones - mobile cellular:
100,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 185
Telephone system:
general assessment: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF
radiotelephone communication stations
domestic: fixed-line connections only about 3 per 100 persons;
mobile cellular usage about 15 per 100 persons
international: country code - 269; HF radiotelephone communications
to Madagascar and Reunion
Broadcast media:
national state-owned TV station and a TV station run by Anjouan
regional government; national state-owned radio; regional
governments on the islands of Grande Comore and Anjouan each operate
a radio station; a few independent and small community radio
stations operate on the islands of Grande Comore and Moheli, and
these two islands have access to Mayotte Radio and French TV (2007)
Internet country code:
.km
Internet hosts:
14 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 219
Internet users:
24,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 186
Transportation ::Comoros
Airports:
4 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 189
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 880 km
country comparison to the world: 184
paved: 673 km
unpaved: 207 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
total: 177
country comparison to the world: 37
by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 102, carrier 5, chemical tanker 6,
container 2, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 15,
refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 12
foreign-owned: 98 (Bangladesh 1, Bulgaria 8, China 1, Cyprus 2,
Greece 3, Kenya 1, Kuwait 1, Latvia 1, Lebanon 3, Lithuania 3,
Monaco 1, Nigeria 1, Norway 2, Pakistan 3, Russia 21, Syria 6,
Turkey 16, UAE 11, UK 1, Ukraine 10, US 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Mayotte, Mutsamudu
Military ::Comoros
Military branches:
Army of National Development (AND): Comoran Security Force, Comoran
Coast Guard, Comoran Federal Police (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for 2-year voluntary military service; no
conscription; women first inducted into the Army in 2004 (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 178,670
females age 16-49: 177,811 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 130,064
females age 16-49: 140,600 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 8,519
female: 8,498 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 50
Transnational Issues ::Comoros
Disputes - international:
claims French-administered Mayotte and challenges France's and
Madagascar's claims to Banc du Geyser, a drying reef in the
Mozambique Channel; in May 2008, African Union forces are called in
to assist the Comoros military recapture Anjouan Island from rebels
who seized it in 2001
page last updated on January 10, 2011
======================================================================
@Congo, Democratic Republic of the (Africa)
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 sham elections, as well as through 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 backed by
Rwanda and Uganda and fronted by Laurent KABILA. He renamed the
country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), but in August
1998 his regime was itself challenged by a second insurrection again
backed by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia,
Sudan, and Zimbabwe intervened to support KABILA's 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 as
president and four vice presidents represented the former
government, former rebel groups, the political opposition, and civil
society. The transitional government held a successful
constitutional referendum in December 2005 and elections for the
presidency, National Assembly, and provincial legislatures in 2006.
The National Assembly was installed in September 2006 and KABILA was
inaugurated president in December 2006. Provincial assemblies were
constituted in early 2007, and elected governors and national
senators in January 2007.
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: 2,344,858 sq km
country comparison to the world: 12
land: 2,267,048 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)
Total renewable water resources:
1,283 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.36 cu km/yr (53%/17%/31%)
per capita: 6 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); in the
east, in the Great Rift Valley, there are active volcanoes
volcanism: Nyiragongo (elev. 3,470 m, 11,384 ft), which erupted in
2002 and is experiencing ongoing activity, poses a major threat to
the city of Goma, home to a quarter of a million people; the volcano
produces unusually fast-moving lava, known to travel up to 100 km
(60 mi)/hr; Nyiragongo has been deemed a "Decade Volcano" by the
International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the
Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and
close proximity to human populations; its neighbor, Nyamuragira,
which erupted in 2010, is Africa's most active volcano; Visoke is
the only other historically active volcano
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, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, 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 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:
70,916,439
country comparison to the world: 19
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.9% (male 16,161,301/female 16,038,024)
15-64 years: 50.6% (male 17,289,453/female 17,483,027)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 699,667/female 1,021,070) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.5 years
male: 16.3 years
female: 16.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.165% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Birth rate:
42.26 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Death rate:
11.39 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Net migration rate:
0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Urbanization:
urban population: 34% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 5.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 79.36 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 15
male: 87.13 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 71.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.73 years
country comparison to the world: 198
male: 52.93 years
female: 56.59 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.11 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
4.2% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.1 million (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
100,000 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
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)
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
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 (includes 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: 67.2%
male: 80.9%
female: 54.1% (2001 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male: 9 years
female: 6 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: DRC
local long form: Republique Democratique du Congo
local short form: RDC
former: Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville,
Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire
abbreviation: DRC
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Kinshasa
geographic coordinates: 4 19 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
note: according to the Constitution adopted in December 2005, the
current administrative divisions will be subdivided into 26 new
provinces by 2009
Independence:
30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 30 June (1960)
Constitution:
18 February 2006
Legal system:
civil law based on Belgian law with Napoleonic Civil Code influence;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Joseph KABILA (since 17 January 2001);
head of government: Prime Minister Adolphe MUZITO (since 10 October
2008)
cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: under the new constitution the president elected by
popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
elections last held on 30 July 2006 and on 29 October 2006 (next to
be held on 27 November 2011); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: Joseph KABILA elected president; percent of vote
(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
a run-off on 29 October 2006 confirming Joseph KABILA as president
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of a Senate (108 seats; members
elected by provincial assemblies to serve five-year terms) and a
National Assembly (500 seats; 61 members elected by majority vote in
single-member constituencies, 439 members elected by open list
proportional-representation in multi-member constituencies to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 19 January 2007 (next to be held on
27 November 2011); National Assembly - last held on 30 July 2006
(next to be held on 27 November 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PPRD 22, MLC 14, FR 7, RCD 7, PDC 6, CDC 3, MSR 3, PALU 2,
independents 26, others 18 (political parties that won a single
seat); National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PPRD 111, MLC 64, PALU 34, MSR 27, FR 26, RCD 15,
independents 63, others 160 (includes 63 political parties that won
10 or fewer seats)
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Appeals Court or Cour de Cassation; Council of
State; High Military Court; plus civil and military courts and
tribunals
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democrat Party or PDC [Jose ENDUNDO]; Congolese Rally for
Democracy or RCD [Azarias RUBERWA]; Convention of Christian
Democrats or CDC; Forces of Renewal or FR [Mbusa NYAMWISI]; Movement
for the Liberation of the Congo or MLC [Jean-Pierre BEMBA]; People's
Party for Reconstruction and Democracy or PPRD [Joseph KABILA];
Social Movement for Renewal or MSR [Pierre LUMBI]; Unified Lumumbist
Party or PALU [Antoine GIZENGA]; Union for Democracy and Social
Progress or UDPS [Etienne TSHISEKEDI]; Union of Mobutuist Democrats
or UDEMO [MOBUTU Nzanga]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
MONUC - UN organization working with the government; FARDC (Forces
Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo) - Army of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo which commits atrocities on
citizens; FDL (Forces Democratiques de Liberation du Rwanda) -
Rwandan militia group
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA,
SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Faida MITIFU
chancery: Suite 601, 1726 M Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690 through 7691
FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Samuel BROCK
embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa
mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828
telephone: [243] (81) 225-5872
FAX: [243] (81) 301-0561
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; blue represents peace and hope, red the blood of the
country's martyrs, and yellow the country's wealth and prosperity;
the star symbolizes unity and the brilliant future for the country
National anthem:
name: "Debout Congolaise" (Arise Congolese)
lyrics/music: Joseph LUTUMBA/Simon-Pierre BOKA di Mpasi Londi
note: adopted 1960; the anthem was replaced during the period in
which the country was known as Zaire, but was readopted in 1997
Economy ::Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Economy - overview:
The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a nation
endowed with vast potential wealth - is slowly recovering from
decades of decline. Systemic corruption since independence in 1960
and conflict that began in May 1997 has dramatically reduced
national output and government revenue, increased external debt, and
resulted in the deaths of more than 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
began to improve in late 2002 with the withdrawal of a large portion
of the invading foreign troops. The transitional government reopened
relations with international financial institutions and
international donors, and President KABILA began implementing
reforms. Progress has been slow and the International Monetary Fund
curtailed their program for the DRC at the end of March 2006 because
of fiscal overruns. Much economic activity still occurs in the
informal sector, and is not reflected in GDP data. Renewed activity
in the mining sector, the source of most export income, boosted
Kinshasa's fiscal position and GDP growth from 2006-2008, however,
the government's review of mining contracts that began in 2006,
combined with a fall in world market prices for the DRC's key
mineral exports temporarily weakened output in 2009, leading to a
balance of payments crisis. The recovery in mineral prices beginning
in mid 2009 boosted mineral exports, and emergency funds from the
IMF boosted foreign reserves. An uncertain legal framework,
corruption, a lack of transparency in government policy are
long-term problems for the mining sector and the economy as a whole.
The global recession cut economic growth in 2009 to less than half
its 2008 level, but growth returned to 3% in 2010. The DRC signed a
Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility with the IMF in 2009 and
received $12 billion in multilateral and bilateral debt relief in
2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$22.92 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
$22.25 billion (2009 est.)
$21.64 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$12.6 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
2.8% (2009 est.)
6.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 229
$300 (2009 est.)
$300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 37.4%
industry: 26%
services: 36.6% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
23.53 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 34.7% (2006)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
26.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223
46.2% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
70% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 2
40% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
65.42% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
43.15% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$613.9 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 152
$597 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of broad money:
$1.562 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
$1.275 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$928.5 million (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca),
palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products
Industries:
mining (diamonds, gold, copper, cobalt, coltan, zinc, tin,
diamonds), mineral processing, consumer products (including
textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages),
cement, commercial ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
8.217 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Electricity - consumption:
5.997 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Electricity - exports:
1.916 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
6 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
16,360 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Oil - consumption:
10,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Oil - exports:
20,090 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Oil - imports:
11,350 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Oil - proved reserves:
180 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Natural gas - proved reserves:
991.1 million cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Current account balance:
-$1.47 billion (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
-$402 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$3.8 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
$6.6 billion (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, gold, copper, cobalt, wood products, crude oil, coffee
Exports - partners:
China 46.75%, US 15.35%, Belgium 10.68%, Zambia 5.78%, Finland 4.38%
(2009)
Imports:
$5.2 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
$6.7 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels
Imports - partners:
South Africa 18.22%, Belgium 10.2%, China 8.34%, Zambia 7.77%,
France 7.28%, Zimbabwe 6.52%, Kenya 5.48%, Netherlands 4.13%, Italy
3.96% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.01 billion (March 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
$1 billion (December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.3 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
$12.7 billion (2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
Congolese francs (CDF) per US dollar - 930 (2010), 810 (2009), 559
(2008), 516 (2007), 464.69 (2006)
Communications ::Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Telephones - main lines in use:
40,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 167
Telephones - mobile cellular:
10.163 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 63
Telephone system:
general assessment: barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay
service in and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with
14 earth stations; inadequate fixed line infrastructure
domestic: state-owned operator providing less than 1 fixed-line
connection per 1000 persons; given the backdrop of a wholly
inadequate fixed-line infrastructure, the use of mobile-cellular
services has surged and subscribership in 2009 exceeded 10 million -
roughly 15 per 100 persons
international: country code - 243; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-owned TV broadcast station with near national coverage; more
than a dozen privately-owned TV stations with 2 having near national
coverage; 2 state-owned radio stations are supplemented by more than
100 private radio stations; transmissions of at least 2
international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.cd
Internet hosts:
3,006 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 146
Internet users:
290,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 131
Transportation ::Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Airports:
198 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 31
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 172
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 91
under 914 m: 61 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 37 km; oil 39 km; refined products 756 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 4,007 km
country comparison to the world: 42
narrow gauge: 3,882 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km
1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 153,497 km
country comparison to the world: 34
paved: 2,794 km
unpaved: 150,703 km (2004)
Waterways:
15,000 km (including the Congo, its tributaries, and unconnected
lakes) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 8
Merchant marine:
total: 1
country comparison to the world: 158
by type: petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Republic of the Congo 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa,
Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka
Military ::Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Military branches:
Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Forces
d'Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo, FARDC): Army,
National Navy (La Marine Nationale), Congolese Air Force (Force
Aerienne Congolaise, FAC) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-45 years of age for voluntary military service (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 15,192,858 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 9,301,818
females age 16-49: 9,440,111 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 842,020
female: 839,044 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 59
Transnational Issues ::Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Disputes - international:
heads of the Great Lakes states and UN pledged in 2004 to abate
tribal, rebel, and militia fighting in the region, including
northeast Congo, where the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (MONUC), organized in 1999, maintains over
16,500 uniformed peacekeepers; members of Uganda's Lords Resistance
Army forces continue to seek refuge in Congo's Garamba National Park
as peace talks with the Uganda government evolve; 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; Uganda
and DROC dispute Rukwanzi island in Lake Albert and other areas on
the Semliki River with hydrocarbon potential; boundary commission
continues discussions over Congolese-administered triangle of land
on the right bank of the Lunkinda river claimed by Zambia near the
DROC village of Pweto
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 132,295 (Angola); 37,313 (Rwanda);
17,777 (Burundi); 13,904 (Uganda); 6,181 (Sudan); 5,243 (Republic of
Congo)
IDPs: 1.4 million (fighting between government forces and rebels
since mid-1990s; most IDPs are in eastern provinces) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Democratic Republic of the Congo is a source and
destination country for men, women, and children subjected to
trafficking for the purposes of forced labor and forced
prostitution; the majority of this trafficking is internal, and much
of it is perpetrated by armed groups and government forces outside
government control within the country's unstable eastern provinces
tier rating: Tier 3 - Government of the Democratic Republic of the
Congo does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the
elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to
do so; the government did not show evidence of progress in
prosecuting and punishing labor or sex trafficking offenders,
including members of its own armed forces; providing protective
services for the vast majority of trafficking victims; or raising
public awareness of human trafficking; in addition, the government's
anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts decreased during the
reporting period (2010)
Illicit drugs:
one of Africa's biggest producers of cannabis, but mostly for
domestic consumption; traffickers exploit lax shipping controls to
transit pseudoephedrine through the capital; 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 (2008)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Congo, Republic of the (Africa)
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 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
country comparison to the world: 63
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)
Total renewable water resources:
832 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.03 cu km/yr (59%/29%/12%)
per capita: 8 cu m/yr (2000)
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, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber
83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or
along the railroad between them
People ::Congo, Republic of the
Population:
4,125,916
country comparison to the world: 126
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45.9% (male 927,599/female 915,540)
15-64 years: 51.2% (male 1,021,975/female 1,034,119)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 46,687/female 66,889) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.9 years
male: 16.7 years
female: 17.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.807% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Birth rate:
41.01 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Death rate:
11.75 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Net migration rate:
-1.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Urbanization:
urban population: 61% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 77.93 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 17
male: 83.39 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 72.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.54 years
country comparison to the world: 199
male: 53.27 years
female: 55.84 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.77 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
79,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
6,400 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping
sickness)
animal contact disease: rabies
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2009)
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.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2003)
Education expenditures:
1.9% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 174
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 15 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; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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); note - the position of prime minister was abolished in
September 2009
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 12 July 2009
(next to be held in 2016)
election results: Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO reelected president; percent
of vote - Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO 78.6%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU
7.5%, Nicephore Fylla de SAINT-EUDES 7%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (72 seats; members
elected by indirect vote to serve five-year terms) and the National
Assembly (137 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 5 August 2008 (next to be held in
2013); National Assembly - last held on 24 June and 5 August 2007
(next to be held in 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - RMP 33, FDU 23, UPADS 2, independents 7, other 7; National
Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 46,
MCDDI 11, UPADS 11, MAR 5, MSD 5, independents 37, other 22
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
Action Movement for Renewal or MAR; Congolese Labour Party or PCT;
Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI
[Michel MAMPOUYA]; Movement for Solidarity and Development or MSD;
Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Martin MBERI];
Rally for Democracy and the Republic or RDR [Raymond Damasge
NGOLLO]; Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS
[Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president]; Rally of the
Presidential Majority or RMP; Union for Democracy and Republic or
UDR; United Democratic Forces or FDU [Sebastian EBAO]; many less
important parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Congolese Trade Union Congress or CSC; General Union of Congolese
Pupils and Students or UGEEC; Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women
or URFC; Union of Congolese Socialist Youth or UJSC
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI
chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-5500
FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Allan EASTHAM
embassy: Boulevard de la Revolution, BDEAC Building, 4th Floor,
Brazzaville; note - a new embassy is expected to open in 2009
mailing address: B.P. 1015, Brazzaville
telephone: [242] 281-1481, 281-3368; note - until the new embassy in
Brazzaville becomes operational, some duties will still be handled
in the US embassy in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Flag description:
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the
upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red;
green symbolizes agriculture and forests, yellow the friendship and
nobility of the people, red is unexplained but has been associated
with the struggle for independence
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
National anthem:
name: "La Congolaise" (The Congolese)
lyrics/music: Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and
Joseph SPADILIERE
note: originally adopted 1959, restored 1991
Economy ::Congo, Republic of the
Economy - overview:
The economy is a mixture of subsistence agriculture, an industrial
sector based largely on oil and support services, and government
spending. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the
economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports.
In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the
government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP
growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa.
Characterized by budget problems and overstaffing, the government
has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings through
oil-backed loans that have contributed to a growing debt burden and
chronic revenue shortfalls. Economic reform efforts have been
undertaken with the support of international organizations, notably
the World Bank and the IMF. However, the reform program came to a
halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who
returned to power when the war ended in October 1997, publicly
expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and
privatization and in renewing cooperation with international
financial institutions. Economic progress was badly hurt by slumping
oil prices and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998,
which worsened the republic's budget deficit. The current
administration presides over an uneasy internal peace and faces
difficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing
poverty. The drop in oil prices during the global crisis reduced oil
revenue by about 30%, but the subsequent recovery of oil prices has
boosted the economy's GDP and near-term prospects. In March 2006,
the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) treatment for Congo,
receiving $1.9 billion in debt relief under the program in 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$17.45 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
$15.79 billion (2009 est.)
$14.67 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$11.88 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
10.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
7.6% (2009 est.)
5.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
$3,900 (2009 est.)
$3,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.4%
industry: 63.7%
services: 32% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.514 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 129
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 37.1% (2005)
Investment (gross fixed):
41.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
4.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 102
4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$2.403 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 118
$1.887 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$2.746 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
$2.178 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.58 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 133
$1.889 billion (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee,
cocoa; forest products
Industries:
petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil,
soap, flour, cigarettes
Industrial production growth rate:
12% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Electricity - production:
400 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Electricity - consumption:
471 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
449 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
274,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Oil - consumption:
10,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Oil - exports:
241,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Oil - imports:
2,136 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Oil - proved reserves:
1.6 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Natural gas - production:
180 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Natural gas - consumption:
180 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Natural gas - proved reserves:
90.61 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Current account balance:
-$569 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
-$1.195 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$9.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$7.425 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds
Exports - partners:
US 40.08%, China 30.18%, France 8.17%, Taiwan 6.4%, India 4.2% (2009)
Imports:
$3.607 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
$3.259 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
France 20.64%, China 14.54%, Italy 9.56%, US 9.02%, India 5.55%,
Belgium 4.51% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$4.123 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$3.806 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$5 billion (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs per US dollar -
507.71 (2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 483.6 (2007), 522.59
(2006)
Communications ::Congo, Republic of the
Telephones - main lines in use:
24,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 185
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.171 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 131
Telephone system:
general assessment: primary network consists of microwave radio
relay and coaxial cable with services barely adequate for government
use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo;
intercity lines frequently out of order
domestic: fixed-line infrastructure inadequate providing less than 1
connection per 100 persons; in the absence of an adequate fixed line
infrastructure, mobile-cellular subscribership has surged and now
exceeds 50 per 100 persons
international: country code - 242; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
1 state-owned TV and 3 state-owned radio stations; several
privately-owned TV and radio stations; satellite TV service is
available; rebroadcasts of several international broadcasters are
available (2007)
Internet country code:
.cg
Internet hosts:
42 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 213
Internet users:
245,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 136
Transportation ::Congo, Republic of the
Airports:
25 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 130
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 7 km; oil 211 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 795 km
country comparison to the world: 103
narrow gauge: 795 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 17,289 km
country comparison to the world: 118
paved: 864 km
unpaved: 16,425 km (2004)
Waterways:
1,120 km (commercially navigable on Congo and Oubanqui rivers above
Brazzaville; there are many ferries across the river to Kinshasa;
the Congo south of Brazzaville-Kinshasa to the coast is not
navigable because of rapids, thereby necessitating a rail connection
to Pointe Noire; other rivers are used for local traffic only) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 62
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 1 (Democratic Republic of the Congo
1) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 163
Ports and terminals:
Brazzaville, Djeno, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire
Military ::Congo, Republic of the
Military branches:
Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army (Armee
de Terre), Navy, Congolese Air Force (Armee de l'Air Congolaise),
Gendarmerie, Special Presidential Security Guard (GSSP) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; women allowed to
serve (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 898,850
females age 16-49: 886,063 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 557,764
females age 16-49: 546,755 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 48,365
female: 47,874 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 137
Transnational Issues ::Congo, Republic of the
Disputes - international:
the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the
Democratic Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in the Pool
Malebo/Stanley Pool area
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 46,341 (Democratic Republic of Congo);
6,564 (Rwanda)
IDPs: 48,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992; most IDPs are ethnic
Lari) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Republic of the Congo is a source and destination
country for children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and
commercial sexual exploitation; girls are trafficked from rural
areas within the country for commercial sexual exploitation, forced
street vending, and domestic servitude; children are trafficked from
other African countries for domestic servitude, forced market
vending, and forced labor in the fishing industry
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Republic of the Congo is on the
Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to show evidence of increasing
efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2007; struggling to
recover from six years of civil conflict that ended in 2003, the
Republic of the Congo's capacity to address trafficking is
handicapped; the government neither monitors its borders for
trafficking activity nor provides specialized anti-trafficking
training for law enforcement officials; the government does not
encourage victims to assist in trafficking investigations or
prosecutions, and has not taken measures to reduce demand for
commercial sex acts in the Republic of the Congo (2008)
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Cook Islands (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Cook Islands
Background:
Named after Captain COOK, who sighted them in 1770, the islands
became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrative
control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965, residents chose
self-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigration
of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits are
continuing problems.
Geography ::Cook Islands
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way
between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
21 14 S, 159 46 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 236 sq km
country comparison to the world: 214
land: 236 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
120 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April
to November and a more humid season from December to March
Terrain:
low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Te Manga 652 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 16.67%
permanent crops: 8.33%
other: 75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
typhoons (November to March)
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection
Geography - note:
the northern Cook Islands are seven low-lying, sparsely populated,
coral atolls; the southern Cook Islands, where most of the
population lives, consist of eight elevated, fertile, volcanic
isles, including the largest, Rarotonga, at 67 sq km
People ::Cook Islands
Population:
11,488 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.1% (male 1,704/female 1,508)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 3,898/female 3,664)
65 years and over: 9.2% (male 540/female 556) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.2 years
male: 30.5 years
female: 31.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-3.256% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 231
Birth rate:
15.67 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Death rate:
7.22 deaths/1,000 population NA
country comparison to the world: 127
Urbanization:
urban population: 74% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.046 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.33 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 116
male: 19.88 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.47 years
country comparison to the world: 94
male: 71.69 years
female: 77.38 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.43 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Cook Islander(s)
adjective: Cook Islander
Ethnic groups:
Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 87.7%, part Cook Island Maori 5.8%,
other 6.5% (2001 census)
Religions:
Cook Islands Christian Church 55.9%, Roman Catholic 16.8%,
Seventh-Day Adventists 7.9%, Church of Latter Day Saints 3.8%, other
Protestant 5.8%, other 4.2%, unspecified 2.6%, none 3% (2001 census)
Languages:
English (official), Maori
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA
female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 10 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
0.2% of GDP (2001)
country comparison to the world: 186
People - note:
2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017
Government ::Cook Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cook Islands
former: Harvey Islands
Dependency status:
self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is
fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains
responsibility for external affairs and defense in consultation with
the Cook Islands
Government type:
self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Avarua
geographic coordinates: 21 12 S, 159 46 W
time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on
4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full
independence by unilateral action)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)
Constitution:
4 August 1965
Legal system:
based on New Zealand law and English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal (adult)
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
represented by Sir Frederick GOODWIN (since 9 February 2001); New
Zealand High Commissioner Linda TE PUNI (since 3 June 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Henry PUNA (since 30 November
2010)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively
responsible to Parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the UK representative
appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner
appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually becomes prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of a House of Ariki, or upper house,
made up of traditional leaders and a Legislative Assembly, or lower
house, (24 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms)
note: the House of Ariki advises on traditional matters and
maintains considerable influence but has no legislative powers
elections: last held on 17 November 2010 (next to be held by 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CIP 16, Demo 8
Judicial branch:
High Court
Political parties and leaders:
Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA]; Democratic Party or Demo
[Dr. Terepai MAOATE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Reform Conference (lobby for political system changes)
other: various groups lobbying for political change
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, IMSO, IOC,
ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Flag description:
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a
large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island)
centered in the outer half of the flag
National anthem:
name: "Te Atua Mou E" (To God Almighty)
lyrics/music: Tepaeru Te RITO/Thomas DAVIS
note: adopted 1982; as prime minister, Sir Thomas DAVIS composed the
anthem; his wife, a tribal chief, wrote the lyrics
Economy ::Cook Islands
Economy - overview:
Like many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook Islands'
economic development is hindered by the isolation of the country
from foreign markets, the limited size of domestic markets, lack of
natural resources, periodic devastation from natural disasters, and
inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture, employing more than
one-quarter of the working population, provides the economic base
with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Black pearls
are the Cook Islands' leading export. Manufacturing activities are
limited to fruit processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade
deficits are offset by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid
overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s, the country
lived beyond its means, maintaining a bloated public service and
accumulating a large foreign debt. Subsequent reforms, including the
sale of state assets, the strengthening of economic management, the
encouragement of tourism, and a debt restructuring agreement, have
rekindled investment and growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$183.2 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
GDP (official exchange rate):
$183.2 million (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.1% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,100 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 15.1%
industry: 9.6%
services: 75.3% (2004)
Labor force:
6,820 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 217
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 29%
industry: 15%
services: 56% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
13.1% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 138
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Agriculture - products:
copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams,
taro, coffee; pigs, poultry
Industries:
fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 145
Electricity - production:
31 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Electricity - consumption:
28.83 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Oil - imports:
495 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Current account balance:
$26.67 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 57
Exports:
$5.222 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 216
Exports - commodities:
copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls
and pearl shells; clothing
Imports:
$81.04 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 211
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
Debt - external:
$141 million (1996 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Exchange rates:
NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4015 (2009), 1.4151 (2008),
1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006)
Communications ::Cook Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
6,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 208
Telephones - mobile cellular:
7,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 211
Telephone system:
general assessment: Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct
dialing, Internet, email, fax, and Telex
domestic: individual islands are connected by a combination of
satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF
radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small
exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and
fiber-optic cable
international: country code - 682; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast media:
1 privately-owned TV station broadcasts from Rarotonga providing a
mix of local news and overseas-sourced programs; a satellite program
package is available; 6 radio stations broadcast with 1 reportedly
reaching all of the islands (2009)
Internet country code:
.ck
Internet hosts:
2,521 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 150
Internet users:
6,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 204
Transportation ::Cook Islands
Airports:
10 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 157
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 320 km
country comparison to the world: 203
paved: 33 km
unpaved: 287 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 34
country comparison to the world: 82
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 27, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 5
foreign-owned: 23 (Egypt 1, Germany 1, Latvia 1, Lithuania 2, former
Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 6, NZ 1, Russia 1, Sweden 3, Turkey
4, UK 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Avatiu
Military ::Cook Islands
Military branches:
no regular military forces; National Police Department (2009)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,272
females age 16-49: 2,222 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 136
female: 115 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand in consultation with
the Cook Islands and at its request
Transnational Issues ::Cook Islands
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Coral Sea Islands (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Coral Sea Islands
Background:
Scattered over more than three-quarters of a million square
kilometers of ocean, the Coral Sea Islands were declared a territory
of Australia in 1969. They are uninhabited except for a small
meteorological staff on the Willis Islets. Automated weather
stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and
reefs.
Geography ::Coral Sea Islands
Location:
Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia
Geographic coordinates:
18 00 S, 152 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: less than 3 sq km
country comparison to the world: 248
land: less than 3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea
area of about 780,000 sq km with the Willis Islets the most important
Area - comparative:
NA
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
3,095 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
occasional tropical cyclones
Environment - current issues:
no permanent fresh water resources
Geography - note:
important nesting area for birds and turtles
People ::Coral Sea Islands
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological
station on Willis Island (July 2007 est.)
Government ::Coral Sea Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands
Dependency status:
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian
Government Attorney-General's Department
Legal system:
the laws of Australia where applicable apply
Executive branch:
administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's
Department
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 ::Coral Sea Islands
Economy - overview:
no economic activity
Communications ::Coral Sea Islands
Communications - note:
there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs
relaying data to the mainland
Transportation ::Coral Sea Islands
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military ::Coral Sea Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues ::Coral Sea Islands
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@Costa Rica (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Costa Rica
Background:
Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial
attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a
combination of factors, including: disease from mosquito-infested
swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was
not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was
established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area
remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa
Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly
declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined
the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation
disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its
sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two
brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic
development. Although it still maintains a large agricultural
sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong
technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is
relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.
Geography ::Costa Rica
Location:
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North
Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Geographic coordinates:
10 00 N, 84 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 51,100 sq km
country comparison to the world: 129
land: 51,060 sq km
water: 40 sq km
note: includes Isla del Coco
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 639 km
border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Coastline:
1,290 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy
season (May to November); cooler in highlands
Terrain:
coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100
volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
Natural resources:
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 4.4%
permanent crops: 5.87%
other: 89.73% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,080 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
112.4 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.68 cu km/yr (29%/17%/53%)
per capita: 619 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent
flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active
volcanoes
volcanism: Arenal (elev. 1,670 m, 5,479 ft), which erupted in 2010,
is the most active volcano in Costa Rica; a 1968 eruption destroyed
the town of Tabacon; Irazu (elev. 3,432 m, 11,260 ft), situated just
east of San Jose, has the potential to spew ash over the capital
city as it did between 1963 and 1965; other historically active
volcanoes include Miravalles, Poas, Rincon de la Vieja, and Turrialba
Environment - current issues:
deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing
of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal
marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air
pollution
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, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San
Jose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes, Irazu,
erupted destructively in 1963-65
People ::Costa Rica
Population:
4,516,220 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.7% (male 581,916/female 555,216)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,443,606/female 1,411,168)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 120,969/female 141,002) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.4 years
male: 27.9 years
female: 28.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.347% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Birth rate:
16.65 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Death rate:
4.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Net migration rate:
1.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Urbanization:
urban population: 63% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.72 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 154
male: 10.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.54 years
country comparison to the world: 55
male: 74.93 years
female: 80.28 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.93 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
9,700 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Costa Rican(s)
adjective: Costa Rican
Ethnic groups:
white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%,
other 1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%,
other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%
Languages:
Spanish (official), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.9%
male: 94.7%
female: 95.1% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
5% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 66
Government ::Costa Rica
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica
conventional short form: Costa Rica
local long form: Republica de Costa Rica
local short form: Costa Rica
Government type:
democratic republic
Capital:
name: San Jose
geographic coordinates: 9 56 N, 84 05 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
Administrative divisions:
7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago,
Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
7 November 1949
Legal system:
based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda (since 8 May
2010); First Vice President Alfio PIVA Mesen (since 8 May 2010);
Second Vice President Luis LIBERMAN Ginsburg (since 8 May 2010);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda (since 8 May
2010); First Vice President Alfio PIVA Mesen (since 8 May 2010);
Second Vice President Luis LIBERMAN Ginsburg (since 8 May 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held on 7
February 2010 (next to be held in February 2014)
election results: Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda elected president;
percent of vote - Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda (PLN) 46.7%; Otton SOLIS
(PAC) 25.1%, Otto GUEVARA Guth (ML) 20.8%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats;
members elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 7 February 2010 (next to be held in February
2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PLN 23, PAC 10, ML 9, PUSC 6, PASE 4, other 5
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for
renewable eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Accessibility Without Exclusion or PASE [Oscar Andres LOPEZ Arias];
Citizen Action Party or PAC [Alberto CANAS Escalante]; Costa Rican
Renovation Party or PRC [Gerardo Justo OROZCO Alvarez]; Democratic
Force Party or PFD [Marco GONZALEZ Nunez]; Frente Amplio [Jose
MERINO del Rio]; Homeland First or PP (Patria Primero) [Juan Jose
VARGAS Fallas]; Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA
Guth]; National Democratic Alliance or ADN [Jose Miguel VILLALOBOS
Umana]; National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes];
National Liberation Party or PLN [Francisco Antonio PACHECO
Fernandez]; National Rescue Party or PRN [Fabio Enrique DELGADO
Hernandez]; National Union Party or PUN [Arturo ACOSTA Mora];
Patriotic Alliance [Mariano FIGUERES Olsen]; Patriotic Union or UP
[Jose Miguel CORRALES Bolanos]; Popular Vanguard [Trino BARRANTES
Araya]; Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Luis FISHMAN
Zonzinski]; Union for Change Party or UPC [Antonio ALVAREZ Desanti]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist
Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; Confederated Union of
Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate); Costa Rican
Confederation of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party
affiliate); Costa Rican Exporter's Chamber or CADEXCO; Costa Rican
Solidarity Movement; Costa Rican Union of Private Sector Enterprises
or UCCAEP [Rafael CARRILLO]; Federation of Public Service Workers or
FTSP; National Association for Economic Development or ANFE;
National Association of Educators or ANDE; National Association of
Public and Private Employees or ANEP [Albino VARGAS]; Rerum Novarum
or CTRN (PLN affiliate) [Gilbert BROWN]
International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS,
OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union
Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Meta Shanon FIGUERES Boggs
chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-2945 or 2946
FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anne Slaughter ANDREW
embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose
mailing address: APO AA 34020
telephone: [506] 2519-2000
FAX: [506] 2519-2305
Flag description:
five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width),
white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk
toward the hoist side of the red band; Costa Rica retained the
earlier blue-white-blue flag of Central America until 1848 when, in
response to revolutionary activity in Europe, it was decided to
incorporate the French colors into the national flag and a central
red stripe was added; today the blue color is said to stand for the
sky, opportunity, and perseverence, white denotes peace, happiness,
and wisdom, while red represents the blood shed for freedom, as well
as the generosity and vibrancy of the people
note: somewhat resembles the flag of North Korea; similar to the
flag of Thailand but with the blue and red colors reversed
National anthem:
name: "Himno Nacional de Costa Rica" (National Anthem of Costa Rica)
lyrics/music: Jose Maria ZELEDON Brenes/Manuel Maria GUTIERREZ
note: adopted 1949; the anthem's music was originally written for an
1853 welcome ceremony for diplomatic missions from the United States
and United Kingdom; the lyrics were added in 1903
Economy ::Costa Rica
Economy - overview:
Prior to the global economic crisis, Costa Rica enjoyed stable
economic growth. The economy contracted 0.7% in 2009, but resumed
growth at more than 3% in 2010. While the traditional agricultural
exports of bananas, coffee, sugar, and beef are still the backbone
of commodity export trade, a variety of industrial and specialized
agricultural products have broadened export trade in recent years.
High value added goods and services, including microchips, have
further bolstered exports. Tourism continues to bring in foreign
exchange, as Costa Rica's impressive biodiversity makes it a key
destination for ecotourism. Foreign investors remain attracted by
the country's political stability and relatively high education
levels, as well as the fiscal incentives offered in the free-trade
zones; and Costa Rica has attracted one of the highest levels of
foreign direct investment per capita in Latin America. However, many
business impediments, such as high levels of bureaucracy, difficulty
of enforcing contracts, and weak investor protection, remain.
Poverty has remained around 15-20% for nearly 20 years, and the
strong social safety net that had been put into place by the
government has eroded due to increased financial constraints on
government expenditures. Unlike the rest of Central America, Costa
Rica is not highly dependent on remittances as they only represent
about 2% of GDP. Immigration from Nicaragua has increasingly become
a concern for the government. The estimated 300,000-500,000
Nicaraguans in Costa Rica legally and illegally are an important
source of - mostly unskilled - labor, but also place heavy demands
on the social welfare system. The US-Central American-Dominican
Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) entered into force on 1
January 2009, after significant delays within the Costa Rican
legislature. CAFTA-DR will likely lead to increased foreign direct
investment in key sectors of the economy, including the insurance
and telecommunications sectors recently opened to private investors.
President CHINCHILLA is likely to push for fiscal reform in the
coming year, seeking to boost revenue, possibly through revised tax
legislation, to fund an increase in security services and education.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$51.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$49.57 billion (2009 est.)
$49.91 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$35.02 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
-0.7% (2009 est.)
2.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$11,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
$11,100 (2009 est.)
$11,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.3%
industry: 22.9%
services: 70.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
2.17 million
country comparison to the world: 117
note: this official estimate excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa
Rica (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 22%
services: 64% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
7.8% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
16% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%: 35.5% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
48 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 30
45.9 (1997)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Public debt:
44.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
42% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
7.8% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
23% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 5
25% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
19.72% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
15.83% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$4.504 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 94
$3.992 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$16.81 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 87
$15.84 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$15.82 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
$14.74 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.452 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 96
$1.887 billion (31 December 2008)
$2.035 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar, corn,
rice, beans, potatoes; beef, poultry, dairy; timber
Industries:
microprocessors, food processing, medical equipment, textiles and
clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Electricity - production:
8.808 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Electricity - consumption:
8.064 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Electricity - exports:
77.16 million kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
203.2 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Oil - consumption:
44,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Oil - exports:
2,117 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Oil - imports:
47,860 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Current account balance:
-$1.469 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
-$537 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$10.01 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$8.847 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar; beef;
seafood; electronic components, medical equipment
Exports - partners:
US 32.61%, Netherlands 12.82%, China 11.81%, Mexico 4.2% (2009)
Imports:
$13.69 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$10.87 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum,
construction materials
Imports - partners:
US 44.72%, Mexico 7.65%, Venezuela 5.56%, China 5.15%, Japan 4.36%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$4.584 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$4.066 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$9.126 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
$7.972 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$13.92 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$12.17 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$547 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$539 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar - 526.68 (2010), 573.29
(2009), 530.41 (2008), 519.53 (2007), 511.3 (2006)
Communications ::Costa Rica
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.493 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 64
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.95 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 134
Telephone system:
general assessment: good domestic telephone service in terms of
breadth of coverage; under the terms of CAFTA-DR, the state-run
telecommunications monopoly scheduled to be opened to competition
from domestic and international firms, has been delayed by the
nation's telecommunications regulator.
domestic: point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave,
fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is
available
international: country code - 506; landing points for the Americas
Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), MAYA-1, and the Pan American
Crossing submarine cables that provide links to South and Central
America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central
American Microwave System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
multiple privately-owned television stations and 1 publicly-owned
television station; cable network services are widely available;
more than 100 privately-owned radio stations and a public radio
network (2007)
Internet country code:
.cr
Internet hosts:
34,024 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 97
Internet users:
1.485 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 82
Transportation ::Costa Rica
Airports:
151 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 36
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 39
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 12 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 112
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 94 (2010)
Pipelines:
refined products 796 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 278 km
country comparison to the world: 123
narrow gauge: 278 km 1.067-m gauge
note: none of the railway network is in use (2008)
Roadways:
total: 35,330 km
country comparison to the world: 95
paved: 8,621 km
unpaved: 26,709 km (2004)
Waterways:
730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 75
Merchant marine:
total: 1
country comparison to the world: 160
by type: passenger/cargo 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Caldera, Puerto Limon
Military ::Costa Rica
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security, Government,
and Police (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,241,183
females age 16-49: 1,217,037 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,044,923
females age 16-49: 1,026,432 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 42,486
female: 40,745 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 155
Transnational Issues ::Costa Rica
Disputes - international:
the ICJ has given Costa Rica until January 2008 to reply and
Nicaragua until July 2008 to rejoin before rendering its decision on
the navigation, security, and commercial rights of Costa Rican
vessels on the Rio San Juan over which Nicaragua retains sovereignty
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 9,699-11,500 (Colombia) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America;
illicit production of cannabis in remote areas; domestic cocaine
consumption, particularly crack cocaine, is rising; significant
consumption of amphetamines; seizures of smuggled cash in Costa Rica
and at the main border crossing to enter Costa Rica from Nicaragua
have risen in recent years (2008)
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Cote d'Ivoire (Africa)
Introduction ::Cote d'Ivoire
Background:
Close ties to France since independence in 1960, the development of
cocoa production for export, and foreign investment made Cote
d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the West African states, but
did not protect it from political turmoil. In December 1999, a
military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history -
overthrew the government. Junta leader Robert GUEI blatantly rigged
elections held in late 2000 and declared himself the winner. Popular
protest forced him to step aside and brought Laurent GBAGBO into
power. Ivorian dissidents and disaffected members of the military
launched a failed coup attempt in September 2002. Rebel forces
claimed the northern half of the country, and in January 2003 were
granted ministerial positions in a unity government under the
auspices of the Linas-Marcoussis Peace Accord. President GBAGBO and
rebel forces resumed implementation of the peace accord in December
2003 after a three-month stalemate, but issues that sparked the
civil war, such as land reform and grounds for citizenship, remained
unresolved. In March 2007 President GBAGBO and former New Force
rebel leader Guillaume SORO signed the Ouagadougou Political
Agreement. As a result of the agreement, SORO joined GBAGBO's
government as Prime Minister and the two agreed to reunite the
country by dismantling the zone of confidence separating North from
South, integrate rebel forces into the national armed forces, and
hold elections. Disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of
rebel forces have been problematic as rebels seek to enter the armed
forces. Citizen identification and voter registration pose election
difficulties, and balloting planned for November 2009 was postponed
with no future date set. Several thousand UN troops and several
hundred French remain in Cote d'Ivoire to help the parties implement
their commitments and to support the peace process.
Geography ::Cote d'Ivoire
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana
and Liberia
Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 5 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 322,463 sq km
country comparison to the world: 68
land: 318,003 sq km
water: 4,460 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 3,110 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km,
Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km
Coastline:
515 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm
and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet
(June to October)
Terrain:
mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m
highest point: Monts Nimba 1,752 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt,
bauxite, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum, silica sand, clay, cocoa
beans, coffee, palm oil, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 10.23%
permanent crops: 11.16%
other: 78.61% (2005)
Irrigated land:
730 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
81 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.93 cu km/yr (24%/12%/65%)
per capita: 51 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season
torrential flooding is possible
Environment - current issues:
deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in
West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage
and industrial and agricultural effluents
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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region; apart
from the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated
People ::Cote d'Ivoire
Population:
21,058,798
country comparison to the world: 57
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40.6% (male 4,215,912/female 4,146,077)
15-64 years: 56.6% (male 5,942,642/female 5,720,108)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 296,074/female 296,255) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.4 years
male: 19.6 years
female: 19.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.105% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Birth rate:
31.48 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Death rate:
10.43 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population NA
country comparison to the world: 75
Urbanization:
urban population: 49% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 66.43 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 24
male: 73.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 59.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.19 years
country comparison to the world: 195
male: 55.27 years
female: 57.13 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.01 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
480,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
38,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
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
water contact: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Ivoirian(s)
adjective: Ivoirian
Ethnic groups:
Akan 42.1%, Voltaiques or Gur 17.6%, Northern Mandes 16.5%, Krous
11%, Southern Mandes 10%, other 2.8% (includes 130,000 Lebanese and
14,000 French) (1998)
Religions:
Muslim 38.6%, Christian 32.8%, indigenous 11.9%, none 16.7% (2008
est.)
note: the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim
(70%) and Christian (20%)
Languages:
French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely
spoken
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.7%
male: 60.8%
female: 38.6% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 6 years
male: 10 years
female: 5 years (2000)
Education expenditures:
4.6% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 89
Government ::Cote d'Ivoire
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire
conventional short form: Cote d'Ivoire
local long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire
local short form: Cote d'Ivoire
note: pronounced coat-div-whar
former: Ivory Coast
Government type:
republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960
note: the government is currently operating under a power-sharing
agreement mandated by international mediators
Capital:
name: Yamoussoukro
geographic coordinates: 6 49 N, 5 17 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: although Yamoussoukro has been the official capital since
1983, Abidjan remains the commercial and administrative center; the
US, like other countries, maintains its Embassy in Abidjan
Administrative divisions:
19 regions; Agneby, Bafing, Bas-Sassandra, Denguele, Dix-Huit
Montagnes, Fromager, Haut-Sassandra, Lacs, Lagunes, Marahoue,
Moyen-Cavally, Moyen-Comoe, N'zi-Comoe, Savanes, Sud-Bandama,
Sud-Comoe, Vallee du Bandama, Worodougou, Zanzan
Independence:
7 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 August (1960)
Constitution:
approved by referendum 23 July 2000
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review
in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Alassane OUATTARA (since 4 December 2010);
note - former President Laurent GBAGBO has refused to cede power
head of government: Prime Minister Guillaume SORO (since 4 April
2007); note - on 4 December 2010, Gilbert Marie N'GBO AKE was also
appointed to the position by former president GBAGBO
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note -
under the current power-sharing agreement the prime minister and the
president share the authority to appoint ministers
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held on 31 October and 28 November
2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: Alassane OUATTARA elected president; percent of
vote - Alassane OUATTARA 54.1%, Laurent GBAGBO 45.9%; note -
President OUATTARA was declared winner by the election commission
and took the oath of office on 4 December, Prime Minister SORO
resigned from the incumbent administration and was subsequently
appointed to the same position by OUATTARA; former president GBAGBO
refused to cede and on 5 December appointed Gilbert Marie N'GBO AKE
as Prime Minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (225 seats;
members elected in single- and multi-district elections by direct
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: elections last held on 10 December 2000 with by-elections
on 14 January 2001 (elections originally scheduled for 2005 have
been repeatedly postponed by the government)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
FPI 96, PDCI-RDA 94, RDR 5, PIT 4, other 2, independents 22, vacant 2
note: a Senate was scheduled to be created in October 2006 elections
that never took place
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consists of four chambers: Judicial
Chamber for criminal cases, Audit Chamber for financial cases,
Constitutional Chamber for judicial review cases, and Administrative
Chamber for civil cases; there is no legal limit to the number of
members
Political parties and leaders:
Citizen's Democratic Union or UDCY [Theodore MEL EG]; Democratic
Party of Cote d'Ivoire or PDCI [Henri Konan BEDIE]; Ivorian Popular
Front or FPI [Pascale Affi N'GUESSAN]; Ivorian Worker's Party or PIT
[Francis WODIE]; Opposition Movement of the Future or MFA [Innocent
Augustin ANAKY]; Rally of the Republicans or RDR [Alassane
OUATTARA]; Union for Democracy and Peace in Cote d'Ivoire or UDPCI
[Toikeuse MABRI]; over 144 smaller registered parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Federation of University and High School Students of Cote d'Ivoire
or FESCI [Serges KOFFI]; Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and
Peace or RHDP [Alphonse DJEDJE MADY]; Young Patriots [Charles BLE
GOUDE]
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS (suspended), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU,
WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Yao Charles KOFFI
chancery: 2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300
FAX: [1] (202) 244-3088
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Wanda L. NESBITT
embassy: Cocody Riviera Golf 01, Abidjan
mailing address: B. P. 1712, Abidjan 01
telephone: [225] 22 49 40 00
FAX: [225] 22 49 43 32
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green;
orange symbolizes the land (savannah) of the north and fertility,
white stands for peace and unity, green represents the forests of
the south and the hope for a bright future
note: similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the
colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also
similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white,
and red; design was based on the flag of France
National anthem:
name: "L'Abidjanaise" (Song of Abidjan)
lyrics/music: Mathieu EKRA, Joachim BONY, and Pierre Marie
COTY/Pierre Marie COTY and Pierre Michel PANGO
note: adopted 1960; although the nation's capital city moved from
Abidjan to Yamoussoukro in 1983, the anthem still owes its name to
the former capital
Economy ::Cote d'Ivoire
Economy - overview:
Cote d'Ivoire is heavily dependent on agriculture and related
activities, which engage roughly 68% of the population. Cote
d'Ivoire is the world's largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans
and a significant producer and exporter of coffee and palm oil.
Consequently, the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in
international prices for these products, and, to a lesser extent, in
climatic conditions. Cocoa, oil, and coffee are the country's top
export revenue earners, but the country is also producing gold.
Since the end of the civil war in 2003, political turmoil has
continued to damage the economy, resulting in the loss of foreign
investment and slow economic growth. GDP grew by more than 2% in
2008 and around 4% per year in 2009-10. Per capita income has
declined by 15% since 1999, but registered a slight improvement in
2009-10. Power cuts caused by a turbine failure in early 2010 slowed
economic activity. Cote d'Ivoire in 2010 signed agreements to
restructure its Paris Club bilateral, other bilateral, and London
Club debt. Cote d'Ivoire's long term challenges include political
instability and degrading infrastructure.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$37.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
$36.48 billion (2009 est.)
$35.01 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$22.38 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
4.2% (2009 est.)
2.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
$1,800 (2009 est.)
$1,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 28.2%
industry: 21.3%
services: 50.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
7.617 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 68%
industry and services: NA (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA
note: unemployment may have climbed to 40-50% as a result of the
civil war
Population below poverty line:
42% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 34% (2002)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
44.6 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 44
36.7 (1995)
Investment (gross fixed):
9.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Public debt:
63.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
66.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
0.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 101
4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$5.094 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 87
$4.959 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$7.653 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$7.437 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$5.448 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
$5.308 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$6.141 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 73
$7.071 billion (31 December 2008)
$8.353 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, manioc
(tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber; timber
Industries:
foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, truck and bus
assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity,
ship construction and repair
Industrial production growth rate:
4.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Electricity - production:
5.275 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Electricity - consumption:
3.231 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Electricity - exports:
772 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
58,950 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Oil - consumption:
24,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Oil - exports:
115,700 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Oil - imports:
80,960 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Oil - proved reserves:
250 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Natural gas - production:
1.3 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Natural gas - consumption:
1.3 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Natural gas - proved reserves:
28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Current account balance:
$534 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$1.67 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$10.25 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
$10.5 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cocoa, coffee, timber, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm
oil, fish
Exports - partners:
Netherlands 13.92%, France 10.75%, US 7.79%, Germany 7.2%, Nigeria
6.99%, Ghana 5.56% (2009)
Imports:
$7.015 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
$6.318 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
fuel, capital equipment, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Nigeria 20.75%, France 14.19%, China 7.18%, Thailand 5.09% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.985 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$3.267 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$11.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$11.34 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 506.04
(2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006)
Communications ::Cote d'Ivoire
Telephones - main lines in use:
282,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 117
Telephones - mobile cellular:
13.346 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 53
Telephone system:
general assessment: well developed by African standards;
telecommunications sector privatized in late 1990s and operational
fixed-lines have increased since that time with two fixed-line
providers operating over open-wire lines, microwave radio relay, and
fiber-optics; 90% digitalized
domestic: with multiple mobile-cellular service providers competing
in the market, usage has increased sharply to roughly 65 per 100
persons
international: country code - 225; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC
fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and
Asia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1
Indian Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-owned television operates 2 stations; no private terrestrial
TV stations, but satellite TV subscription service is available;
state-owned radio operates 2 stations; some private radio stations;
transmissions of several international broadcasters are available
(2007)
Internet country code:
.ci
Internet hosts:
9,865 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 121
Internet users:
967,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 103
Transportation ::Cote d'Ivoire
Airports:
27 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 121
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 86 km; gas 180 km; oil 92 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 660 km
country comparison to the world: 108
narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000 meter gauge
note: an additional 622 km of this railroad extends into Burkina
Faso (2008)
Roadways:
total: 80,000 km
country comparison to the world: 60
paved: 6,500 km
unpaved: 73,500 km
note: includes intercity and urban roads; another 20,000 km of dirt
roads are in poor condition and 150,000 km of dirt roads are
impassable (2006)
Waterways:
980 km (navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons)
(2008)
country comparison to the world: 67
Ports and terminals:
Abidjan, Espoir, San-Pedro
Military ::Cote d'Ivoire
Military branches:
Cote d'Ivoire Defense and Security Forces (FDSCI): Army, Navy, Air
Force (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary male and female
military service; voluntary recruitment of former rebels into the
new national army is restricted to ages 22-29 (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,094,762
females age 16-49: 4,895,446 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,242,965
females age 16-49: 3,069,569 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 240,989
female: 237,180 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 97
Transnational Issues ::Cote d'Ivoire
Disputes - international:
despite the presence of over 9,000 UN forces (UNOCI) in Cote
d'Ivoire since 2004, ethnic conflict still leaves displaced hundreds
of thousands of Ivorians in and out of the country as well as driven
out migrants from neighboring states who worked in Ivorian cocoa
plantations; the March 2007 peace deal between Ivorian rebels and
the government brought significant numbers of rebels out of hiding
in neighboring states
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 25,615 (Liberia)
IDPs: 709,000 (2002 coup; most IDPs are in western regions) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
Cote d'Ivoire is a source, transit, and destination country for
women and children trafficked for forced labor and commercial sexual
exploitation; trafficking within the country is more prevalent than
international trafficking and the majority of victims are children;
women and girls are trafficked from northern areas to southern
cities for domestic servitude, restaurant labor, and sexual
exploitation; boys are trafficked internally for agricultural and
service labor and transnationally for forced labor in agriculture,
mining, construction, and in the fishing industry; women and girls
are trafficked to and from other West and Central African countries
for domestic servitude and forced street vending
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cote d'Ivoire is on the Tier 2
Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts
to eliminate trafficking in 2007, particularly with regard to its
law enforcement efforts and protection of sex trafficking victims;
in addition, Ivoirian law does not prohibit all forms of
trafficking, and Cote d'Ivoire has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP
Protocol (2008)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local consumption; utility
as a narcotic transshipment point to Europe reduced by ongoing
political instability; while rampant corruption and inadequate
supervision leave the banking system vulnerable to money laundering,
the lack of a developed financial system limits the country's
utility as a major money-laundering center (2008)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Croatia (Europe)
Introduction ::Croatia
Background:
The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire until the close of World War I. In 1918, the
Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as
Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became a federal
independent Communist state under the strong hand of Marshal TITO.
Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991,
it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before
occupying Serb armies were mostly cleared from Croatian lands. Under
UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was
returned to Croatia in 1998. In April 2009, Croatia joined NATO; it
is a candidate for eventual EU accession.
Geography ::Croatia
Location:
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and
Herzegovina and Slovenia
Geographic coordinates:
45 10 N, 15 30 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 56,594 sq km
country comparison to the world: 126
land: 55,974 sq km
water: 620 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,982 km
border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km,
Serbia 241 km, Montenegro 25 km, Slovenia 455 km
Coastline:
5,835 km (mainland 1,777 km, islands 4,058 km)
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with
hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast
Terrain:
geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low
mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Dinara 1,831 m
Natural resources:
oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, gypsum,
natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 25.82%
permanent crops: 2.19%
other: 71.99% (2005)
Irrigated land:
110 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
105.5 cu km (1998)
Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is
damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic
waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of infrastructure
consequent to 1992-95 civil strife
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94,
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, 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:
controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and
Turkish Straits; most Adriatic Sea islands lie off the coast of
Croatia - some 1,200 islands, islets, ridges, and rocks
People ::Croatia
Population:
4,486,881 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.6% (male 358,360/female 340,098)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 1,506,364/female 1,522,789)
65 years and over: 17% (male 295,960/female 465,838) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 41.2 years
male: 39.3 years
female: 43 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.061% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Birth rate:
9.63 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Death rate:
11.83 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Net migration rate:
1.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Urbanization:
urban population: 57% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.055 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.26 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 175
male: 6.33 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.58 years
country comparison to the world: 80
male: 71.95 years
female: 79.4 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.43 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 10 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Croat(s), Croatian(s)
adjective: Croatian
Ethnic groups:
Croat 89.6%, Serb 4.5%, other 5.9% (including Bosniak, Hungarian,
Slovene, Czech, and Roma) (2001 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, other Christian 0.4%, Muslim
1.3%, other and unspecified 0.9%, none 5.2% (2001 census)
Languages:
Croatian (official) 96.1%, Serbian 1%, other and undesignated 2.9%
(including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German) (2001
census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.1%
male: 99.3%
female: 97.1% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
3.9% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 112
Government ::Croatia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Croatia
conventional short form: Croatia
local long form: Republika Hrvatska
local short form: Hrvatska
former: People's Republic of Croatia, Socialist Republic of Croatia
Government type:
presidential/parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Zagreb
geographic coordinates: 45 48 N, 16 00 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:
20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular) and 1 city* (grad -
singular); Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska, Brodsko-Posavska,
Dubrovacko-Neretvanska (Dubrovnik-Neretva), Istarska (Istria),
Karlovacka, Koprivnicko-Krizevacka, Krapinsko-Zagorska,
Licko-Senjska (Lika-Senj), Medimurska, Osjecko-Baranjska,
Pozesko-Slavonska (Pozega-Slavonia), Primorsko-Goranska,
Sibensko-Kninska, Sisacko-Moslavacka, Splitsko-Dalmatinska
(Split-Dalmatia), Varazdinska, Viroviticko-Podravska,
Vukovarsko-Srijemska, Zadarska, Zagreb*, Zagrebacka
Independence:
25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 8 October (1991); note - 25 June 1991 was the day
the Croatian parliament voted for independence; following a
three-month moratorium to allow the European Community to solve the
Yugoslav crisis peacefully, Parliament adopted a decision on 8
October 1991 to sever constitutional relations with Yugoslavia
Constitution:
adopted on 22 December 1990; revised 2000, 2001
Legal system:
based on Austro-Hungarian law system with Communist law influences;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ivo JOSIPOVIC (since 18 February 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Jadranka KOSOR (since 6 July
2009); Deputy Prime Ministers Bozidar PANKRETIC (since 6 July 2009),
Darko MILINOVIC (since 13 November 2009), Domagoj Ivan MILOSEVIC
(since 29 December 2010), Petar COBANKOVIC (since 29 December 2010),
Slobodan UZELAC (since 12 January 2008), Gordan JANDROKOVIC (since
29 December 2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and
approved by the parliamentary assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 January 2010
(next to be held in December 2015); the leader of the majority party
or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime
minister by the president and then approved by the assembly
election results: Ivo JOSIPOVIC elected president; percent of vote
in the second round - Ivo JOSIPOVIC 60%, Milan BANDIC 40%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly or Sabor (153 seats; members elected from party
lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 25 November 2007 (next to be held by
November 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; number of seats by
party - HDZ 66, SDP 57, HNS 6, HSS 6, HDSSB 3, IDS 3, SDSS 3, other 9
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; judges for both courts are
appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the
Republic, which is elected by the Assembly
Political parties and leaders:
Croatian Democratic Congress of Slavonia and Baranja or HDSSB
[Vladimir SISLJAGIC]; Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ [Jadranka
KOSOR]; Croatian Party of the Right or HSP [Anto DJAPIC]; Croatian
Peasant Party or HSS [Josip FRISCIC]; Croatian Pensioner Party or
HSU [Silvano HRELJA]; Croatian People's Party or HNS [Radimir
CACIC]; Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS [Darinko KOSOR];
Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSS [Vojislav STANIMIROVIC];
Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS [Ivan JAKOVCIC]; Social
Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP [Zoran MILANOVIC]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: human rights groups
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU
(applicant), FAO, G-11, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer),
NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI,
UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNMOGIP, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC
chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 588-5899
FAX: [1] (202) 588-8936
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James B. FOLEY
embassy: 2 Thomas Jefferson Street, 10010 Zagreb
mailing address: use street address
telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200
FAX: [385] (1) 661-2373
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue - the
Pan-Slav colors - superimposed by the Croatian coat of arms; the
coat of arms consists of one main shield (a checkerboard of 13 red
and 12 silver (white) fields) surmounted by five smaller shields
that form a crown over the main shield; the five small shields
represent five historic regions, they are (from left to right):
Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia
note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of
Russia
National anthem:
name: "Lijepa nasa domovino" (Our Beautiful Homeland)
lyrics/music: Antun MIHANOVIC/Josip RUNJANIN
note: adopted 1972; "Lijepa nasa domovino," whose lyrics were
written in 1835, served as an unofficial anthem beginning in 1891
Economy ::Croatia
Economy - overview:
Once one of the wealthiest of the Yugoslav republics, Croatia's
economy suffered badly during the 1991-95 war as output collapsed
and the country missed the early waves of investment in Central and
Eastern Europe that followed the fall of the Berlin Wall. Between
2000 and 2007, however, Croatia's economic fortunes began to improve
slowly, with moderate but steady GDP growth between 4% and 6% led by
a rebound in tourism and credit-driven consumer spending. Inflation
over the same period has remained tame and the currency, the kuna,
stable. Nevertheless, difficult problems still remain, including a
stubbornly high unemployment rate, a growing trade deficit and
uneven regional development. The state retains a large role in the
economy, as privatization efforts often meet stiff public and
political resistance. While macroeconomic stabilization has largely
been achieved, structural reforms lag because of deep resistance on
the part of the public and lack of strong support from politicians.
The EU accession process should accelerate fiscal and structural
reform. While long term growth prospects for the economy remain
strong, Croatia will face significant pressure as a result of the
global financial crisis. Croatia's high foreign debt, anemic export
sector, strained state budget, and over-reliance on tourism revenue
will result in higher risk to economic stability over the medium
term.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$78.52 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
$79.64 billion (2009 est.)
$84.54 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$59.92 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
-5.8% (2009 est.)
2.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$17,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$17,700 (2009 est.)
$18,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.8%
industry: 27.2%
services: 66% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.762 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 31.3%
services: 63.6% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
17.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
16.1% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
17% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 23.1% (2005 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
29 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 116
29 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
22.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Public debt:
55% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
46.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
2.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
9% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 51
9% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.55% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
10.07% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$8.72 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 75
$8.964 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$40.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$42.59 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$48.62 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$48.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$25.64 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 55
$26.79 billion (31 December 2008)
$65.98 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, barley, alfalfa, clover,
olives, citrus, grapes, soybeans, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Industries:
chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal,
electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper,
wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding,
petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
-0.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Electricity - production:
11.49 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Electricity - consumption:
18 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Electricity - exports:
5.668 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
12.24 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
23,960 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Oil - consumption:
106,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Oil - exports:
43,750 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Oil - imports:
122,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Oil - proved reserves:
73.35 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Natural gas - production:
2.847 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Natural gas - consumption:
3.205 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Natural gas - exports:
695.5 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Natural gas - imports:
1.22 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Natural gas - proved reserves:
30.58 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Current account balance:
-$2.312 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
-$3.247 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$11.51 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$10.72 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, machinery, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs,
fuels
Exports - partners:
Italy 19.1%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 12.98%, Germany 11.06%, Slovenia
7.47%, Austria 5.44%, Serbia 5.41% (2009)
Imports:
$20.93 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$21 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, transport and electrical equipment; chemicals, fuels and
lubricants; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Italy 15.46%, Germany 13.57%, Russia 9.29%, China 6.83%, Slovenia
5.75%, Austria 5.04% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$13.79 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$14.89 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$59.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$62.41 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$34.63 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
$32.13 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$6.334 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$5.934 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
kuna (HRK) per US dollar - 5.6356 (2010), 5.271 (2009), 4.98 (2008),
5.3735 (2007), 5.8625 (2006)
Communications ::Croatia
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.859 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 59
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6.035 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 84
Telephone system:
general assessment: the telecommunications network has improved
steadily since the mid-1990s; local lines are digital
domestic: fixed-line teledensity holding steady at about 40 per 100
persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions exceed the
population
international: country code - 385; digital international service is
provided through the main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates in
the Trans-Asia-Europe (TEL) fiber-optic project, which consists of 2
fiber-optic trunk connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optic trunk
line from Rijeka to Split and Dubrovnik; the ADRIA-1 submarine cable
provides connectivity to Albania and Greece (2009)
Broadcast media:
the national state-owned public broadcaster, Croatian
Radiotelevision (HRT), operates 2 terrestrial TV networks, a
satellite channel that rebroadcasts programs for Croatians living
abroad, and 6 regional TV centers; 2 private broadcasters operate
national terrestrial networks; about 15 privately-owned regional TV
stations; multi-channel cable and satellite TV subscription services
are available; state-owned public broadcaster operates 3 national
radio networks and a number of regional radio stations; 2
privately-owned national radio networks and a large number of
regional, county, city, and community radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.hr
Internet hosts:
1.287 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 38
Internet users:
2.234 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 73
Transportation ::Croatia
Airports:
69 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 73
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 23
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 9 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 46
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 38 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 1,327 km; oil 583 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,722 km
country comparison to the world: 63
standard gauge: 2,722 km 1.435-m gauge (985 km electrified) (2009)
Roadways:
total: 29,248 km (includes 1,043 km of expressways) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 99
Waterways:
785 km (2009)
country comparison to the world: 74
Merchant marine:
total: 75
country comparison to the world: 56
by type: bulk carrier 24, cargo 7, chemical tanker 6,
passenger/cargo 27, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 1
foreign-owned: 2 (Norway 2)
registered in other countries: 33 (Bahamas 1, Belize 1, Liberia 2,
Malta 7, Marshall Islands 12, Panama 2, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 8) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Omisalj, Ploce, Rijeka, Sibernik, Split, Vukovar (on Danube River)
Military ::Croatia
Military branches:
Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (Oruzane Snage Republike
Hrvatske, OSRH), consists of five major commands directly
subordinate to a General Staff: Ground Forces (Hrvatska Kopnena
Vojska, HKoV), Naval Forces (Hrvatska Ratna Mornarica, HRM; includes
coast guard), Air Force and Air Defense Command, Joint Education and
Training Command, Logistics Command; Military Police Force supports
each of the three Croatian military forces (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-27 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age
with consent for voluntary service; 6-month conscript service
obligation; full conversion to voluntary military service by 2010
(2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,021,904
females age 16-49: 1,023,465 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 770,574
females age 16-49: 844,594 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 27,670
female: 26,503 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.39% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Transnational Issues ::Croatia
Disputes - international:
dispute remains with Bosnia and Herzegovina over several small
sections of the boundary related to maritime access that hinders
ratification of the 1999 border agreement; the Croatia-Slovenia land
and maritime boundary agreement, which would have ceded most of
Pirin Bay and maritime access to Slovenia and several villages to
Croatia, remains unratified and in dispute; Slovenia also protests
Croatia's 2003 claim to an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic;
as a European Union peripheral state, Slovenia imposed a hard border
Schengen regime with non-member Croatia in December 2007
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 2,900-7,000 (Croats and Serbs displaced in 1992-95 war) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin to
Western Europe; has been used as a transit point for maritime
shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe (2008)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Cuba (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Cuba
Background:
The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the
European discovery of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 and
following its development as a Spanish colony during the next
several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to
work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the
launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from
Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule eventually provoked an independence
movement and occasional rebellions that were harshly suppressed. US
intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 assisted the
Cubans in overthrowing Spanish rule. The Treaty of Paris established
Cuban independence from the US in 1902 after which the island
experienced a string of governments mostly dominated by the military
and corrupt politicians. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in
1959; his iron rule held the subsequent regime together for nearly
five decades. He stepped down as president in February 2008 in favor
of his younger brother Raul CASTRO. Cuba's Communist revolution,
with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and
Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The country faced a
severe economic downturn in 1990 following the withdrawal of former
Soviet subsidies worth $4 billion to $6 billion annually. Cuba at
times portrays the US embargo, in place since 1961, as the source if
its difficulties. Illicit migration to the US - using homemade
rafts, alien smugglers, air flights, or via the southwest border -
is a continuing problem. The US Coast Guard intercepted 982
individuals attempting to cross the Straits of Florida in fiscal
year 2009.
Geography ::Cuba
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
Geographic coordinates:
21 30 N, 80 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 110,860 sq km
country comparison to the world: 105
land: 109,820 sq km
water: 1,040 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 29 km
border countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and remains part of
Cuba
Coastline:
3,735 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April);
rainy season (May to October)
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in
the southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m
Natural resources:
cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica,
petroleum, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 27.63%
permanent crops: 6.54%
other: 65.83% (2005)
Irrigated land:
8,700 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
38.1 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 8.2 cu km/yr (19%/12%/69%)
per capita: 728 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (in
general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year);
droughts are common
Environment - current issues:
air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: 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
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater
Antilles
People ::Cuba
Population:
11,477,459 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 1,077,745/female 1,020,393)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 4,035,691/female 4,030,103)
65 years and over: 11.2% (male 584,478/female 703,242) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.8 years
male: 37.1 years
female: 38.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.217% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Birth rate:
11.02 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Death rate:
7.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Net migration rate:
-1.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Urbanization:
urban population: 76% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.72 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 180
male: 6.39 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.64 years
country comparison to the world: 53
male: 75.36 years
female: 80.05 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.61 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Cuban(s)
adjective: Cuban
Ethnic groups:
white 65.1%, mulatto and mestizo 24.8%, black 10.1% (2002 census)
Religions:
nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power;
Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also
represented
Languages:
Spanish (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 18 years
male: 16 years
female: 19 years (2009)
Education expenditures:
13.6% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 2
People - note:
illicit emigration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to depart
the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien smugglers,
direct flights, or falsified visas; Cubans also use non-maritime
routes to enter the US including direct flights to Miami and
over-land via the southwest border
Government ::Cuba
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
conventional short form: Cuba
local long form: Republica de Cuba
local short form: Cuba
Government type:
Communist state
Capital:
name: Havana
geographic coordinates: 23 07 N, 82 21 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
14 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special
municipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila,
Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla
de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio,
Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara
Independence:
20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US
from 1898 to 1902); not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as a
day of independence
National holiday:
Triumph of the Revolution, 1 January (1959)
Constitution:
24 February 1976; amended July 1992 and June 2002
Legal system:
based on Spanish civil law and influenced by American legal concepts
with large elements of Communist legal theory; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of the Council of State and President of
the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (president since 24
February 2008); First Vice President of the Council of State and
First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Jose Ramon MACHADO
Ventura (since 24 February 2008); note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government
head of government: President of the Council of State and President
of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (president since 24
February 2008); First Vice President of the Council of State and
First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Jose Ramon MACHADO
Ventura (since 24 February 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the
Council of State and appointed by the National Assembly or the
31-member Council of State, elected by the assembly to act on its
behalf when it is not in session
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice presidents elected by the National
Assembly for a five-year term; election last held on 24 February
2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of
legislative vote - 100%; Jose Ramon MACHADO Ventura elected vice
president; percent of legislative vote - 100%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional
del Poder Popular (number of seats in the National Assembly is based
on population; 614 seats; members elected directly from slates
approved by special candidacy commissions to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 20 January 2008 (next to be held in January
2013)
election results: Cuba's Communist Party is the only legal party,
and officially sanctioned candidates run unopposed
Judicial branch:
People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vice
presidents, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Human Rights Watch; National Association of Small Farmers
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962),
OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, PetroCaribe, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union
Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none; note - Cuba has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy,
headed by Principal Officer Jorge BOLANOS Suarez; address: Cuban
Interests Section, Swiss Embassy, 2630 16th Street NW, Washington,
DC 20009; telephone: [1] (202) 797-8518; FAX: [1] (202) 797-8521
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy,
headed by Chief of Mission Jonathan D. FARRAR; address: USINT, Swiss
Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado, Havana; telephone:
[53] (7) 833-3551 through 3559 (operator assistance required); FAX:
[53] (7) 833-1653; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland
Flag description:
five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom)
alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the
hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center; the blue
bands refer to the three old divisions of the island: central,
occidental, and oriental; the white bands describe the purity of the
independence ideal; the triangle symbolizes liberty, equality, and
fraternity, while the red color stands for the blood shed in the
independence struggle; the white star, called La Estrella Solitaria
(the Lone Star) lights the way to freedom and was taken from the
flag of Texas
note: design similar to the Puerto Rican flag, with the colors of
the bands and triangle reversed
National anthem:
name: "La Bayamesa" (The Bayamo Song)
lyrics/music: Pedro FIGUEREDO
note: adopted 1940; Pedro FIGUEREDO first performed "La Bayamesa" in
1868 during the Ten Years War against the Spanish; a leading figure
in the uprising, FIGUEREDO was captured in 1870 and executed in
front of a firing squad; just prior to the fusillade he is reputed
to have shouted, "Morir por la Patria es vivir" (To die for the
country is to live), a line from the anthem
Economy ::Cuba
Economy - overview:
The government continues to balance the need for economic loosening
against a desire for firm political control. The government
announced it would eliminate 500,000 state jobs by March 2011 and
has expanded opportunities for self-employment. President CASTRO
said such changes were needed to update the economic model to ensure
the survival of socialism. It has rolled back limited reforms
undertaken in the 1990s to increase enterprise efficiency and
alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services.
The average Cuban's standard of living remains at a lower level than
before the downturn of the 1990s, which was caused by the loss of
Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. Since late 2000, Venezuela
has been providing oil on preferential terms, and it currently
supplies about 100,000 barrels per day of petroleum products. Cuba
has been paying for the oil, in part, with the services of Cuban
personnel in Venezuela including some 30,000 medical professionals.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$114.1 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$112.4 billion (2009 est.)
$110.8 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$57.49 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
1.4% (2009 est.)
4.1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$9,800 (2009 est.)
$9,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.2%
industry: 22.7%
services: 72.9% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
5.164 million
country comparison to the world: 72
note: state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 19.4%
services: 60.6% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
1.7% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
10.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Public debt:
34.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
34.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
-0.5% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA%
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA%
Stock of narrow money:
$11.57 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 69
$11.74 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$35.92 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$35.61 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock
Industries:
sugar, petroleum, tobacco, construction, nickel, steel, cement,
agricultural machinery, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:
0.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Electricity - production:
16.89 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Electricity - consumption:
13.93 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
48,340 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Oil - consumption:
169,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Oil - imports:
104,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Oil - proved reserves:
178.9 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Natural gas - production:
400 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Natural gas - consumption:
400 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Natural gas - proved reserves:
70.79 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Current account balance:
-$87 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$539 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$3.311 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
$2.879 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee
Exports - partners:
China 25.68%, Canada 20.31%, Spain 6.79%, Netherlands 4.53% (2009)
Imports:
$10.25 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
$8.91 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum, food, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Venezuela 30.51%, China 15.48%, Spain 8.3%, US 6.87% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$4.847 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$4.647 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$19.75 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$19.42 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$4.138 billion (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Exchange rates:
Cuban pesos (CUP) per US dollar - 0.9259 (2010), 0.9259 (2009),
0.9259 (2008), 0.9259 (2007), 0.9231 (2006)
Communications ::Cuba
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.168 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 71
Telephones - mobile cellular:
443,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 162
Telephone system:
general assessment: greater investment beginning in 1994 and the
establishment of a new Ministry of Information Technology and
Communications in 2000 has resulted in improvements in the system;
national fiber-optic system under development; 95% of switches
digitized by end of 2006; mobile-cellular telephone service is
expensive and must be paid in convertible pesos, which effectively
limits subscribership
domestic: fixed-line density remains low at less than 10 per 100
inhabitants; mobile-cellular service expanding but remains less than
5 per 100 persons
international: country code - 53; fiber-optic cable laid to but not
linked to US network; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik
(Atlantic Ocean region) (2009)
Broadcast media:
government owns and controls all broadcast media with private
ownership of electronic media prohibited; government operates 4
national TV networks and many local TV stations; government operates
6 national radio networks, an international station, and many local
radio stations; Radio-TV Marti is beamed from the US (2007)
Internet country code:
.cu
Internet hosts:
3,025 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 145
Internet users:
1.606 million
country comparison to the world: 79
note: private citizens are prohibited from buying computers or
accessing the Internet without special authorization; foreigners may
access the Internet in large hotels but are subject to firewalls;
some Cubans buy illegal passwords on the black market or take
advantage of public outlets to access limited email and the
government-controlled "intranet" (2009)
Transportation ::Cuba
Airports:
136 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 43
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 65
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 27 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 71
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 58 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 41 km; oil 230 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 8,598 km
country comparison to the world: 24
standard gauge: 8,322 km 1.435-m gauge (176 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 276 km 1.000-gauge
note: 4,533 km of the track is used by sugar plantations; 4,257 km
is standard gauge; 276 km is narrow gauge (2006)
Roadways:
total: 60,858 km
country comparison to the world: 75
paved: 29,820 km (includes 638 km of expressway)
unpaved: 31,038 km (2000)
Waterways:
240 km (almost all navigable inland waterways are near the mouths of
rivers) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 95
Merchant marine:
total: 5
country comparison to the world: 129
by type: cargo 2, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 2
registered in other countries: 6 (Cyprus 1, former Netherlands
Antilles 1, Panama 4) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Antilla, Cienfuegos, Guantanamo, Havana, Matanzas, Mariel, Nuevitas
Bay, Santiago de Cuba, Tanamo
Military ::Cuba
Military branches:
Revolutionary Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias, FAR):
Revolutionary Army (Ejercito Revolucionario, ER, includes
Territorial Militia Troops (Milicia de Tropas de Territoriales,
MTT)); Revolutionary Navy (Marina de Guerra Revolucionaria, MGR,
includes Marine Corps); Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Forces
(DAAFAR), Youth Labor Army (Ejercito Juvenil del Trabajo, EJT) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
17-28 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year service
obligation; both sexes subject to military service (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,078,049
females age 16-49: 3,004,713 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,516,543
females age 16-49: 2,450,902 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 74,084
female: 70,445 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Military - note:
the collapse of the Soviet Union deprived the Cuban military of its
major economic and logistic support and had a significant impact on
the state of Cuban equipment; the army remains well trained and
professional in nature; while the lack of replacement parts for its
existing equipment has increasingly affected operational
capabilities, Cuba remains able to offer considerable resistance to
any regional power (2010)
Transnational Issues ::Cuba
Disputes - international:
US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual
agreement or US abandonment of the facility can terminate the lease
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Cuba is principally a source country for children
subjected to trafficking in persons, specifically commercial sexual
exploitation within the country; the scope of trafficking within
Cuba is difficult to gauge due to the closed nature of the
government and sparse non-governmental or independent reporting
tier rating: Tier 3 - Cuba does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so; in a positive step, the Government of
Cuba shared information about human trafficking and its efforts to
address the issue; the government did not prohibit all forms of
trafficking during the reporting period, nor did it provide specific
evidence that it prosecuted and punished trafficking offenders,
protected victims of all forms of trafficking, or implemented victim
protection policies or programs to prevent human trafficking (2010)
Illicit drugs:
territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone for US-
and European-bound drugs; established the death penalty for certain
drug-related crimes in 1999 (2008)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Curacao (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Curacao
Background:
Originally settled by Arawak Indians, Curacao was seized by the
Dutch in 1634 along with the neighboring island of Bonaire. Once the
center of the Caribbean slave trade, Curacao was hard hit by the
abolition of slavery in 1863. Its prosperity (and that of
neighboring Aruba) was restored in the early 20th century with the
construction of the Isla Refineria to service the newly discovered
Venezuelan oil fields. In 1954, Curacao and several other Dutch
Caribbean possesions were reorganized as the Netherlands Antilles,
part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In referenda in 2005 and
2009, the citizens of Curacao voted to become a self-governing
country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The change in status
became effective in October of 2010 with the dissolution of the
Netherlands Antilles.
Geography ::Curacao
Location:
Caribbean, an island in the Caribbean Sea - located 56.35 km off the
coast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:
12 10 N, 69 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 444 sq km
country comparison to the world: 198
land: 444 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
more than two times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
364 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate:
tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds,
results in mild temperatures; semi-arid with average rainfall of 600
mm/year
Terrain:
generally low, hilly terrain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mt. Christoffel, 372m
Natural resources:
calcium phosphates, aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical
fruit
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 90%
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
NA
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
NA
Natural hazards:
Curacao is south of the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely
threatened
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
Curacao is a part of the Windward Islands (southern) group
People ::Curacao
Population:
142,180 (est. January 2010)
country comparison to the world: 187
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.1% (males 15,337/females 14,589)
15-64 years: 66.7% (males 42,896/females 51,998)
65 years and over: 12.2% (males 6,972/females 10,388) (2010)
Population growth rate:
NA
Birth rate:
NA
Death rate:
8 deaths/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 106
Net migration rate:
1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 50
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.15 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (2010)
Life expectancy at birth:
total: NA
males: 72.4 years
females: 80.1 years (2009)
Total fertility rate:
2.1 children born/woman (2009)
country comparison to the world: 120
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Religions:
Roman Catholic 80.1%, Protestant 5.5%, none 4.6%, Pentecostal 3.5%,
Seventh Day Adventist 2.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.7%, Jewish 0.8%,
other 1.3%, not reported 0.3% (2001 census)
Languages:
Papiamento 81.2% (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect), Dutch
8% (official), Spanish 4%, English 2.9%, other 3.9% (2001 census)
Government ::Curacao
Country name:
Dutch long form: Land Curacao
Dutch short form: Curacao
Papiamentu long form: Pais Korsou
Papiamentu short form: Korsou
former: Netherlands Antilles; Curacao and Dependencies
Dependency status:
constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full
autonomy in internal affairs granted in 2010; Dutch Government
responsible for defense and foreign affairs
Government type:
parliamentary
Capital:
name: Willemstad
geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 68 55 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:
Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the
throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)
Constitution:
Staatsregeling, 10 October 2010; revised Kingdom Charter pending
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 Frits GOEDGEDRAG (since 10
October 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Gerrit SCHOTTE (since 10 October
2010)
cabinet: Executive Council
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party is usually elected prime minister by the parliament
Legislative branch:
unicameral parliament or Staten (21 seats; members elected by
popular vote for four year terms)
elections: last held 27 August 2010 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAR 30%, MFK 21%, PS
19%, MAN 9%, FOL 7%, PNP 6%; seats by party - PAR 8, MFK 5, PS 4,
MAN 2, FOL 1, PNP 1
Judicial branch:
Common Court of Justice, Joint High Court of Justice (judges
appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Frente Obrero Liberashon (Workers' Liberation Front) or FOL [Anthony
GODETT]; Movimentu Antiyas Nobo (New Antilles Movement) or MAN
[Charles COOPER]; Movementu Futuro Korsou or MFK [Gerrit SCHOTTE];
Partido Antia Restruktura or PAR [Emily DE JONGH-ELHAGE]; People's
National Party or PNP [Ersilia DE LANNOOY]; Pueblo Soberano or PS
[Herman WIELS]
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Valerie BELON
consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad, Curacao
mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
telephone: [599] (9) 4613066
FAX: [599] (9) 4616489
Flag description:
on a blue field a horizontal yellow band somewhat below the center
divides the flag into proportions of 5:1:2; two five-pointed white
stars - the smaller above and to the left of the larger - appear in
the canton; the blue of the upper and lower sections symbolizes the
sky and sea respectively; yellow represents the sun; the stars
symbolize Curacao and its uninhabited smaller sister island of Klein
Curacao; the five star points signify the five continents from which
Curacao's people derive
National anthem:
name: Himmo di Korsou (Anthem of Curacao)
lyrics/music: Guillermo ROSARIO, Mae HENRIQUEZ, Enrique MULLER,
Betty DORAN/Frater Candidus NOWENS, Errol "El Toro" COLINA
note: adapted 1978; the lyrics, originally written in 1899, were
rewritten in 1978 to make them less colonial in nature
Economy ::Curacao
Economy - overview:
Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays
of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world.
Although GDP grew slightly during the past decade, the island enjoys
a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure
compared with other countries in the region. Curacao has an
excellent natural harbor that can accommodate large oil tankers. The
Venezuelan state oil company leases the single refinery on the
island from the government; most of the oil for the refinery is
imported from Venezuela; most of the refined products are exported
to the US. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with
the US, Brazil, Italy, and Mexico being the major suppliers. The
government is attempting to diversify its industry and trade and has
signed an Association Agreement with the EU to expand business
there. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the
development of agriculture. Budgetary problems complicate reform of
the health and pension systems for an aging population.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.838 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
$2.606 billion (2007 est.)
$2.452 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.08 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 98
2.2% (2007)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,970 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 15%
services: 84% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
63,000 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1.2%
industry: 16.9%
services: 81.8%
Unemployment rate:
10.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.7% (2009 est,)
country comparison to the world: 46
6.8% (2008 est.)
Agriculture - products:
aloe, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Industries:
tourism, petroleum refining, petroleum transshipment facilities,
light manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate:
NA
Electricity - production:
848.5 kWh (2005)
country comparison to the world: 214
Exports:
$876 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
note: excludes oil
Exports - commodities:
petroleum products
Exports - partners:
US 13.1%, Guatemala 10.8%, Singapore 10.7%, Dominican Republic 9.6%,
Haiti 7.6%, The Bahamas 6.1%, Honduras 4.5%, Mexico 4.2% (2009 est.)
Imports:
$1.34 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Imports - commodities:
crude petroleum, food, manufactures
Imports - partners:
Venezuela 57.3%, US 19.2%, Brazil 8.1% (2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar - 1.79 (2009),
1.79 (2008), 1.79 (2007), 1.79 (2006)
Transportation ::Curacao
Airports:
1
country comparison to the world: 231
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 550 km
country comparison to the world: 191
Ports and terminals:
Bullen Baai, Fuik Bay, Willemstad
Military ::Curacao
Military branches:
the Royal Netherlands Navy maintains a permanent and active presence
in the region from its main operating base on Curacao; other local
security forces include a coast guard, para-military National Guard
(Vrijwilligers Korps Curacao), and Police Force (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
no conscription (2010)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Cyprus (Europe)
Introduction ::Cyprus
Background:
A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 following
years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek
Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head in
December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia.
Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic
intercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish Cypriots into
enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek
Government-sponsored attempt to seize control of Cyprus was met by
military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a
third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot-occupied area
declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"),
but it is recognized only by Turkey. The election of a new Cypriot
president in 2008 served as the impetus for the UN to encourage both
the Turkish and Cypriot Governments to reopen unification
negotiations. In September 2008, the leaders of the Greek Cypriot
and Turkish Cypriot communities started negotiations under UN
auspices aimed at reuniting the divided island. The entire island
entered the EU on 1 May 2004, although the EU acquis - the body of
common rights and obligations - applies only to the areas under the
internationally recognized government, and is suspended in the areas
administered by Turkish Cypriots. However, individual Turkish
Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus
citizenship legally enjoy the same rights accorded to other citizens
of European Union states.
Geography ::Cyprus
Location:
Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
35 00 N, 33 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 9,251 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus)
country comparison to the world: 170
land: 9,241 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 150.4 km (approximately)
border sovereign base areas: Akrotiri 47.4 km, Dhekelia 103 km
(approximately)
Coastline:
648 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Terrain:
central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but
significant plains along southern coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Olympus 1,951 m
Natural resources:
copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth
pigment
Land use:
arable land: 10.81%
permanent crops: 4.32%
other: 84.87% (2005)
Irrigated land:
400 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
0.4 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.21 cu km/yr (27%/1%/71%)
per capita: 250 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
moderate earthquake activity; droughts
Environment - current issues:
water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal
disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest
aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from
sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife
habitats from urbanization
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94,
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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and
Sardinia)
People ::Cyprus
Population:
1,102,677 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 94,655/female 89,337)
15-64 years: 73.1% (male 411,952/female 381,074)
65 years and over: 9.9% (male 46,610/female 61,120) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.5 years
male: 33.2 years
female: 36.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.663% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Birth rate:
11.38 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Death rate:
6.42 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Net migration rate:
11.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Urbanization:
urban population: 70% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.57 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 155
male: 11.46 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.66 years
country comparison to the world: 52
male: 74.88 years
female: 80.57 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.45 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot
Ethnic groups:
Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001)
Religions:
Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, other (includes Maronite and
Armenian Apostolic) 4%
Languages:
Greek (official), Turkish (official), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.6%
male: 98.9%
female: 96.3% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
7.1% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 19
Government ::Cyprus
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
local long form: Kypriaki Dimokratia/Kibris Cumhuriyeti
local short form: Kypros/Kibris
note: the Turkish Cypriot community, which administers the northern
part of the island, refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC")
Government type:
republic
note: a separation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the
island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this
separation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention in
July 1974 that followed a Greek military-junta-supported coup
attempt that gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the
north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized
government; on 15 November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf
DENKTASH declared independence and the formation of a "Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"), which is recognized only by
Turkey
Capital:
name: Nicosia (Lefkosia)
geographic coordinates: 35 10 N, 33 22 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 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos;
note - Turkish Cypriot area's administrative divisions include
Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts of
Nicosia (Lefkosia) and Larnaca
Independence:
16 August 1960 (from the UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed
self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these
proclamations are only recognized by Turkey
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots
celebrate 15 November (1983) as Independence Day
Constitution:
16 August 1960
note: from December 1963, the Turkish Cypriots no longer
participated in the government; negotiations to create the basis for
a new or revised constitution to govern the island and for better
relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held
intermittently since the mid-1960s; in 1975, following the 1974
Turkish intervention, Turkish Cypriots created their own
constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated
State of Cyprus," which became the "Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC)" when the Turkish Cypriots declared independence in
1983; a new constitution for the "TRNC" passed by referendum on 5
May 1985, although the "TRNC" remains unrecognized by any country
other than Turkey
Legal system:
based on English common law with civil law modifications; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Demetris CHRISTOFIAS (since 28 February
2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the
1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
head of government: President Demetris CHRISTOFIAS (since 28
February 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and
vice president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held on 17 and 24 February 2008 (next to be held in
February 2013)
election results: Demetris CHRISTOFIAS elected president; percent of
vote (first round) - Ioannis KASOULIDES 33.5%, Demetris CHRISTOFIAS
33.3%, Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 31.8%; (second round) Demetris
CHRISTOFIAS 53.4%, Ioannis KASOULIDES 46.6%
note: Dervis EROGLU became "president" of the "TRNC" on 23 April
2010 after "presidential" elections on 18 April 2010; results -
Dervis EROGLU 50.4%, Mehmet Ali TALAT 42.9%; Huseyin OZGURGUN is
"TRNC acting prime minister"
Legislative branch:
unicameral - area under government control: House of Representatives
or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to the Greek Cypriots,
24 to Turkish Cypriots; note - only those assigned to Greek Cypriots
are filled; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Assembly of the
Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: area under government control: last held on 21 May 2006
(next to be held in May 2011); area administered by Turkish
Cypriots: last held on 19 April 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: area under government control: House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - AKEL 31.1%, DISY 30.3%,
DIKO 17.9%, EDEK 8.9%, EURO.KO 5.8%, Greens 2.0%; seats by party -
AKEL 18, DISY 18, DIKO 11, EDEK 4, EURO.KO 4, Greens 1; area
administered by Turkish Cypriots: Assembly of the Republic - percent
of vote by party - UBP 44.1%, CTP 29.3%, DP 10.6%, other 16%; seats
by party - UBP 26, CTP 15, DP 5, other 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president and
vice president)
note: there is also a Supreme Court in the area administered by
Turkish Cypriots
Political parties and leaders:
area under government control: Democratic Party or DIKO [Marios
KAROYIAN]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADES]; European
Party or EURO.KO [Demetris SYLLOURIS]; Fighting Democratic Movement
or ADIK [Dinos MIKHAILIDES]; Green Party of Cyprus [George
PERDIKIS]; Movement for Social Democrats or EDEK [Yiannakis OMIROU];
Progressive Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party)
[Andros KYPRIANOU]; United Democrats or EDI [Michalis PAPAPETROU]
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Centrist Party or HP [Rasit
PERTEV]; Communal Democracy Party or TDP [Mehmet CAKICI]; Cyprus
Socialist Party or KSP [Yusuf ALKIM]; Democratic Party or DP
[Serdaer DENKTASH]; Freedom and Reform Party or ORP [Turgay AVCI];
National Unity Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU]; Nationalist Justice
Party or MAP [Ata TEPE]; New Cyprus Party or YKP [Murat KANATLI];
Politics for the People Party or HIS [Ahmet YONLUER]; Republican
Turkish Party or CTP [Ferdi Sabit SOYER]; United Cyprus Party or BKP
[Izzet IZCAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West); Confederation of
Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is; Federation of Turkish Cypriot
Labor Unions or Turk-Sen; Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO
(Communist controlled)
International organization participation:
Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF
(associate member), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pavlos ANASTASIADES
chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772, 462-0873
FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710
consulate(s) general: New York
note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot community in the US is
Hilmi AKIL; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone
[1] (202) 887-6198
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Frank C. URBANCIC, Jr.
embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, 2407 Engomi,
Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nicosia
telephone: [357] (22) 393939
FAX: [357] (22) 780944
Flag description:
white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name
Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green
crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches
symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek
and Turkish communities
note: the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag retains the
white field of the Cyprus national flag but displays narrow
horizontal red stripes positioned a small distance from the top and
bottom edges between which are centered a red crescent and a red
five-pointed star; the banner is modeled after the Turkish national
flag but with the colors reversed
National anthem:
name: "Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Liberty)
lyrics/music: Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS
note: adopted 1960; Cyprus adopted the Greek national anthem as its
own; the Turkish community in Cyprus uses the anthem of Turkey
Economy ::Cyprus
Economy - overview:
The area of the Republic of Cyprus under government control has a
market economy dominated by the service sector, which accounts for
nearly four-fifths of GDP. Tourism, financial services, and real
estate are the most important sectors. Erratic growth rates over the
past decade reflect the economy's reliance on tourism, which often
fluctuates with political instability in the region and economic
conditions in Western Europe. Nevertheless, the economy in the area
under government control has grown at a rate well above the EU
average since 2000. Cyprus joined the European Exchange Rate
Mechanism (ERM2) in May 2005 and adopted the euro as its national
currency on 1 January 2008. An aggressive austerity program in the
preceding years, aimed at paving the way for the euro, helped turn a
soaring fiscal deficit (6.3% in 2003) into a surplus of 1.2% in
2008, and reduced inflation to 4.7%. This prosperity came under
pressure in 2009, as construction and tourism slowed in the face of
reduced foreign demand triggered by the ongoing global financial
crisis. Although Cyprus lagged its EU peers in showing signs of
stress from the global crisis, the economy tipped into recession in
mid 2009 and contracted 1.8% for the year. In addition, the budget
deficit is on the rise and reached 5.7% of GDP in 2010, a violation
of the EU's budget deficit criteria of no more than 3% of GDP. In
response to the country's deteriorating finances, Nicosia is
promising to implement measures to cut the cost of the state
payroll, curb tax evasion, and revamp social benefits. However, it
has been slow to act, lacking a consensus in parliament and among
the social partners for its proposed measures.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$23.18 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
$23.04 billion (2009 est.)
$23.45 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$22.75 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
-1.8% (2009 est.)
3.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$21,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$21,300 (2009 est.)
$22,000 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 18.6%
services: 79.3% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
400,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 8.5%
industry: 20.5%
services: 71% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
5.3% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
29 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 117
Investment (gross fixed):
19.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Public debt:
61.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
56.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
0.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 115
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.49% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
7.19% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$4.341 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 98
$4.602 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: this figure represents the US dollar value of Cypriot pounds
in circulation prior to Cyprus joining the Economic and Monetary
Union (EMU); see entry for the European Union for money supply in
the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary
policy for the 16 members of the EMU; individual members of the EMU
do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own
borders
Stock of broad money:
$50.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$53.46 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$101.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$80.68 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.993 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 71
$7.955 billion (31 December 2008)
$29.48 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables; poultry,
pork, lamb; dairy, cheese
Industries:
tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum production,
ship repair and refurbishment, textiles, light chemicals, metal
products, wood, paper, stone, and clay products
Industrial production growth rate:
0.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Electricity - production:
4.502 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Electricity - consumption:
4.277 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Oil - consumption:
59,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Oil - imports:
58,930 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Current account balance:
-$2.5 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
-$1.915 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$2.232 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
$2.065 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement, clothing
Exports - partners:
Greece 23.83%, Germany 9.2%, UK 8.78% (2009)
Imports:
$7.962 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
$7.973 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, intermediate goods,
machinery, transport equipment
Imports - partners:
Greece 20.18%, Italy 10.67%, UK 8.95%, Germany 8.79%, Israel 6.99%,
China 5.52%, Netherlands 4.85%, France 4.01% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$1.289 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$32.61 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$29.36 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$26.61 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$16.57 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$15.79 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.774 (2010), 0.718 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.4286 (2007), 0.4586 (2006)
Economy of the area administered by Turkish Cypriots:
Economy - overview: The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly half the
per capita GDP of the south, and economic growth tends to be
volatile, given the north's relative isolation, bloated public
sector, reliance on the Turkish lira, and small market size.
Agriculture and services, together, employ more than half of the
work force. The Turkish Cypriot economy grew around 10.6% in 2006,
fueled by growth in the construction and education sectors, as well
as increased employment of Turkish Cypriots in the area under
government control. GDP declined about 2.0% in 2007. The Turkish
Cypriots are heavily dependent on transfers from the Turkish
Government. Ankara directly finances about one-third of the "TRNC's"
budget. Aid from Turkey has exceeded $400 million annually in recent
years. The Turkish Cypriot economy experienced a sharp slowdown in
2008-09 due to the global financial crisis and, because of its
reliance on British and Turkish tourism, which has declined due to
the recession. Turkish Cypriot finances also deteriorated in 2009 as
decreased state revenues and increased government expenditures on
public sector salaries and social services led to a large budget
deficit. As tourism and the world economy picked up, the economy
grew about 0.6% in 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.829 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -0.6% (2010 est.)
GDP - per capita: $11,700 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.6%, industry: 22.5%,
services: 69.1% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 95,030 (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 14.5%, industry: 29%,
services: 56.5% (2004)
Unemployment rate: 9.4% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line: %NA
Inflation rate: 11.4% (2006)
Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion, expenditures: $2.5 billion (2006)
Agriculture - products: citrus fruit, dairy, potatoes, grapes,
olives, poultry, lamb
Industries: foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, ship repair, clay,
gypsum, copper, furniture
Industrial production growth rate: -0.3% (2007 est.)
Electricity production: 998.9 million kWh (2005)
Electricity consumption: 797.9 million kWh (2005)
Exports: $68.1 million, f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Export - commodities: citrus, dairy, potatoes, textiles
Export - partners: Turkey 40%; direct trade between the area
administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government
control remains limited
Imports: $1.2 billion, f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Import - commodities: vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals,
chemicals, machinery
Import - partners: Turkey 60%; direct trade between the area
administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government
control remains limited
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $NA
Debt - external: $NA
Currency (code): Turkish new lira (YTL)
Exchange rates: Turkish new lira per US dollar: 1.319 (2007) 1.4286
(2006) 1.3436 (2005) 1.4255 (2004) 1.5009 (2003)
Communications ::Cyprus
Telephones - main lines in use:
area under government control: 414,500 (2009); area administered by
Turkish Cypriots: 86,228 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 101
Telephones - mobile cellular:
area under government control: 977,500 (2009); area administered by
Turkish Cypriots: 147,522 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 146
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent in both area under government control
and area administered by Turkish Cypriots
domestic: open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 357 (area administered by Turkish
Cypriots uses the country code of Turkey - 90); a number of
submarine cables, including the SEA-ME-WE-3, combine to provide
connectivity to Western Europe, the Middle East, and Asia;
tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 8 (3 Intelsat - 1
Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1
Arabsat)
Broadcast media:
mixture of state and privately-run television and radio services;
the public broadcaster operates 2 TV channels and 4 radio stations;
6 private TV broadcasters, satellite and cable TV services including
telecasts from Greece and Turkey, and a number of private radio
stations are available; in areas administered by Turkish Cypriots,
there are 2 public TV stations, 4 public radio stations, and
privately-owned TV and radio broadcast stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.cy
Internet hosts:
187,881 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 66
Internet users:
433,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 120
Transportation ::Cyprus
Airports:
15 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 144
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Heliports:
9 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 14,671 km
country comparison to the world: 122
12,321 km under government control (includes 257 km of expressways),
2,350 km administered by Turkish Cypriots (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 839
country comparison to the world: 13
by type: bulk carrier 267, cargo 173, chemical tanker 77, container
193, liquefied gas 10, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 24, petroleum
tanker 69, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 13, vehicle
carrier 4
foreign-owned: 637 (Austria 1, Belgium 2, Bermuda 1, Canada 2, Chile
1, China 6, Cuba 1, Denmark 6, Estonia 7, France 16, Germany 189,
Greece 216, Hong Kong 2, India 2, Iran 10, Ireland 3, Israel 1,
Italy 6, Japan 19, Monaco 1, Netherlands 24, Norway 12, Philippines
1, Poland 20, Portugal 2, Russia 47, Singapore 1, Slovenia 4, Spain
7, Sweden 5, Syria 1, UAE 5, UK 7, Ukraine 2, US 7)
registered in other countries: 138 (Bahamas 14, Belize 1, Burma 1,
Cambodia 8, Comoros 2, Finland 1, Gibraltar 1, Greece 4, Hong Kong
3, Liberia 7, Malta 29, Marshall Islands 38, Norway 1, Panama 8,
Russia 11, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Sierra Leone 1,
Singapore 3, unknown 3) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
area under government control: Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos;; area
administered by Turkish Cypriots: Famagusta, Kyrenia
Military ::Cyprus
Military branches:
Republic of Cyprus: Greek Cypriot National Guard (Ethniki Forea, EF;
includes naval and air elements); northern Cyprus: Turkish Cypriot
Security Force (GKK) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG): 18-50 years of age for
compulsory military service for all Greek Cypriot males; 17 years of
age for voluntary service; women may volunteer for a 3-year term;
length of normal service is 25 months (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 16-49: 322,807
females age 16-49: 284,386 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 16-49: 271,692
females age 16-49: 236,908 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 8,317
female: 7,542 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Transnational Issues ::Cyprus
Disputes - international:
hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous
entities, the internationally recognized Cypriot Government and a
Turkish-Cypriot community (north Cyprus); the 1,000-strong UN
Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has served in Cyprus since
1964 and maintains the buffer zone between north and south; on 1 May
2004, Cyprus entered the European Union still divided, with the EU's
body of legislation and standards (acquis communitaire) suspended in
the north; Turkey protests Cypriot Government creating hydrocarbon
blocks and maritime boundary with Lebanon in March 2007
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 210,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced for
over 30 years) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
minor transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and
container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey;
some cocaine transits as well; despite a strengthening of
anti-money-laundering legislation, remains vulnerable to money
laundering; reporting of suspicious transactions in offshore sector
remains weak (2008)
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Czech Republic (Europe)
Introduction ::Czech Republic
Background:
Following the First World War, the closely related Czechs and
Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to form
Czechoslovakia. During the interwar years, the new country's leaders
were frequently preoccupied with meeting the demands of other ethnic
minorities within the republic, most notably the Sudeten Germans and
the Ruthenians (Ukrainians). After World War II, a truncated
Czechoslovakia fell within the Soviet sphere of influence. In 1968,
an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's
leaders to liberalize Communist party rule and create "socialism
with a human face." Anti-Soviet demonstrations the following year
ushered in a period of harsh repression. With the collapse of Soviet
authority in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom through a
peaceful "Velvet Revolution." On 1 January 1993, the country
underwent a "velvet divorce" into its two national components, the
Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999
and the European Union in 2004.
Geography ::Czech Republic
Location:
Central Europe, between Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Austria
Geographic coordinates:
49 45 N, 15 30 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 78,867 sq km
country comparison to the world: 115
land: 77,247 sq km
water: 1,620 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 1,989 km
border countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 815 km, Poland 615 km,
Slovakia 197 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain:
Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus
surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very
hilly country
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Elbe River 115 m
highest point: Snezka 1,602 m
Natural resources:
hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber
Land use:
arable land: 38.82%
permanent crops: 3%
other: 58.18% (2005)
Irrigated land:
240 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
16 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.91 cu km/yr (41%/57%/2%)
per capita: 187 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
flooding
Environment - current issues:
air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in
northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain
damaging forests; efforts to bring industry up to EU code should
improve domestic pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; strategically located astride some of oldest and most
significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is a traditional
military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in
central Europe
People ::Czech Republic
Population:
10,201,707 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.6% (male 712,045/female 673,657)
15-64 years: 71% (male 3,641,887/female 3,604,044)
65 years and over: 15.5% (male 623,882/female 956,389) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.4 years
male: 38.9 years
female: 42.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.106% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Birth rate:
8.76 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Death rate:
10.79 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Net migration rate:
0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Urbanization:
urban population: 73% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.059 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.76 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 208
male: 4.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.01 years
country comparison to the world: 62
male: 73.74 years
female: 80.48 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.25 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 10 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Nationality:
noun: Czech(s)
adjective: Czech
Ethnic groups:
Czech 90.4%, Moravian 3.7%, Slovak 1.9%, other 4% (2001 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 26.8%, Protestant 2.1%, other 3.3%, unspecified 8.8%,
unaffiliated 59% (2001 census)
Languages:
Czech 94.9%, Slovak 2%, other 2.3%, unidentified 0.8% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
4.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 88
Government ::Czech Republic
Country name:
conventional long form: Czech Republic
conventional short form: Czech Republic
local long form: Ceska Republika
local short form: Cesko
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Prague
geographic coordinates: 50 05 N, 14 28 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:
13 regions (kraje, singular - kraj) and 1 capital city* (hlavni
mesto); Jihocesky (South Bohemia), Jihomoravsky (South Moravia),
Karlovarsky, Kralovehradecky, Liberecky, Moravskoslezsky
(Moravia-Silesia), Olomoucky, Pardubicky, Plzensky (Pilsen), Praha
(Prague)*, Stredocesky (Central Bohemia), Ustecky, Vysocina, Zlinsky
Independence:
1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and
Slovakia); note - although 1 January is the day the Czech Republic
came into being, the Czechs generally consider 28 October 1918, the
day the former Czechoslovakia declared its independence from the
Austro-Hungarian Empire, as their independence day
National holiday:
Czechoslovak Founding Day, 28 October (1918)
Constitution:
ratified on 16 December 1992, effective on 1 January 1993; amended
in 1997, 2000, 2001 (twice), 2002
Legal system:
civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; legal code
modified to bring it in line with European Union obligations and to
expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Petr NECAS (since 28 June 2010);
First Deputy Prime Minister Karel SCHWARZENBERG (since 13 July
2010), Deputy Prime Minister Radek JOHN (since 13 July 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); last successful election held on 15
February 2008 (after earlier elections held 8 and 9 February 2008
were inconclusive; next election to be held in 2013); prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: Vaclav KLAUS reelected president on 15 February
2008; Vaclav KLAUS 141 votes, Jan SVEJNAR 111 votes (third round;
combined votes of both chambers of parliament)
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat
(81 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms;
one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of Deputies or
Poslanecka Snemovna (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held in two rounds on 15-16 and 22-23
October 2010 (next to be held by October 2012); Chamber of Deputies
- last held on 28-29 May 2010 (next to be held by 2014)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - CSSD 41, ODS 25, KDU-CSL 6, TOP 09 5, others 4; Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - CSSD 22.1%, ODS 20.2%, TOP 09
16.7%, KSCM 11.3%, VV 10.9%; seats by party - CSSD 56, ODS 53, TOP
09 41, KSCM 26, VV 24
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; Supreme Administrative Court;
chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president for a
10-year term
Political parties and leaders:
Association of Independent Candidates-European Democrats or SNK-ED
[Zdenka MARKOVA]; Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's
Party or KDU-CSL [Pavel BELOBRADEK]; Civic Democratic Party or ODS
[Petr NECAS]; Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia or KSCM
[Vojtech FILIP]; Czech Social Democratic Party or CSSD [Bohuslav
SOBOTKA (acting)]; Green Party [Ondrej LISKA]; Public Affairs (VV)
[Radek JOHN]; Tradice Odpovednost Prosperita 09 or TOP 09 [Karel
SCHWARZENBERG]; Union of Freedom-Democratic Union or US-DEU [Jan
CERNY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions or CMKOS [Jaroslav
ZAVADIL]
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC,
EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Daniel
KOSTOVAL
chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 274-9100
FAX: [1] (202) 966-8540
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Joseph
PENNINGTON
embassy: Trziste 15, 118 01 Prague 1
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [420] 257 022 000
FAX: [420] 257 022 809
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue
isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
note: is identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia; uses
the Pan-Slav colors inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia
National anthem:
name: "Kde domov muj?" (Where is My Home?)
lyrics/music: Josef Kajetan TYL/Frantisek Jan SKROUP
note: adopted 1993; the anthem is a verse from the former
Czechoslovakian anthem originally written as part of the opera
"Fidlovacka"
Economy ::Czech Republic
Economy - overview:
The Czech Republic is one of the most stable and prosperous of the
post-Communist states of Central and Eastern Europe. Maintaining an
open investment climate has been a key element of the Czech
Republic's transition from a communist, centrally planned economy to
a functioning market economy. As a member of the European Union,
with an advantageous location in the center of Europe, a relatively
low cost structure, and a well-qualified labor force, the Czech
Republic is an attractive destination for foreign investment. Prior
to its EU accession in 2004, the Czech government harmonized its
laws and regulations with those of the European Union. The small,
open, export-driven Czech economy grew by over 6% annually from
2005-2007 and by 2.5% in 2008. The conservative Czech financial
system has remained relatively healthy throughout 2009.
Nevertheless, the real economy contracted by 4.1% in 2009, mainly
due to a significant drop in external demand as the Czech Republic's
main export markets fell into recession. GDP is expected to grow by
2.4% in 2010, driven largely by a rebound in external demand,
particularly from Gremany.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$261.5 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$256.9 billion (2009 est.)
$267.9 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$195.2 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
-4.1% (2009 est.)
2.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$25,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$25,200 (2009 est.)
$26,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 38.3%
services: 59.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
5.37 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 40.2%
services: 56.2% (2007)
Unemployment rate:
9.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
8.1% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.3%
highest 10%: 22.4% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 131
25.4 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
22.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Public debt:
40% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
34% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 131
2.25% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.99% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
6.25% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$96.82 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 32
$92.95 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$138.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$139 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$119.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$118.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$52.69 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 52
$48.85 billion (31 December 2008)
$73.42 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, poultry
Industries:
motor vehicles, metallurgy, machinery and equipment, glass, armaments
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Electricity - production:
82.72 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Electricity - consumption:
61.65 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Electricity - exports:
19.99 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
8.52 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
10,970 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Oil - consumption:
207,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Oil - exports:
29,670 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Oil - imports:
219,900 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Oil - proved reserves:
15 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Natural gas - production:
176 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Natural gas - consumption:
8.182 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Natural gas - exports:
1.111 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Natural gas - imports:
9.683 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Natural gas - proved reserves:
3.964 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Current account balance:
-$5.956 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
-$2.146 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$116.5 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$112.6 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, raw materials and fuel, chemicals
Exports - partners:
Germany 32.25%, Slovakia 9.02%, Poland 5.8%, France 5.62%, UK 4.93%,
Austria 4.71%, Italy 4.38% (2009)
Imports:
$109.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$103.1 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, raw materials and fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Germany 30.67%, Poland 6.97%, Slovakia 6.6%, Netherlands 5.99%,
China 5.7%, Austria 5.26%, Russia 4.93%, Italy 3.98% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$38.67 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$41.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$86.79 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$82.42 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$126.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$121.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$15.85 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$14.35 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
koruny (CZK) per US dollar - 19.737 (2010), 19.063 (2009), 17.064
(2008), 20.53 (2007), 22.596 (2006)
Communications ::Czech Republic
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.092 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 53
Telephones - mobile cellular:
14.258 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 51
Telephone system:
general assessment: privatization and modernization of the Czech
telecommunication system got a late start but is advancing steadily;
virtually all exchanges now digital; existing copper subscriber
systems enhanced with Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
equipment to accommodate Internet and other digital signals; trunk
systems include fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
domestic: access to the fixed-line telephone network expanded
throughout the 1990s but the number of fixed line connections has
been dropping since then; mobile telephone usage increased sharply
beginning in the mid-1990s and the number of cellular telephone
subscriptions now greatly exceeds the population
international: country code - 420; satellite earth stations - 6 (2
Intersputnik - Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions, 1 Intelsat, 1
Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 1 Globalstar) (2009)
Broadcast media:
roughly 130 television broadcasters operating some 350 television
channels with 4 publicly operated and the remainder in private
hands; 13 television stations have national coverage with 4 being
publicly operated; cable and satellite TV subscription services are
available; about 70 radio broadcasters are registered operating
roughly 85 radio stations with 15 stations publicly operated; 16
radio stations provide national coverage with the remainder local or
regional (2008)
Internet country code:
.cz
Internet hosts:
3.494 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 25
Internet users:
6.681 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 40
Transportation ::Czech Republic
Airports:
122 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 49
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 44
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 18 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 78
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 50 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 7,010 km; oil 547 km; refined products 94 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 9,620 km
country comparison to the world: 22
standard gauge: 9,521 km 1.435-m gauge (3,013 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 99 km 0.750-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 128,582 km
country comparison to the world: 37
paved: 128,582 km (includes 691 km of expressways) (2008)
Waterways:
664 km (principally on Elbe, Vltava, Oder, and other navigable
rivers, lakes, and canals) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 77
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 162
Ports and terminals:
Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem
Military ::Czech Republic
Military branches:
Army of the Czech Republic (ACR): Joint Forces Command (includes
Land Forces and Air Forces), Support and Training Forces Command
(2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-28 years of age for male and female voluntary military service;
no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,517,268
females age 16-49: 2,418,163 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,086,662
females age 16-49: 2,003,055 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 55,139
female: 52,440 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.46% of GDP (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Transnational Issues ::Czech Republic
Disputes - international:
while threats of international legal action never materialized in
2007, 915,220 Austrians, with the support of the popular Freedom
Party, signed a petition in January 2008, demanding that Austria
block the Czech Republic's accession to the EU unless Prague closes
its controversial Soviet-style nuclear plant in Temelin, bordering
Austria
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and minor transit
point for Latin American cocaine to Western Europe; producer of
synthetic drugs for local and regional markets; susceptible to money
laundering related to drug trafficking, organized crime; significant
consumer of ecstasy (2008)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Denmark (Europe)
Introduction ::Denmark
Background:
Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European
power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is
participating in the general political and economic integration of
Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973.
However, the country has opted out of certain elements of the
European Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic
and Monetary Union (EMU), European defense cooperation, and issues
concerning certain justice and home affairs.
Geography ::Denmark
Location:
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a
peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two major
islands (Sjaelland and Fyn)
Geographic coordinates:
56 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 43,094 sq km
country comparison to the world: 133
land: 42,434 sq km
water: 660 sq km
note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest
of metropolitan Denmark (the Jutland Peninsula, and the major
islands of Sjaelland and Fyn), but excludes the Faroe Islands and
Greenland
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
total: 68 km
border countries: Germany 68 km
Coastline:
7,314 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Terrain:
low and flat to gently rolling plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m
highest point: Mollehoj/Ejer Bavnehoj 171 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel
and sand
Land use:
arable land: 52.59%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 47.22% (2005)
Irrigated land:
4,490 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
6.1 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.67 cu km/yr (32%/26%/42%)
per capita: 123 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of
Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are
protected from the sea by a system of dikes
Environment - current issues:
air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions;
nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and
surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 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, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and
North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater
Copenhagen
People ::Denmark
Population:
5,515,575 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.1% (male 511,882/female 485,782)
15-64 years: 65.8% (male 1,817,800/female 1,798,964)
65 years and over: 16.1% (male 387,142/female 498,940) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.7 years
male: 39.8 years
female: 41.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.267% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Birth rate:
10.4 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Death rate:
10.19 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Net migration rate:
2.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Urbanization:
urban population: 87% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.055 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.29 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 198
male: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.47 years
country comparison to the world: 47
male: 76.11 years
female: 80.97 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.74 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
4,800 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Nationality:
noun: Dane(s)
adjective: Danish
Ethnic groups:
Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Christian (includes Protestant and
Roman Catholic) 3%, Muslim 2%
Languages:
Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small
minority)
note: English is the predominant second language
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 16 years
female: 18 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
7.9% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 12
Government ::Denmark
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark
conventional short form: Denmark
local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
local short form: Danmark
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Copenhagen
geographic coordinates: 55 40 N, 12 35 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
note: applies to continental Denmark only, not to its North Atlantic
components
Administrative divisions:
metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region);
Hovedstaden, Midtjylland, Nordjylland, Sjaelland, Syddanmark
note: an extensive local government reform merged 271 municipalities
into 98 and 13 counties into five regions, effective 1 January 2007
Independence:
ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under HARALD I Gormson); 5 June
1849 (becomes a constitutional monarchy)
National holiday:
none designated; Constitution Day, 5 June (1849) is generally viewed
as the National Day
Constitution:
5 June 1953; note - constitution allowed for a unicameral
legislature and a female chief of state
Legal system:
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir
Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born on 26
May 1968)
head of government: Prime Minister Lars Loekke RASMUSSEN (since 5
April 2009)
cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Assembly or Folketing (179 seats, including 2
from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands; members elected by
popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve
four-year terms unless the Folketing is dissolved earlier)
elections: last held on 13 November 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 26.2%,
Social Democrats 25.5%, Danish People's Party 13.9%, Socialist
People's Party 13.0%, Conservative People's Party 10.4%, Social
Liberal Party 5.1%, New Alliance 2.8%, Red-Green Unity List 2.2%,
other 0.9%; seats by party - Liberal Party 46, Social Democrats 45,
Danish People's Party 25, Socialist People's Party 23, Conservative
People's Party 18, Social Liberal Party 9, New Alliance 5, Red-Green
Alliance 4; note - does not include the two seats from Greenland and
the two seats from the Faroe Islands
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed for life by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democrats [Bjarne Hartung KIRKEGAARD] (was Christian
People's Party); Conservative Party [Lars BARFOED] (sometimes known
as Conservative People's Party); Danish People's Party [Pia
KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal Alliance [Anders SAMUELSEN] (formerly known as
New Alliance); Liberal Party [Lars Loekke RASMUSSEN]; Red-Green
Unity List (Alliance) [collective leadership] (bloc includes Left
Socialist Party, Communist Party of Denmark, Socialist Workers'
Party); Social Democratic Party [Helle THORNING-SCHMIDT]; Social
Liberal Party [Margrethe VESTAGER]; Socialist People's Party [Villy
SOEVNDAL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Danish Employers or DA [President Jorn Neergaard
LARSEN]; Principal DA member organizations: Confederation of Danish
Industries [CEO Karsten DYBVAD]; Confederation of Danish Labor
Unions [President Harald BORSTING]; Danish Bankers Association [CEO
Joergen HORWITZ]; DaneAge Association [President Bjarne HASTRUP];
Danish Society for Nature Conservation [President Ella Maria
BISSCHOP-LARSEN]
other: humanitarian relief; development assistance; human rights NGOs
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council,
Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO,
FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNRWA,
UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter TAKSOE-JENSEN
chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300
FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Laurie S. FULTON
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen
mailing address: PSC 73, APO AE 09716
telephone: [45] 33 41 71 00
FAX: [45] 35 43 02 23
Flag description:
red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the
vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side; the banner
is referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag) and is one of the
oldest national flags in the world; traditions as to the origin of
the flag design vary, but the best known is a legend that the banner
fell from the sky during an early-13th century battle; caught up by
the Danish king before it ever touched the earth, this heavenly
talisman inspired the royal army to victory; in actuality, the flag
may derive from a crusade banner or ensign
note: the shifted design element was subsequently adopted by the
other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
National anthem:
name: "Der er et yndigt land" (There is a Lovely Land); "Kong
Christian" (King Christian)
lyrics/music: Adam Gottlob OEHLENSCHLAGER/Hans Ernst KROYER;
Johannes EWALD/unknown
note: Denmark has two national anthems with equal status; "Der er et
yndigt land," adopted 1844, is a national anthem, while "Kong
Christian," adopted 1780, serves as both a national and royal
anthem; "Kong Christian" is also known as "Kong Christian stod ved
hojen mast" (King Christian Stood by the Lofty Mast) and
"Kongesangen" (The King's Anthem); within Denmark, the royal anthem
is played only when royalty is present and is usually followed by
the national anthem; when royalty is not present, only the national
anthem is performed; outside Denmark, the royal anthem is played,
unless the national anthem is requested
Economy ::Denmark
Economy - overview:
This thoroughly modern market economy features a high-tech
agricultural sector, state-of-the-art industry with world-leading
firms in pharmaceuticals, maritime shipping and renewable energy,
and a high dependence on foreign trade. The Danish economy is also
characterized by extensive government welfare measures, an equitable
distribution of income, and comfortable living standards. Denmark is
a net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance
of payments surplus. After a long consumption-driven upswing,
Denmark's economy began slowing in 2007 with the end of a housing
boom. Housing prices dropped markedly in 2008-09. The global
financial crisis has exacerbated this cyclical slowdown through
increased borrowing costs and lower export demand, consumer
confidence, and investment. The global financial crises cut Danish
GDP by 0.9% in 2008 and 4.7% in 2009. Historically low levels of
unemployment rose sharply with the recession but remain below 5%,
about half the level of the EU. Denmark made a modest recovery in
2010 in part because of increased government spending. An impending
decline in the ratio of workers to retirees will be a major
long-term issue. Denmark maintained a healthy budget surplus for
many years up to 2008, but the budget balance swung into deficit
during 2009-10. Nonetheless, Denmark's fiscal position remains among
the strongest in the EU. Despite previously meeting the criteria to
join the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), so far Denmark
has decided not to join, although the Danish krone remains pegged to
the euro.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$204.1 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$200.5 billion (2009 est.)
$210.4 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$304.6 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
-4.7% (2009 est.)
-0.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$37,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$36,400 (2009 est.)
$38,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.1%
industry: 22.8%
services: 76.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
2.82 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.5%
industry: 20.2%
services: 77.3% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
4.3% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
12.1% (2007)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 28.7% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
29 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 118
24.7 (1992)
Investment (gross fixed):
17.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Public debt:
46.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
41.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
1.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 110
3.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$148.1 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 23
$153.1 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$209 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$226.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$636.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$671.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$186.9 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 30
$131.5 billion (31 December 2008)
$277.7 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets; pork, dairy products; fish
Industries:
iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing,
machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing,
electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products,
shipbuilding and refurbishment, windmills, pharmaceuticals, medical
equipment
Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Electricity - production:
36.4 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Electricity - consumption:
34.3 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Electricity - exports:
11.36 billion kWh (2008)
Electricity - imports:
12.82 billion kWh (2008)
Oil - production:
262,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Oil - consumption:
166,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Oil - exports:
268,500 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Oil - imports:
173,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Oil - proved reserves:
1.06 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Natural gas - production:
8.398 billion cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 43
Natural gas - consumption:
4.41 billion cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 61
Natural gas - exports:
3.98 billion cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 29
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 91
Natural gas - proved reserves:
61.3 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Current account balance:
$14.35 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$12.43 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$99.37 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$91.51 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products,
fish, pharmaceuticals, furniture, windmills
Exports - partners:
Germany 17.53%, Sweden 12.68%, UK 8.49%, US 6.05%, Norway 6.01%,
Netherlands 4.84%, France 4.57% (2009)
Imports:
$90.83 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$84.46 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures for
industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Germany 21.07%, Sweden 13.18%, Norway 7%, Netherlands 6.97%, China
6.22%, UK 5.53% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$76.65 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$559.5 billion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 18
$588.8 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$149.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$144.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$199.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$186.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.774 (2010), 5.3609 (2009),
5.0236 (2008), 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006)
Communications ::Denmark
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.062 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 55
Telephones - mobile cellular:
7.406 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 79
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent telephone and telegraph services
domestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form
trunk network, multiple cellular mobile communications systems
international: country code - 45; a series of fiber-optic submarine
cables link Denmark with Canada, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and UK; satellite earth
stations - 18 (6 Intelsat, 10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, 1 Inmarsat
(Blaavand-Atlantic-East)); note - the Nordic countries (Denmark,
Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) share the Danish earth station
and the Eik, Norway, station for worldwide Inmarsat access (2008)
Broadcast media:
strong public-sector television presence with state-owned Danmarks
Radio (DR) operating 4 channels and publicly-owned TV2 operating
roughly a half dozen channels; broadcasts of privately-owned
stations are available via satellite and cable feed; DR operates 4
nationwide FM radio stations, 15 digital audio broadcasting
stations, and about 15 web-based radio stations; approximately 250
commercial and community radio stations are operational (2007)
Internet country code:
.dk
Internet hosts:
4.145 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 22
Internet users:
4.75 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 48
Transportation ::Denmark
Airports:
92 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 65
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 28
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 64
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 61 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 2,858 km; oil 107 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,667 km
country comparison to the world: 64
standard gauge: 2,667 km 1.435-m gauge (640 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 73,197 km
country comparison to the world: 64
paved: 73,197 km (includes 1,111 km of expressways) (2008)
Waterways:
400 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 89
Merchant marine:
total: 347
country comparison to the world: 28
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 56, carrier 1, chemical tanker 104,
container 87, liquefied gas 4, passenger/cargo 40, petroleum tanker
38, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 3
foreign-owned: 32 (Germany 10, Greece 1, Iceland 3, Norway 2, Sweden
16)
registered in other countries: 592 (Antigua and Barbuda 20, Bahamas
59, Belgium 4, Brazil 3, Cyprus 6, Egypt 1, France 12, Georgia 1,
Gibraltar 6, Hong Kong 41, Isle of Man 26, Italy 4, Jamaica 1,
Liberia 4, Lithuania 8, Malaysia 1, Malta 41, Marshall Islands 7,
Mexico 2, Netherlands 36, former Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 11,
Panama 46, Portugal 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 19,
Singapore 125, South Africa 1, Spain 2, Sweden 15, UK 46, Uruguay 1,
US 34, Venezuela 1, unknown 3) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Aalborg, Aarhus, Copenhagen, Ensted, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Kalundborg
Military ::Denmark
Military branches:
Defense Command: Army Operational Command, Admiral Danish Fleet,
Arctic Command, Tactical Air Command, Home Guard (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscripts serve an initial training period that varies from 4 to 12
months according to specialization; reservists are assigned to
mobilization units following completion of their conscript service;
women eligible to volunteer for military service (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,235,947
females age 16-49: 1,221,386 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,013,814
females age 16-49: 1,001,411 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 37,831
female: 35,930 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Transnational Issues ::Denmark
Disputes - international:
Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe
Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; Faroese continue
to study proposals for full independence; sovereignty dispute with
Canada over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere
Island and Greenland
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Dhekelia (Europe)
Introduction ::Dhekelia
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 larger of these is the Dhekelia Sovereign
Base Area, which is also referred to as the Eastern Sovereign Base
Area.
Geography ::Dhekelia
Location:
Eastern Mediterranean, on the southeast coast of Cyprus near
Famagusta
Geographic coordinates:
34 59 N, 33 45 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 130.8 sq km
country comparison to the world: 222
note: area surrounds three Cypriot enclaves
Area - comparative:
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 103 km (approximately)
border countries: Cyprus 103 km (approximately)
Coastline:
27.5 km
Climate:
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Environment - current issues:
netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and
autumn
Geography - note:
British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small
off-post sites scattered across Cyprus; of the Sovereign Base Area
land 60% is privately owned and farmed, 20% is owned by the Ministry
of Defense, and 20% is SBA Crown land
People ::Dhekelia
Population:
approximately 15,700 live on the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri
and Dhekelia including 7,700 Cypriots, 3,600 service and UK based
contract personnel, and 4,400 dependents
country comparison to the world: 220
Languages:
English, Greek
Government ::Dhekelia
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Dhekelia
Dependency status:
a special form of UK overseas territory; administered by an
administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus
Capital:
name: Episkopi Cantonment (base administrative center for Akrotiri
and Dhekelia); located in Akrotiri
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, functions as a basic legal document
Legal system:
the Sovereign Base Area Administration has its own court system to
deal with civil and criminal matters; laws applicable to the Cypriot
population are, as far as possible, the same as the laws of the
Republic of Cyprus
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Administrator Major General Jamie GORDON (since
October 2008); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defense
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; the 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:
the flag of the UK is used
National anthem:
note: as a United Kingdom area of special sovereignty,"God Save the
Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
Economy ::Dhekelia
Economy - overview:
Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military
and their families located in Dhekelia. All food and manufactured
goods must be imported.
Industries:
none
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7338 (2009), 0.6827
(2008)
note: on 1 January 2008, Dhekelia and Akrotiri adopted the euro
along with the rest of Cyprus
Communications ::Dhekelia
Broadcast media:
British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel
satellite TV service as well as BFBS radio broadcasts to the
Dhekelia Sovereign Base (2009)
Military ::Dhekelia
Military - note:
includes Dhekelia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a
roadway
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Djibouti (Africa)
Introduction ::Djibouti
Background:
The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in
1977. Hassan Gouled APTIDON installed an authoritarian one-party
state and proceeded to serve as president until 1999. Unrest among
the Afars minority during the 1990s led to a civil war that ended in
2001 following the conclusion of a peace accord between Afar rebels
and the Issa-dominated government. In 1999, Djibouti's first
multi-party presidential elections resulted in the election of
Ismail Omar GUELLEH; he was re-elected to a second term in 2005.
Djibouti occupies a strategic geographic location at the mouth of
the Red Sea and serves as an important transshipment location for
goods entering and leaving the east African highlands. The present
leadership favors close ties to France, which maintains a
significant military presence in the country but also has strong
ties with the US. Djibouti hosts the only US military base in
sub-Saharan Africa and is a front-line state in the global war on
terrorism.
Geography ::Djibouti
Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between
Eritrea and Somalia
Geographic coordinates:
11 30 N, 43 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 23,200 sq km
country comparison to the world: 150
land: 23,180 sq km
water: 20 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
total: 516 km
border countries: Eritrea 109 km, Ethiopia 349 km, Somalia 58 km
Coastline:
314 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
desert; torrid, dry
Terrain:
coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m
highest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m
Natural resources:
potential geothermal power, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble,
salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 0.04%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.96% (2005)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
0.3 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.02 cu km/yr (84%/0%/16%)
per capita: 25 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the
Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods
volcanism: Djibouti experiences limited volcanic activity; Ardoukoba
(elev. 298 m, 978 ft) last erupted in 1978; Manda-Inakir, located
along the Ethiopian border, is also historically active
Environment - current issues:
inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land;
desertification; endangered species
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 near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to
Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; mostly
wasteland; Lac Assal (Lake Assal) is the lowest point in Africa
People ::Djibouti
Population:
740,528 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.3% (male 131,878/female 131,449)
15-64 years: 60.4% (male 194,503/female 243,495)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 10,462/female 12,835) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.4 years
male: 19.8 years
female: 22.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.181% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Birth rate:
25.58 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Death rate:
8.37 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Net migration rate:
4.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 20
Urbanization:
urban population: 87% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.8 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 56.65 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 39
male: 64.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 48.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.73 years
country comparison to the world: 186
male: 58.31 years
female: 63.22 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.79 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
16,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Djiboutian(s)
adjective: Djiboutian
Ethnic groups:
Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (includes French, Arab, Ethiopian,
and Italian)
Religions:
Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Languages:
French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.9%
male: 78%
female: 58.4% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 5 years
male: 5 years
female: 4 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
8.7% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 8
Government ::Djibouti
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti
conventional short form: Djibouti
local long form: Republique de Djibouti/Jumhuriyat Jibuti
local short form: Djibouti/Jibuti
former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Djibouti
geographic coordinates: 11 35 N, 43 09 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
6 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); Ali Sabieh, Arta, Dikhil,
Djibouti, Obock, Tadjourah
Independence:
27 June 1977 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
Constitution:
approved by referendum 4 September 1992; note - constitution allows
for multiparties
Legal system:
based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic
law; accepts ICJ compulsory jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed Dileita DILEITA (since 4
March 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
president is eligible to hold office until age 75; election last
held on 8 April 2005 (next to be held by April 2011); prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president; percent
of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH 100%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (65 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note -
constitutional amendments in 2010 provided for the establishment of
a senate
elections: last held on 8 February 2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP
(coalition of parties associated with President Ismail Omar GUELLAH)
65
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic National Party or PND [ADEN Robleh Awaleh]; Democratic
Renewal Party or PRD [Abdillahi HAMARITEH]; Djibouti Development
Party or PDD [Mohamed Daoud CHEHEM]; Front pour la Restauration de
l'Unite Democratique or FRUD [Ali Mohamed DAOUD]; People's Progress
Assembly or RPP [Ismail Omar GUELLEH] (governing party); Peoples
Social Democratic Party or PPSD [Moumin Bahdon FARAH]; Republican
Alliance for Democracy or ARD [Ahmed YOUSSOUF]; Union for a
Presidential Majority or UMP [Mohamed Dileita DILEITA] (a coalition
of parties including RPP, FRUD, PND, and PPSD); Union for Democracy
and Justice or UDJ
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Union for Presidential Majority UMP (coalition includes RPP, FRUD,
PPSD and PND); Union for Democratic Changeover or UAD (opposition
coalition includes ARD, MRDD, and UDJ)
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roble OLHAYE Oudine
chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270
FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James C. SWAN
embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti
mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti
telephone: [253] 35 39 95
FAX: [253] 35 39 40
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with
a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red
five-pointed star in the center; blue stands for sea and sky and the
Issa Somali people; green symbolizes earth and the Afar people;
white represents peace; the red star recalls the struggle for
independence and stands for unity
National anthem:
name: "Jabuuti" (Djibouti)
lyrics/music: Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH
note: adopted 1977
Economy ::Djibouti
Economy - overview:
The economy is based on service activities connected with the
country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in the
Horn of Africa. Two-thirds of Djibouti's inhabitants live in the
capital city; the remainder are mostly nomadic herders. Scanty
rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most
food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit
port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling
center. Imports and exports from landlocked neighbor Ethiopia
represent 70% of port activity at Djibouti's container terminal.
Djibouti has few natural resources and little industry. The nation
is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to help
support its balance of payments and to finance development projects.
An unemployment rate of nearly 60% in urban areas continues to be a
major problem. While inflation is not a concern, due to the fixed
tie of the Djiboutian franc to the US dollar, the artificially high
value of the Djiboutian franc adversely affects Djibouti's balance
of payments. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% between
1999 and 2006 because of recession, civil war, and a high population
growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). Djibouti has
experienced relatively minimal impact from the global economic
downturn, but its reliance on diesel-generated electricity and
imported food leave average consumers vulnerable to global price
shocks.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.099 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
$2.003 billion (2009 est.)
$1.908 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.139 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
5% (2009 est.)
5.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
$2,800 (2009 est.)
$2,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.2%
industry: 14.9%
services: 81.9% (2006)
Labor force:
351,700 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 159
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
59% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
note: data are for urban areas, 83% in rural areas
Population below poverty line:
42% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 30.9% (2002)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6% (2009 est.) 5%
country comparison to the world: 161
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
11.56% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$577.8 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 156
$462.7 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$940.8 million (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
$800.8 million (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$339 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 168
$269.9 million (31 December 2008)
Agriculture - products:
fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels, animal hides
Industries:
construction, agricultural processing
Electricity - production:
280 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Electricity - consumption:
260.4 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Oil - consumption:
12,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Oil - exports:
19 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Oil - imports:
8,476 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Current account balance:
-$352 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
-$212 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$100 million (2009); $340 million
country comparison to the world: 192
Exports - commodities:
reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
Exports - partners:
Somalia 76.68%, France 4.89%, UAE 4.22% (2009)
Imports:
$644 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
$1.555 billion (2006)
Imports - commodities:
foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 16.26%, India 16.03%, China 14.26%, US 9.57%, Malaysia
6.63%, Japan 4.74% (2009)
Debt - external:
$428 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 165
Exchange rates:
Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar - 177.71 (2007), 174.75
(2006), 177.72 (2005), 177.72 (2004), 177.72 (2003)
Communications ::Djibouti
Telephones - main lines in use:
16,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 197
Telephones - mobile cellular:
128,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 179
Telephone system:
general assessment: telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are
adequate, as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying
areas of the country
domestic: Djibouti Telecom is the sole provider of
telecommunications services and utilizes mostly a microwave radio
relay network; fiber-optic cable is installed in the capital; rural
areas connected via wireless local loop radio systems; mobile
cellular coverage is primarily limited to the area in and around
Djibouti city
international: country code - 253; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
optical telecommunications submarine cable with links to Asia, the
Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat -
Indian Ocean and 1 Arabsat); Medarabtel regional microwave radio
relay telephone network (2009)
Broadcast media:
maintains restrictions on the licensing and operation of broadcast
media; state-owned Radiodiffusion-Television de Djibouti (RTD)
operates the sole terrestrial TV station as well as the only 2
domestic radio networks; no private TV or radio stations;
transmissions of several international broadcasters are available
(2007)
Internet country code:
.dj
Internet hosts:
195 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 196
Internet users:
25,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 184
Transportation ::Djibouti
Airports:
13 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 151
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Railways:
total: 100 km (Djibouti segment of the 781 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti
railway)
country comparison to the world: 126
narrow gauge: 100 km 1.000-m gauge
note: railway is under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia but is
largely inoperable (2008)
Roadways:
total: 3,065 km
country comparison to the world: 164
paved: 1,226 km
unpaved: 1,839 km (2000)
Ports and terminals:
Djibouti
Transportation - note:
the International Maritime Bureau reports offshore waters in the
Gulf of Aden are high risk for piracy; numerous vessels, including
commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and
hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crew, passengers, and
cargo are held for ransom
Military ::Djibouti
Military branches:
Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 16-25 years of age
for voluntary military training; no conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 165,000
females age 16-49: 213,894 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 110,441
females age 16-49: 147,939 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 8,260
female: 8,503 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 30
Transnational Issues ::Djibouti
Disputes - international:
Djibouti maintains economic ties and border accords with
"Somaliland" leadership while maintaining some political ties to
various factions in Somalia; Kuwait is chief investor in the 2008
restoration and upgrade of the Ethiopian-Djibouti rail link; in
2008, Eritrean troops move across the border on Ras Doumera
peninsula and occupy Doumera Island with undefined sovereignty in
the Red Sea
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 8,642 (Somalia) (2007)
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Dominica (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Dominica
Background:
Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonized by
Europeans due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the native Caribs.
France ceded possession to Great Britain in 1763, which made the
island a colony in 1805. In 1980, two years after independence,
Dominica's fortunes improved when a corrupt and tyrannical
administration was replaced by that of Mary Eugenia CHARLES, the
first female prime minister in the Caribbean, who remained in office
for 15 years. Some 3,000 Carib Indians still living on Dominica are
the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the eastern Caribbean.
Geography ::Dominica
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, about half way between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
15 25 N, 61 20 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 751 sq km
country comparison to the world: 188
land: 751 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
148 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
Terrain:
rugged mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Morne Diablotins 1,447 m
Natural resources:
timber, hydropower, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 6.67%
permanent crops: 21.33%
other: 72% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
NA
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.02 cu km/yr
per capita: 213 cu m/yr (1996)
Natural hazards:
flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be
expected during the late summer months
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" due to its
spectacular, lush, and varied flora and fauna, which are protected
by an extensive natural park system; the most mountainous of the
Lesser Antilles, its volcanic peaks are cones of lava craters and
include Boiling Lake, the second-largest, thermally active lake in
the world
People ::Dominica
Population:
72,813 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 8,910/female 8,518)
15-64 years: 65.8% (male 24,532/female 23,301)
65 years and over: 10.2% (male 3,187/female 4,212) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.3 years
male: 29.8 years
female: 30.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.213% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Birth rate:
15.68 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Death rate:
8.12 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Net migration rate:
-5.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Urbanization:
urban population: 74% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.2 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 132
male: 17.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.77 years
country comparison to the world: 76
male: 72.82 years
female: 78.87 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.08 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups:
black 86.8%, mixed 8.9%, Carib Amerindian 2.9%, white 0.8%, other
0.7% (2001 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 61.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 6%, Pentecostal 5.6%,
Baptist 4.1%, Methodist 3.7%, Church of God 1.2%, Jehovah's
Witnesses 1.2%, other Christian 7.7%, Rastafarian 1.3%, other or
unspecified 1.6%, none 6.1% (2001 census)
Languages:
English (official), French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 94%
male: 94%
female: 94% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
4.8% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 79
Government ::Dominica
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica
conventional short form: Dominica
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Roseau
geographic coordinates: 15 18 N, 61 24 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John,
Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul,
Saint Peter
Independence:
3 November 1978 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
Constitution:
3 November 1978
Legal system:
based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicholas J. O. LIVERPOOL (since October
2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8
January 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the
prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by the House of Assembly for a
five-year term; election last held on 1 October 2003 (next to be
held in 2013); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Nicholas LIVERPOOL consented to a second term in
2008 at the request of the prime minister and leader of the
opposition
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats; 9 members appointed, 21
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 18 December 2009 (next to be held in 2015);
note - tradition dictates that the election will be held within five
years of the last election, but technically it is five years from
the first seating of parliament (12 May 2005) plus a 90-day grace
period
election results: percent of vote by party - DLP 61.2%, UWP 34.9%;
seats by party - DLP 18, UWP 3
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the Court of Appeal
and the High Court (located in Saint Lucia; one of the six judges
must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary
Jurisdiction)
Political parties and leaders:
Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Charles SAVARIN]; Dominica Labor
Party or DLP [Roosevelt SKERRIT]; Dominica United Workers Party or
UWP [Earl WILLIAMS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party)
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, PetroCaribe, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hubert J. CHARLES
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6781
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6791
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the US Ambassador to
Barbados is accredited to Dominica
Flag description:
green, with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical
part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the horizontal
part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center
of the cross is a red disk bearing a Sisserou Parrot, unique to
Dominica, encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow;
the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes);
green symbolizes the island's lush vegetation; the triple-colored
cross represents the Christian Trinity; the yellow color denotes
sunshine, the main agricultural products (citrus and bananas), and
the native Carib Indians; black is for the rich soil and the African
heritage of most citizens; white signifies rivers, waterfalls, and
the purity of aspirations; the red disc stands for social justice
National anthem:
name: "Isle of Beauty, Isle of Splendor"
lyrics/music: Wilfred Oscar Morgan POND/Lemuel McPherson CHRISTIAN
note: adopted 1967
Economy ::Dominica
Economy - overview:
The Dominican economy has been dependent on agriculture - primarily
bananas - in years past, but increasingly has been driven by tourism
as the government seeks to promote Dominica as an "ecotourism"
destination. In order to diversify the island's production base, the
government also is attempting to develop an offshore financial
sector and has signed an agreement with the EU to develop geothermal
energy resources. In 2003, the government began a comprehensive
restructuring of the economy - including elimination of price
controls, privatization of the state banana company, and tax
increases - to address an economic and financial crisis and to meet
IMF requirements. This restructuring paved the way for an economic
recovery - real growth for 2006 reached a two-decade high - and
helped to reduce the debt burden, which remains at about 85% of GDP.
Hurricane Dean struck the island in August 2007 causing damages
equivalent to 20% of GDP. In 2009, growth slowed as a result of the
global recession; it picked up only slightly in 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$765.4 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
$754.8 million (2009 est.)
$757.1 million (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$375 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
-0.3% (2009 est.)
3.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$10,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
$10,400 (2009 est.)
$10,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17.7%
industry: 32.8%
services: 49.5% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
25,000 (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 40%
industry: 32%
services: 28% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
23% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Population below poverty line:
30% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Public debt:
78% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
85% of GDP (2006 est.) (2006 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
2.7% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 61
6.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.02% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
9.06% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$74.84 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 183
$67.94 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$398.5 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 176
$362 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$213.6 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
$193.1 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, citrus, mangos, root crops, coconuts, cocoa
note: forest and fishery potential not exploited
Industries:
soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
85 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Electricity - consumption:
79.05 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Oil - imports:
838 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Current account balance:
-$72 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Exports:
$94 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 194
Exports - commodities:
bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
Exports - partners:
Japan 28.62%, UK 19.81%, Antigua and Barbuda 7.7%, Guyana 6.52%,
Jamaica 5.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.2% (2009)
Imports:
$296 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 196
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Japan 31.29%, US 19.73%, Trinidad and Tobago 11.8%, China 11.58%
(2009)
Debt - external:
$213 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 174
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006),
2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
Communications ::Dominica
Telephones - main lines in use:
17,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 196
Telephones - mobile cellular:
106,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 184
Telephone system:
general assessment: fully automatic network
domestic: Fixed-line teledensity is roughly 25 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular teledensity approached 150 per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 1-767; landing points for the East
Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and the Global Caribbean Network
(GCN) submarine cables providing connectivity to other islands in
the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to
Trinidad; microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to
Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint
Lucia
Broadcast media:
no terrestrial television service available; subscription cable TV
provider offers some locally produced programming plus channels from
the US, Latin America, and the Caribbean; state-operated radio
broadcasts on 6 stations; privately-owned radio broadcasts on about
15 stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.dm
Internet hosts:
718 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 174
Internet users:
28,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 182
Transportation ::Dominica
Airports:
2 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 208
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 780 km
country comparison to the world: 187
paved: 393 km
unpaved: 387 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 40
country comparison to the world: 78
by type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 20, chemical tanker 2, petroleum
tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 37 (Australia 1, Estonia 6, Germany 2, Greece 9,
India 2, Latvia 1, Norway 1, Russia 6, Saudi Arabia 3, Singapore 1,
Syria 2, Turkey 1, Ukraine 2)
registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Portsmouth, Roseau
Military ::Dominica
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force
(includes Coast Guard) (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 18,975 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 15,963
females age 16-49: 15,426 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 729
female: 688 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues ::Dominica
Disputes - international:
Dominica is the only Caribbean state to challenge Venezuela's
sovereignty claim over Aves Island and joins the other island
nations in challenging whether the feature sustains human
habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the
Sea (UNCLOS), which permits Venezuela to extend its Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf claims over a large
portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor
cannabis producer (2008)
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Dominican Republic (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Dominican Republic
Background:
Explored and claimed by Christopher COLUMBUS on his first voyage in
1492, the island of Hispaniola became a springboard for Spanish
conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain
recognized French dominion over the western third of the island,
which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then
known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821
but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finally
attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. In 1861,
the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two
years later they launched a war that restored independence in 1865.
A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative rule followed,
capped by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas TRUJILLO from 1930-61.
Juan BOSCH was elected president in 1962 but was deposed in a
military coup in 1963. In 1965, the United States led an
intervention in the midst of a civil war sparked by an uprising to
restore BOSCH. In 1966, Joaquin BALAGUER defeated BOSCH in an
election to become president. BALAGUER maintained a tight grip on
power for most of the next 30 years when international reaction to
flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then,
regular competitive elections have been held in which opposition
candidates have won the presidency. Former President (1996-2000)
Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna won election to a new term in 2004 following
a constitutional amendment allowing presidents to serve more than
one term, and was since reelected to a second consecutive term.
Geography ::Dominican Republic
Location:
Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between
the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
Geographic coordinates:
19 00 N, 70 40 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 48,670 sq km
country comparison to the world: 131
land: 48,320 sq km
water: 350 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries:
total: 360 km
border countries: Haiti 360 km
Coastline:
1,288 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 6 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; seasonal
variation in rainfall
Terrain:
rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m
highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m
Natural resources:
nickel, bauxite, gold, silver
Land use:
arable land: 22.49%
permanent crops: 10.26%
other: 67.25% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,750 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
21 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 3.39 cu km/yr (32%/2%/66%)
per capita: 381 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe
storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs;
deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti
People ::Dominican Republic
Population:
9,823,821 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.4% (male 1,543,141/female 1,488,016)
15-64 years: 62.7% (male 3,087,351/female 2,960,319)
65 years and over: 5.9% (male 264,476/female 306,751) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.8 years
male: 25.6 years
female: 26 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.357% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Birth rate:
19.9 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Death rate:
4.3 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Net migration rate:
-2.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Urbanization:
urban population: 69% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 23.1 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 90
male: 25.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.15 years
country comparison to the world: 60
male: 75.01 years
female: 79.38 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.47 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
62,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups:
mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
Languages:
Spanish (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87%
male: 86.8%
female: 87.2% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 11 years
female: 13 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
2.2% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 165
Government ::Dominican Republic
Country name:
conventional long form: Dominican Republic
conventional short form: The Dominican
local long form: Republica Dominicana
local short form: La Dominicana
Government type:
democratic republic
Capital:
name: Santo Domingo
geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 69 54 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
31 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district*
(distrito); Azua, Bahoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*,
Duarte, El Seibo, Elias Pina, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia,
La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor
Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata,
Salcedo, Samana, San Cristobal, San Jose de Ocoa, San Juan, San
Pedro de Macoris, Sanchez Ramirez, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez,
Santo Domingo, Valverde
Independence:
27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Constitution:
28 November 1966; amended 25 July 2002 and January 2010
Legal system:
based on French civil codes; Criminal Procedures Code modified in
2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons
regardless of age; note - members of the armed forces and national
police cannot vote
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August
2004); Vice President Rafael ALBURQUERQUE de Castro (since 16 August
2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16
August 2004); Vice President Rafael ALBURQUERQUE de Castro (since 16
August 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held on 16 May
2008 (next to be held in May 2012)
election results: Leonel FERNANDEZ reelected president; percent of
vote - Leonel FERNANDEZ 53.6%, Miguel VARGAS 41%, Amable ARISTY less
than 5%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the
Senate or Senado (32 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de
Diputados (178 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 16 May 2010 (next to be held in May
2014); House of Representatives - last held on 16 May 2010 (next to
be held in May 2014)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PLD 31, PRD 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - PLD 105, PRD 75, PRSC 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by the National
Judicial Council comprised of the president, the leaders of both
chambers of congress, the president of the Supreme Court, and an
additional non-governing party congressional representative)
Political parties and leaders:
Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna];
Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Ramon ALBURQUERQUE]; National
Progressive Front [Vincent CASTILLO, Pelegrin CASTILLO]; Social
Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Enrique ANTUN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Citizen Participation Group (Participacion Ciudadania); Collective
of Popular Organizations or COP; Foundation for Institution-Building
and Justice (FINJUS)
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, BCIE, Caricom (observer), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES,
LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, PetroCaribe, RG,
SICA (associated member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto B. SALADIN Selin
chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280
FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057
consulate(s) general: Anchorage, Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto
Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Sun
Valley (California)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Raul H. YZAGUIRRE
embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo
Navarro, Santo Domingo
mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500
telephone: [1] (809) 221-2171
FAX: [1] (809) 686-7437
Flag description:
a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag
into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red,
and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of
arms featuring a shield supported by a laurel branch (left) and a
palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield
a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God,
Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA
appears on a red ribbon; in the shield a bible is opened to a verse
that reads "Y la verdad nos hara libre" (And the truth shall set you
free); blue stands for liberty, white for salvation, and red for the
blood of heroes
National anthem:
name: "Himno Nacional" (National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Emilio PRUD"HOMME/Jose REYES
note: adopted 1934; also known as "Quisqueyanos valientes" (Valient
Sons of Quisqueye); the anthem never refers to the people as
Dominican but rather calls them "Quisqueyanos," a reference to the
indigenous name of the island
Economy ::Dominican Republic
Economy - overview:
The Dominican Republic has long been viewed primarily as an exporter
of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, but in recent years the service
sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer,
due to growth in tourism and free trade zones. The economy is highly
dependent upon the US, the destination for nearly 60% of exports.
Remittances from the US amount to about a tenth of GDP, equivalent
to almost half of exports and three-quarters of tourism receipts.
The country suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half
of the population receives less than one-fifth of GDP, while the
richest 10% enjoys nearly 40% of GDP. High unemployment and
underemployment remains an important long-term challenge. The
Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR)
came into force in March 2007, boosting investment and exports and
reducing losses to the Asian garment industry. The growth of the
Dominican Republic's economy slowed in 2008-09 because of the global
recession, but still remained one of the fastest growing in the
region.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$84.94 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$81.52 billion (2009 est.)
$78.76 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$50.87 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
3.5% (2009 est.)
5.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
$8,400 (2009 est.)
$8,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11.5%
industry: 21%
services: 67.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
4.498 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 14.6%
industry: 22.3%
services: 63.1% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
14.9% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
42.2% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%: 38.7% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
49.9 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 25
47.4 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
15.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Public debt:
41.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
40.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
1.4% (2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
18.14% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
19.95% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$4.734 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 93
$4.079 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$15.71 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
$14 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$21.63 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$18.91 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes,
corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs
Industries:
tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles,
cement, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:
1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Electricity - production:
14.02 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Electricity - consumption:
12.7 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Oil - consumption:
118,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Oil - imports:
116,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Natural gas - consumption:
470 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Natural gas - imports:
470 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Current account balance:
-$3.862 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
-$2.328 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$6.161 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
$5.462 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats,
consumer goods
Exports - partners:
US 54.08%, Haiti 9.78% (2009)
Imports:
$14.53 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
$12.28 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and
pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:
US 42.79%, Venezuela 7.04%, Mexico 6.17%, Colombia 5.59% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.705 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
$2.905 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$13.09 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$11.04 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$19.45 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$17.95 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$59 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar - 36.92 (2010), 36.027 (2009),
34.775 (2008), 33.113 (2007), 33.406 (2006)
Communications ::Dominican Republic
Telephones - main lines in use:
965,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 80
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8.63 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 71
Telephone system:
general assessment: relatively efficient system based on island-wide
microwave radio relay network
domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 10 per 100 persons;
multiple providers of mobile-cellular service with a subscribership
of roughly 75 per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-809; landing point for the Americas
Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), Antillas 1, and the
Fibralink submarine cables that provide links to South and Central
America, parts of the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
combination of state-owned and privately-owned broadcast media; 1
state-owned television network and a number of private TV networks;
networks operate repeaters to extend signals throughout country;
combination of state-owned and privately-owned radio stations; more
than 300 radio stations operating (2007)
Internet country code:
.do
Internet hosts:
283,298 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 60
Internet users:
2.701 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 68
Transportation ::Dominican Republic
Airports:
35 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 110
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 17 (2010)
Railways:
total: 1,784 km
country comparison to the world: 77
standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,409 km 1.076-m, 0.889-m, and 0.762-m gauges
note: 1,226 km operated by sugar companies in 1.076 m, 0.889 m, and
0.762-m gauges (2008)
Roadways:
total: 19,705 km
country comparison to the world: 110
paved: 9,872 km
unpaved: 9,833 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
total: 1
country comparison to the world: 161
by type: cargo 1
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Andres (Boca Chica), Puerto Haina, Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
Military ::Dominican Republic
Military branches:
Army, Navy (Marina de Guerra), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Dominicana,
FAD) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
16-21 years of age for compulsory military service; recruits must be
Dominican Republic citizens; women may volunteer (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,514,160
females age 16-49: 2,395,804 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,090,785
females age 16-49: 1,957,233 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 98,394
female: 94,576 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 154
Transnational Issues ::Dominican Republic
Disputes - international:
Haitian migrants cross the porous border into the Dominican Republic
to find work; illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the
Mona Passage each year to Puerto Rico to find better work
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: the Dominican Republic is a source, transit, and
destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the
purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; a large
number of Dominican women are trafficked into prostitution and
sexual exploitation in Western Europe, Australia, Central and South
America, and Caribbean destinations; a significant number of women,
boys, and girls are trafficked within the country for sexual
exploitation and domestic servitude
tier rating: Tier 3 - for its failure to show evidence of increasing
efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly in terms of not
adequately investigating and prosecuting public officials who may be
complicit with trafficking activity, and inadequate government
efforts to protect trafficking victims; the government has taken
measures to reduce demand for commercial sex acts with children
through criminal prosecutions (2008)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and
Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the
Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantial
money laundering activity in particular by Colombian narcotics
traffickers; significant amphetamine consumption (2008)
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Ecuador (South America)
Introduction ::Ecuador
Background:
What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until
the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish
colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New
Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada
(Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence between
1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When
Quito withdrew in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of
the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost
territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border
war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although
Ecuador marked 30 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period
has been marred by political instability. Protests in Quito
contributed to the mid-term ouster of three of Ecuador's last four
democratically elected Presidents. In September 2008, voters
approved a new constitution; Ecuador's twentieth since gaining
independence. General elections, under the new constitutional
framework, were held in April 2009, and voters re-elected President
Rafael CORREA.
Geography ::Ecuador
Location:
Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator,
between Colombia and Peru
Geographic coordinates:
2 00 S, 77 30 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 283,561 sq km
country comparison to the world: 73
land: 276,841 sq km
water: 6,720 sq km
note: includes Galapagos Islands
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Nevada
Land boundaries:
total: 2,010 km
border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km
Coastline:
2,237 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: 100 nm from 2,500-m isobath
Climate:
tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations;
tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
Terrain:
coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and
flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m
note: due to the fact that the earth is not a perfect sphere and has
an equatorial bulge, the highest point on the planet furthest from
its center is Mount Chimborazo not Mount Everest, which is merely
the highest peak above sea-level
Natural resources:
petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 4.81%
other: 89.48% (2005)
Irrigated land:
8,650 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
432 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 16.98 cu km/yr (12%/5%/82%)
per capita: 1,283 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
frequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods;
periodic droughts
volcanism: Ecuador experiences volcanic activity in the Andes
Mountains; Sangay (elev. 5,230 m, 17,159 ft), which erupted in 2010,
is mainland Ecuador's most active volcano; other historically active
volcanoes in the Andes include Antisana, Cayambe, Chacana, Cotopaxi,
Guagua Pichincha, Reventador, Sumaco, and Tungurahua; Fernandina
(elev. 1,476 m, 4,842 ft), a shield volcano that last erupted in
2009, is the most active of the many Galapagos volcanoes; other
historically active Galapagos volcanoes include Wolf, Sierra Negra,
Cerro Azul, Pinta, Marchena, and Santiago
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution;
pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas
of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
People ::Ecuador
Population:
14,790,608 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.1% (male 2,312,610/female 2,220,378)
15-64 years: 62.7% (male 4,506,908/female 4,636,703)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 432,144/female 464,358) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.3 years
male: 24.7 years
female: 25.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.466% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Birth rate:
20.32 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Death rate:
5 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Net migration rate:
-0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Urbanization:
urban population: 66% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.26 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 100
male: 23.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.52 years
country comparison to the world: 81
male: 72.58 years
female: 78.6 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.46 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
26,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,400 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Ecuadorian(s)
adjective: Ecuadorian
Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish
and others 7%, black 3%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
Languages:
Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91%
male: 92.3%
female: 89.7% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
1% of GDP (2001)
country comparison to the world: 182
Government ::Ecuador
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
conventional short form: Ecuador
local long form: Republica del Ecuador
local short form: Ecuador
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Quito
geographic coordinates: 0 13 S, 78 30 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
Administrative divisions:
24 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar,
Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos,
Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo,
Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los
Tsachilas, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe
Independence:
24 May 1822 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
Constitution:
20 October 2008
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal, compulsory for persons ages 18-65,
optional for other eligible voters
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January
2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January 2007);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15
January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January
2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the president and vice president elected on the same
ticket by popular vote for a four-year term and can be re-elected
for another consecutive term; election last held on 26 April 2009
(next to be held in 2013)
election results: President Rafael CORREA Delgado reelected
president; percent of vote - Rafael CORREA Delgado 52%; Lucio
GUTIERREZ 28.2%; Alvaro NOBOA 11.4%; other 8.4%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (124 seats;
members are elected through a party-list proportional representation
system to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 26 April 2009 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PAIS 59, PSP 19, PSC 11, PRIAN 7, MPD 5, PRE 3, other 20; note -
defections by members of National Assembly are commonplace,
resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the
various parties
Judicial branch:
National Court of Justice or Corte Nacional de Justicia (according
to the Constitution, justices are elected through a procedure
overseen by the Judiciary Council); Constitutional Court or Corte
Constitucional (Constitutional Court justices are appointed by a
commission composed of two delegates each from the Executive,
Legislative, and Transparency branches of government)
Political parties and leaders:
Alianza PAIS movement [Rafael Vicente CORREA Delgado]; Christian
Democratic Union or UDC [Luis ACOSTA Moreta]; Democratic Left or ID
[Dalton BACIGALUPO]; Ethical and Democratic Network or RED [Martha
ROLDOS]; Institutional Renewal and National Action Party or PRIAN
[Vicente TAIANO]; Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement - New
Country or MUPP-NP [Jorge GUAMAN Coronel]; Patriotic Society Party
or PSP [Lucio GUTIERREZ Borbua]; Popular Democratic Movement or MPD
[Luis VILLACIS]; Roldosist Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Pulley,
director]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Pascual DEL CIOPPO];
Socialist Party - Broad Front or PS-FA [Silvia SALGADO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE
[Marlon SANTI, president]; Coordinator of Social Movements or CMS
[F. Napoleon SALTOS]; Federation of Indigenous Evangelists of
Ecuador or FEINE [Manuel CHUGCHILAN, president]; National Federation
of Indigenous Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN [Luis
Alberto ANDRANGO Cadena, president]
International organization participation:
CAN, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH,
NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Benigno GALLEGOS Chiriboga
chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200
FAX: [1] (202) 667-3482
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
Orleans, New York, Newark (New Jersey), San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Heather HODGES
embassy: Avenida Avigiras E12-170 y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito
mailing address: Avenida Guayacanes N52-205 y Avenida Avigiras
telephone: [593] (2) 398-5000
FAX: [593] (2) 398-5100
consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red
with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; the
flag retains the three main colors of the banner of Gran Columbia,
the South American republic that broke up in 1830; the yellow color
represents sunshine, grain, and mineral wealth, blue the sky, sea,
and rivers, and red the blood of patriots spilled in the struggle
for freedom and justice
note: similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not
bear a coat of arms
National anthem:
name: "Salve, Oh Patria!" (We Salute You Our Homeland)
lyrics/music: Juan Leon MERA/Antonio NEUMANE
note: adopted 1948; Juan Leon MERA wrote the lyrics in 1865; only
the chorus and second verse are sung
Economy ::Ecuador
Economy - overview:
Ecuador is substantially dependent on its petroleum resources, which
have accounted for more than half of the country's export earnings
and one-fourth of public sector revenues in recent years. In
1999/2000, Ecuador suffered a severe economic crisis, with GDP
contracting by more than 6%. Poverty increased significantly, the
banking system collapsed, and Ecuador defaulted on its external debt
later that year. In March 2000, the Congress approved a series of
structural reforms that also provided for the adoption of the US
dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and
positive growth returned in the years that followed, helped by high
oil prices, remittances, and increased non-traditional exports. From
2002-06 the economy grew 5.5%, the highest five-year average in 25
years. After moderate growth in 2007, the economy reached a growth
rate of 7.2% in 2008, in large part due to high global petroleum
prices. President Rafael CORREA, who took office in January 2007,
defaulted on Ecuador's sovereign debt in December 2008, refusing to
make payment on $3.2 billion in international bonds, representing
over 80% of Ecuador's private external debt. Economic policies under
the CORREA administration - including an announcement in late 2009
terminating 13 bilateral investment treaties - have generated
economic uncertainty and discouraged private investment. The
Ecuadorian economy slowed to 0.4% growth in 2009 due to the global
financial crisis, and the sharp decline in world oil prices and
remittance flows, but picked up to a 2.4% growth rate in 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$114.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$112 billion (2009 est.)
$111.6 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$61.49 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
0.4% (2009 est.)
7.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
$7,700 (2009 est.)
$7,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.8%
industry: 32.9%
services: 60.3% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
4.59 million (urban) (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 8.3%
industry: 21.2%
services: 70.4% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
7.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
8.5% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
35.1% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 43.3%
note: data for urban households only (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
47.9 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 31
50.5 (2006)
note: data are for urban households
Investment (gross fixed):
23.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Public debt:
23.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
19.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
8.4% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
9.19% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 50
9.14% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
19% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 102
9.14% (31 December 2008)
Stock of narrow money:
$6.198 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 83
$5.201 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$18.62 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
$15.47 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$14.92 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$12.31 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.248 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 83
$4.562 billion (31 December 2008)
$4.266 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains,
sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa
wood; fish, shrimp
Industries:
petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Electricity - production:
16.42 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Electricity - consumption:
15.81 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Electricity - exports:
20.68 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
1.12 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
485,700 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Oil - consumption:
181,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Oil - exports:
327,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Oil - imports:
54,190 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Oil - proved reserves:
6.542 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Natural gas - production:
260 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Natural gas - consumption:
260 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Natural gas - proved reserves:
7.985 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Current account balance:
-$692 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
-$337.4 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$17.37 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$14.35 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp, cacao, coffee, hemp, wood,
fish
Exports - partners:
US 33.5%, Peru 6.8%, Chile 6.5%, Columbia 4.9%, Colombia 4.58%,
Russia 4.11% (2009)
Imports:
$17.65 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$14.27 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
industrial materials, fuels and lubricants, nondurable consumer goods
Imports - partners:
US 25.4%, Columbia 10.6%, Venezuela 6.5%, Brazil 4.5%, Brazil 4.35%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.59 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
$3.792 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$14.71 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$13.48 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$12.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$11.95 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$8.019 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
1 (2010), 1 (2009)
note: the US dollar is legal tender
Communications ::Ecuador
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.004 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 56
Telephones - mobile cellular:
13.635 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 52
Telephone system:
general assessment: generally elementary but being expanded
domestic: fixed-line services provided by multiple
telecommunications operators; fixed-line teledensity stands at about
14 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular use has surged and
subscribership reached about 95 per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 593; landing points for the PAN-AM and
South America-1 submarine cables that provide links to the west
coast of South America, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and extending
onward to Aruba and the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
private broadcast media dominate; all stations are privately-owned
except for 1 government-controlled station; multiple television
networks, a number of national TV channels, and a large number of
local channels; more than 400 radio stations; broadcast media
required by law to give the government free air time to broadcast
programs produced by the state (2007)
Internet country code:
.ec
Internet hosts:
67,975 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 82
Internet users:
3.352 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 64
Transportation ::Ecuador
Airports:
428 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 18
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 105
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 55 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 323
914 to 1,523 m: 39
under 914 m: 284 (2010)
Heliports:
2 (2010)
Pipelines:
extra heavy crude 435 km; gas 5 km; oil 1,374 km; refined products
1,301 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 965 km
country comparison to the world: 91
narrow gauge: 965 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 43,670 km
country comparison to the world: 86
paved: 6,472 km
unpaved: 37,198 km (2006)
Waterways:
1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 54
Merchant marine:
total: 41
country comparison to the world: 76
by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 1, passenger 9,
petroleum tanker 26, refrigerated cargo 1
registered in other countries: 7 (Bolivia 1, Panama 6) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, Manta, Puerto Bolivar
Military ::Ecuador
Military branches:
Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry, Naval Aviation, Coast Guard),
Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE) (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
20 years of age for selective conscript military service; 12-month
service obligation (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,662,176
females age 16-49: 3,781,102 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,770,465
females age 16-49: 3,217,235 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 150,296
female: 145,184 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 138
Transnational Issues ::Ecuador
Disputes - international:
organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia penetrate across
Ecuador's shared border, which thousands of Colombians also cross to
escape the violence in their home country
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 11,526 (Colombia); note - UNHCR
estimates as many as 250,000 Columbians are seeking asylum in
Ecuador, many of whom do not register as refugees for fear of
deportation (2007)
Illicit drugs:
significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and
Peru, with much of the US-bound cocaine passing through Ecuadorian
Pacific waters; importer of precursor chemicals used in production
of illicit narcotics; attractive location for cash-placement by drug
traffickers laundering money because of dollarization and weak
anti-money-laundering regime; increased activity on the northern
frontier by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents (2008)
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Egypt (Africa)
Introduction ::Egypt
Background:
The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled
with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west,
allowed for the development of one of the world's great
civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C., and a series
of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last
native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were
replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who
introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who
ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the
Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the
conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following the
completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important
world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt.
Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of
Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman
Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in
1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty with the overthrow of the
British-backed monarchy in 1952. The completion of the Aswan High
Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the
time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology
of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab
world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue
to overtax resources and stress society. The government has
struggled to meet the demands of Egypt's growing population through
economic reform and massive investment in communications and
physical infrastructure.
Geography ::Egypt
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and
the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes the
Asian Sinai Peninsula
Geographic coordinates:
27 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1,001,450 sq km
country comparison to the world: 30
land: 995,450 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 2,665 km
border countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 266 km, Libya 1,115 km,
Sudan 1,273 km
Coastline:
2,450 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
Terrain:
vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m
highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone,
gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, rare earth elements, zinc
Land use:
arable land: 2.92%
permanent crops: 0.5%
other: 96.58% (2005)
Irrigated land:
34,220 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
86.8 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 68.3 cu km/yr (8%/6%/86%)
per capita: 923 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes; flash floods; landslides;
hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms;
sandstorms
Environment - current issues:
agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands;
increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification;
oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats;
other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and
industrial effluents; limited natural fresh water resources away
from the Nile, which is the only perennial water source; rapid
growth in population overstraining the Nile and natural resources
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, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and
remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, a sea link
between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and juxtaposition
to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics;
dependence on upstream neighbors; dominance of Nile basin issues;
prone to influxes of refugees
People ::Egypt
Population:
80,471,869 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 13,308,407/female 12,711,900)
15-64 years: 62.7% (male 25,138,546/female 24,342,230)
65 years and over: 4.3% (male 1,546,774/female 1,818,778) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 24 years
male: 23.8 years
female: 24.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.997% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Birth rate:
25.02 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Death rate:
4.85 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Net migration rate:
-0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Urbanization:
urban population: 43% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 26.2 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 82
male: 27.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.4 years
country comparison to the world: 122
male: 69.82 years
female: 75.1 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.01 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
9,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: Rift Valley fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Egyptian(s)
adjective: Egyptian
Ethnic groups:
Egyptian 99.6%, other 0.4% (2006 census)
Religions:
Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%, other Christian 1%
Languages:
Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated
classes
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.4%
male: 83%
female: 59.4% (2005 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 113
Government ::Egypt
Country name:
conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt
conventional short form: Egypt
local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
local short form: Misr
former: United Arab Republic (with Syria)
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Cairo
geographic coordinates: 30 03 N, 31 15 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in April; ends first
Friday in August
Administrative divisions:
29 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazat); Ad Daqahliyah, Al
Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrah (El Beheira), Al Fayyum (El
Faiyum), Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah (Alexandria), Al Isma'iliyah
(Ismailia), Al Jizah (Giza), Al Minufiyah (El Monofia), Al Minya, Al
Qahirah (Cairo), Al Qalyubiyah, Al Uqsur, Al Wadi al Jadid (New
Valley), As Suways (Suez), Ash Sharqiyah, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf
(Beni Suef), Bur Sa'id (Port Said), Dumyat (Damietta), Helwan, Janub
Sina' (South Sinai), Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh (Western Desert), Qina
(Qena), Shamal Sina' (North Sinai), Sittah Uktubar, Suhaj (Sohag)
Independence:
28 February 1922 (from UK protectorate status; the revolution that
began 23 July 1952 led to a republic being declared on 18 June 1953
and all British troops withdrawn 18 June 1956); note - it was in ca.
3200 B.C. that the Two Lands of Upper (southern) and Lower
(northern) Egypt were first united politically
National holiday:
Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)
Constitution:
11 September 1971; amended 22 May 1980, 25 May 2005, and 26 March
2007
Legal system:
based on Islamic and civil law (particularly Napoleonic codes);
judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees
validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October
1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed Mohamed NAZIF (since 9 July
2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (no
term limits); note - a national referendum in May 2005 approved a
constitutional amendment that changed the presidential election to a
multicandidate popular vote; previously the president was nominated
by the People's Assembly and the nomination was validated by a
national, popular referendum; last referendum held on 26 September
1999; first election under terms of the constitutional amendment
held on 7 September 2005 (next scheduled for 2011)
election results: Hosni MUBARAK reelected president; percent of vote
- Hosni MUBARAK 88.6%, Ayman NOUR 7.6%, Noman GOMAA 2.9%
Legislative branch:
bicameral system consists of the Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura
(Shura Council) that traditionally functions only in a consultative
role (264 seats; 176 members elected by popular vote, 88 appointed
by the president; members serve six-year terms; mid-term elections
for half of the elected members) and the People's Assembly or Majlis
al-Sha'b (518 seats; 508 members elected by popular vote, 64 seats
reserved for women, 10 appointed by the president; members serve
five-year terms)
elections: Advisory Council - last held in June 2007 (next to be
held in 2013); People's Assembly - last held in November-December
2010 in one round of voting and one run-off election (next to be
held in 2015)
election results: Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - NDP 80, Al-Geel 1, Nasserist 1, NWP 1, Tagammu 1,
Tomorrow Party 1, independents 3; People's Assembly - percent of
vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 419, NWP 6, Tagammu 5,
Democratic Peace Party 1, Social Justice Party 1, Tomorrow Party 1,
independents 71, seats undecided 4, seats appointed by president 10
Judicial branch:
Supreme Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders:
Al-Geel; Democratic Peace Party; Nasserist Party [Ahmed HASSAN];
National Democratic Party or NDP (governing party) [Mohamed Hosni
MUBARAK]; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [Rifaat
EL-SAID]; New Wafd Party or NWP [Sayed EL-BEDAWY]; Social Justice
Party [Mohamed Abdel Al HASAN]; Tomorrow Party [Ayman NOURI]
note: formation of political parties must be approved by the
government; only parties with representation in elected bodies are
listed
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Muslim Brotherhood (technically illegal)
note: despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties
and political activity, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood
constitutes Egypt's most potentially significant political
opposition; President MUBARAK has alternated between tolerating
limited political activity by the Brotherhood and blocking its
influence (its members compete as independents in elections but do
not currently hold any seats in the legislature); civic society
groups are sanctioned, but constrained in practical terms; only
trade unions and professional associations affiliated with the
government are officially sanctioned; Internet social networking
groups and bloggers
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CICA, COMESA,
D-8, EBRD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS
(observer), OIC, OIF, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sameh Hassan SHOUKRY
chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400
FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Margaret SCOBEY
embassy: 8 Kamal El Din Salah St., Garden City, Cairo
mailing address: Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900; 5 Tawfik
Diab Street, Garden City, Cairo
telephone: [20] (2) 2797-3300
FAX: [20] (2) 2797-3200
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the
national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side with
a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the name
of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; the band
colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression
(black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a
bright future (white)
note: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the
white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the
white band, and Yemen, which has a plain white band
National anthem:
name: "Bilady, Bilady, Bilady" (My Homeland, My Homeland, My
Homeland)
lyrics/music: Younis-al QADI/Sayed DARWISH
note: adopted 1979; after the signing of the 1979 peace with Israel,
Egypt sought to create an anthem less militaristic than its previous
one; Sayed DARWISH, commonly considered the father of modern
Egyptian music, composed the anthem
Economy ::Egypt
Economy - overview:
Occupying the northeast corner of the African continent, Egypt is
bisected by the highly fertile Nile valley, where most economic
activity takes place. Egypt's economy was highly centralized during
the rule of former President Gamal Abdel NASSER but has opened up
considerably under former President Anwar EL-SADAT and current
President Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK. Cairo from 2004 to 2008
aggressively pursued economic reforms to attract foreign investment
and facilitate GDP growth. The global financial crisis has slowed
the reform efforts. The budget deficit climbed to over 8% of GDP and
Egypt's GDP growth slowed to 4.6% in 2009, predominately due to
reduced growth in export-oriented sectors, including manufacturing
and tourism, and Suez Canal revenues. In 2010, the government spent
more on infrastructure and public projects, and exports drove GDP
growth to more than 5%, but GDP growth in 2011 is unlikely to bounce
back to pre-global financial recession levels, when it stood at 7%.
Despite the relatively high levels of economic growth over the past
few years, living conditions for the average Egyptian remain poor.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$500.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$475.7 billion (2009 est.)
$454.8 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$216.8 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
4.6% (2009 est.)
7.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
$6,000 (2009 est.)
$5,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 13.5%
industry: 37.9%
services: 48.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
26.1 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 32%
industry: 17%
services: 51% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
9.4% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
20% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 27.6% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34.4 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 90
Investment (gross fixed):
18.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Public debt:
80.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
80.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
11.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
8.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 36
11.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.98% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
12.33% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$37.8 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 49
$33.42 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$166.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
$146.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$145.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
$131.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$89.95 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 40
$85.89 billion (31 December 2008)
$139.3 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water
buffalo, sheep, goats
Industries:
textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, pharmaceuticals,
hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals, light manufactures
Industrial production growth rate:
5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Electricity - production:
118.4 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Electricity - consumption:
104.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Electricity - exports:
814 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
251 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
680,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Oil - consumption:
683,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Oil - exports:
89,300 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Oil - imports:
48,450 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Oil - proved reserves:
4.3 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Natural gas - production:
62.7 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Natural gas - consumption:
42.5 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Natural gas - exports:
8.55 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.656 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Current account balance:
$270 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
-$3.195 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$25.34 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$23.09 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products,
chemicals, processed food
Exports - partners:
US 7.95%, Italy 7.26%, Spain 6.78%, India 6.69%, Saudi Arabia 5.53%,
Syria 5.3%, France 4.39%, South Korea 4.27% (2009)
Imports:
$46.52 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$45.56 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels
Imports - partners:
US 9.92%, China 9.63%, Germany 6.98%, Italy 6.88%, Turkey 4.94%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$35.72 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$33.93 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$30.61 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$29.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$72.41 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$66.71 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$4.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
$4.272 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Egyptian pounds (EGP) per US dollar - 5.6124 (2010), 5.545 (2009),
5.4 (2008), 5.67 (2007), 5.725 (2006)
Communications ::Egypt
Telephones - main lines in use:
10.313 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 21
Telephones - mobile cellular:
55.352 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 19
Telephone system:
general assessment: underwent extensive upgrading during 1990s;
principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez,
and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay
domestic: largest fixed-line system in the region; as of 2010 there
were three mobile-cellular networks with a total of more than 55
million subscribers
international: country code - 20; landing point for Aletar, the
SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks, Link Around
the Globe (FLAG) Falcon and FLAG FEA; satellite earth stations - 4
(2 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean, 1 Arabsat, and 1
Inmarsat); tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to
Israel; a participant in Medarabtel (2009)
Broadcast media:
mix of state-run and private broadcast media; state-run TV operates
2 national and 6 regional terrestrial networks as well as a few
satellite channels; about 20 private satellite channels and a large
number of Arabic satellite channels are available via subscription;
state-run radio operates about 70 stations belonging to 8 networks;
2 privately-owned radio stations operational (2008)
Internet country code:
.eg
Internet hosts:
187,197 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 67
Internet users:
20.136 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 21
Transportation ::Egypt
Airports:
86 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 66
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 73
over 3,047 m: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 4 (2010)
Heliports:
6 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 320 km; condensate/gas 13 km; gas 6,262 km; liquid
petroleum gas 956 km; oil 4,319 km; oil/gas/water 3 km; refined
products 895 km; unknown 59 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 5,500 km
country comparison to the world: 33
standard gauge: 5,500 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2009)
Roadways:
total: 65,050 km
country comparison to the world: 71
paved: 47,500 km
unpaved: 17,550 km (2009)
Waterways:
3,500 km
country comparison to the world: 30
note: includes Nile River, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway,
and numerous smaller canals in delta; Suez Canal (193.5 km including
approaches) navigable by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 17.68 m
(2010)
Merchant marine:
total: 66
country comparison to the world: 63
by type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 24, container 3, passenger/cargo 7,
petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 9
foreign-owned: 13 (Denmark 1, France 1, Greece 8, Jordan 2, Lebanon
1)
registered in other countries: 52 (Cambodia 12, Cook Islands 1,
Georgia 11, Honduras 2, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 1, Moldova 5,
Panama 11, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Saudi Arabia 1,
Sierra Leone 2, unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Ayn Sukhnah, Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Port Said, Sidi
Kurayr, Suez
Military ::Egypt
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for male conscript military service; service
obligation 12-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation
(2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 20,619,887
females age 16-49: 19,785,004 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 17,733,851
females age 16-49: 16,942,010 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 799,377
female: 764,602 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Transnational Issues ::Egypt
Disputes - international:
Sudan claims but Egypt de facto administers security and economic
development of Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary;
Egypt no longer shows its administration of the Bir Tawil trapezoid
in Sudan on its maps; Gazan breaches in the security wall with Egypt
in January 2008 highlight difficulties in monitoring the Sinai
border; Saudi Arabia claims Egyptian-administered islands of Tiran
and Sanafir
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 60,000 - 80,000 (Iraq); 70,198
(Palestinian Territories); 12,157 (Sudan) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
transit point for cannabis, heroin, and opium moving to Europe,
Israel, and North Africa; transit stop for Nigerian drug couriers;
concern as money laundering site due to lax enforcement of financial
regulations
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@El Salvador (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::El Salvador
Background:
El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the
Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost
about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the
government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for
military and political reforms.
Geography ::El Salvador
Location:
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between
Guatemala and Honduras
Geographic coordinates:
13 50 N, 88 55 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 21,041 sq km
country comparison to the world: 153
land: 20,721 sq km
water: 320 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
total: 545 km
border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline:
307 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to
April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
Terrain:
mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Natural resources:
hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 31.37%
permanent crops: 11.88%
other: 56.75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
450 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
25.2 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.28 cu km/yr (25%/16%/59%)
per capita: 186 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive
earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to
hurricanes
volcanism: El Salvador experiences significant volcanic activity;
San Salvador (elev. 1,893 m, 6,211 ft), which last erupted in 1917,
has the potential to cause major harm to the country's capital,
which lies just below the volcano's slopes; San Miguel (elev. 2,130
m, 6,988 ft), which last erupted in 2002, is one of the most active
volcanoes in the country; other historically active volcanoes
include Conchaguita, Ilopango, Izalco, and Santa Ana
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils
from disposal of toxic wastes
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline
on Caribbean Sea
People ::El Salvador
Population:
6,052,064 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.4% (male 1,299,608/female 1,245,617)
15-64 years: 59.3% (male 2,033,423/female 2,225,810)
65 years and over: 5.3% (male 166,224/female 214,536) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.9 years
male: 22.5 years
female: 25.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.332% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Birth rate:
18.06 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Death rate:
5.61 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Net migration rate:
-9.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Urbanization:
urban population: 61% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.97 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 98
male: 23.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.18 years
country comparison to the world: 116
male: 69.91 years
female: 76.62 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.12 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
35,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,700 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Salvadoran(s)
adjective: Salvadoran
Ethnic groups:
mestizo 90%, white 9%, Amerindian 1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.9%,
Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8% (2003 est.)
Languages:
Spanish (official), Nahua (among some Amerindians)
Literacy:
definition: age 5 and over can read and write
total population: 81.1%
male: 82.8%
female: 79.6% (2007 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.6% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 128
Government ::El Salvador
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador
conventional short form: El Salvador
local long form: Republica de El Salvador
local short form: El Salvador
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: San Salvador
geographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
Administrative divisions:
14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan,
Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union,
Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana,
Sonsonate, Usulutan
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
20 December 1983
Legal system:
based on civil and Roman law with traces of common law; judicial
review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mauricio FUNES Cartagena (since 1 June
2009); Vice President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2009);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Mauricio FUNES Cartagena (since 1 June
2009); Vice President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held on
15 March 2009 (next to be held in March 2014)
election results: Mauricio FUNES Cartagena elected president;
percent of vote - Mauricio FUNES Cartagena 51.3%, Rodrigo AVILA 48.7%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats;
members elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held on 18 January 2009 (next to be held in March
2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
FMLN 35, ARENA 32, PCN 11, PDC 5, CD 1; note - as of 1 January 2011,
the current composition of the legislature by seats is as follows:
FMLN 35, ARENA 19, GANA 16, PCN 10, PDC 2, CD 1, Independent 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (15 judges are selected by the
Legislative Assembly; the 15 judges are assigned to four Supreme
Court chambers - constitutional, civil, penal, and administrative
conflict)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo PARKER]; Democratic
Convergence or CD [Oscar KATTAN] (formerly United Democratic Center
or CDU); Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Medardo
GONZALEZ]; National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ ZEPEDA];
Nationalist Republican Alliance or ARENA [Alfredo CRISTIANI]; Great
Alliance for National Unity or GANA [Andres ROVIRA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
labor organizations - Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador or
SIES; Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and
other activities, or FESINCONTRANS; National Confederation of
Salvadoran Workers or CNTS; National Union of Salvadoran Workers or
UNTS; Port Industry Union of El Salvador or SIPES; Salvadoran Union
of Ex-Petrolleros and Peasant Workers or USEPOC; Salvadoran Workers
Central or CTS; Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL;
business organizations - National Association of Small Enterprise or
ANEP; Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association or ASIC; Salvadoran
Industrial Association or ASI
International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, CD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA,
MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, SICA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco Robert ALTSCHUL Fuentes
chancery: Suite 100, 1400 16th Street, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671
FAX: [1] (202) 234-3763
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Duluth (Georgia), Houston,
Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (2), Nogales (Arizona),
Santa Ana (California), San Francisco, Washington (DC), Woodbridge
(Virginia)
consulate(s): Boston, Elizabeth (New Jersey)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert BLAU
embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La
Libertad, San Salvador
mailing address: Unit 3450, APO AA 34023; 3450 San Salvador Place,
Washington, DC 20521-3450
telephone: [503] 2501-2999
FAX: [503] 2501-2150
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the
national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms
features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL
SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; the banner is based on the former
blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America; the
blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while
the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water,
as well as peace and prosperity
note: similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat
of arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle
encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA
CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which
has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white
band
National anthem:
name: "Himno Nacional de El Salvador" (National Anthem of El
Salvador)
lyrics/music: Juan Jose CANAS/Juan ABERLE
note: officially adopted 1953, in use since 1879; the anthem of El
Salvador is one of the world's longest
Economy ::El Salvador
Economy - overview:
Despite being the smallest country geographically in Central
America, El Salvador has the third largest economy in the region.
The economy took a hit from the global recession and real GDP
contracted by 3.5% in 2009. The economy began a slow recovery in
2010 on the back of improved export and remittances figures.
Remittances accounted for 16% of GDP in 2009, and about a third of
all households receive these transfers. In 2006 El Salvador was the
first country to ratify the Dominican Republic-Central American Free
Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), which has bolstered the export of
processed foods, sugar, and ethanol, and supported investment in the
apparel sector amid increased Asian competition and the expiration
of the Multi-Fiber Agreement in 2005. El Salvador has promoted an
open trade and investment environment, and has embarked on a wave of
privatizations extending to telecom, electricity distribution,
banking, and pension funds. In late 2006, the government and the
Millennium Challenge Corporation signed a five-year, $461 million
compact to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty in the
country's northern region, the primary conflict zone during the
civil war, through investments in education, public services,
enterprise development, and transportation infrastructure. With the
adoption of the US dollar as its currency in 2001, El Salvador lost
control over monetary policy. Any counter-cyclical policy response
to the downturn must be through fiscal policy, which is constrained
by legislative requirements for a two-thirds majority to approve any
international financing.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$43.98 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
$43.46 billion (2009 est.)
$45.04 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$21.8 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
-3.5% (2009 est.)
2.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
$7,200 (2009 est.)
$7,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11%
industry: 29.1%
services: 59.9% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
2.94 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 19%
industry: 23%
services: 58% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
7.2% (2009 est.)
note: data are official rates; but the economy has much
underemployment
Population below poverty line:
30.7% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 37% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
52.4 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 18
52.5 (2001)
Investment (gross fixed):
13.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Public debt:
55% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
52.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
-0.2% (2009)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.33% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 120
7.81% (31 December 2007)
Stock of narrow money:
$2.534 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 117
$2.153 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$9.666 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
$9.011 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$10.01 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
$9.867 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.432 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 82
$4.656 billion (31 December 2008)
$6.743 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef,
dairy products
Industries:
food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer,
textiles, furniture, light metals
Industrial production growth rate:
0.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Electricity - production:
5.559 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Electricity - consumption:
4.676 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Electricity - exports:
7 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
38 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Oil - consumption:
46,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Oil - exports:
1,927 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Oil - imports:
46,310 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Current account balance:
-$907 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
-$374 million (2009)
Exports:
$4.377 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
$3.797 billion (2009)
Exports - commodities:
offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, textiles and apparel,
gold, ethanol, chemicals, electricity, iron and steel manufactures
Exports - partners:
US 43.86%, Guatemala 13.92%, Honduras 13.22%, Nicaragua 5.65% (2009)
Imports:
$7.98 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$7.255 billion (2009)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs,
petroleum, electricity
Imports - partners:
US 29.79%, Mexico 10.26%, Guatemala 9.7%, China 4.5%, Honduras 4.4%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.819 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$2.985 billion (31 December 2009)
Debt - external:
$11.45 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
$10.83 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$7.522 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$7.132 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$273 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$333 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
the US dollar became El Salvador's currency in 2001
Communications ::El Salvador
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.099 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 75
Telephones - mobile cellular:
7.566 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 78
Telephone system:
general assessment: multiple mobile-cellular providers are expanding
services rapidly and in 2009 teledensity exceeded 100 per 100
persons; growth in fixed-line services has slowed in the face of
mobile-cellular competition
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system
international: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave
System (2009)
Broadcast media:
multiple privately-owned national terrestrial television networks,
supplemented by cable TV networks that carry international channels;
hundreds of commercial radio broadcast stations and 1
government-owned radio broadcast station (2007)
Internet country code:
.sv
Internet hosts:
13,849 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 119
Internet users:
746,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 107
Transportation ::El Salvador
Airports:
65 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 75
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 61
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 47 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Railways:
total: 283 km
country comparison to the world: 122
narrow gauge: 283 km 0.914-m gauge
note: railways have been inoperable since 2005 because of disuse and
high costs that led to a lack of maintenance (2008)
Roadways:
total: 10,886 km
country comparison to the world: 134
paved: 2,827 km (includes 327 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,059 km (2000)
Waterways:
Rio Lempa is partially navigable for small craft (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco
Military ::El Salvador
Military branches:
Salvadoran Army (ES), Salvadoran Navy (FNES), Salvadoran Air Force
(Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16-22
years of age for voluntary male or female service; service
obligation - 12 months, with 11 months for officers and NCOs (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,426,142
females age 16-49: 1,590,778 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,056,532
females age 16-49: 1,356,824 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 71,292
female: 68,821 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 160
Transnational Issues ::El Salvador
Disputes - international:
International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of
"bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary,
in 1992, with final agreement by the parties in 2006 after an
Organization of American States (OAS) survey and a further ICJ
ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution
to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca advocating Honduran
access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo
Island, not identified in the ICJ decision, off Honduras in the Gulf
of Fonseca
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuana produced
for local consumption; significant use of cocaine
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Equatorial Guinea (Africa)
Introduction ::Equatorial Guinea
Background:
Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of
Spanish rule. This tiny country, composed of a mainland portion plus
five inhabited islands, is one of the smallest on the African
continent. President Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO has ruled the
country since 1979 when he seized power in a coup. Although
nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996, 2002, and
2009 presidential elections - as well as the 1999 and 2004
legislative elections - were widely seen as flawed. The president
exerts almost total control over the political system and has
discouraged political opposition. Equatorial Guinea has experienced
rapid economic growth due to the discovery of large offshore oil
reserves, and in the last decade has become Sub-Saharan Africa's
third largest oil exporter. Despite the country's economic windfall
from oil production resulting in a massive increase in government
revenue in recent years, there have been few improvements in the
population's living standards.
Geography ::Equatorial Guinea
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and
Gabon
Geographic coordinates:
2 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 28,051 sq km
country comparison to the world: 145
land: 28,051 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 539 km
border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Coastline:
296 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:
coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum,
sand and gravel, clay
Land use:
arable land: 4.63%
permanent crops: 3.57%
other: 91.8% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
26 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.11 cu km/yr (83%/16%/1%)
per capita: 220 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
violent windstorms; flash floods
volcanism: Santa Isabel (elev. 3,007 m, 9,865 ft), which last
erupted in 1923, is the country's only historically active volcano;
Santa Isabel, along with two dormant volcanoes, forms Bioko Island
in the Gulf of Guinea
Environment - current issues:
tap water is not potable; deforestation
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,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
insular and continental regions widely separated
People ::Equatorial Guinea
Population:
650,702 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.9% (male 134,823/female 130,308)
15-64 years: 54% (male 167,820/female 174,238)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 11,574/female 14,678) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 19 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 19.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.674% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Birth rate:
36 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Death rate:
9.26 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 74
Urbanization:
urban population: 39% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 79.47 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 14
male: 80.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 78.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.98 years
country comparison to the world: 182
male: 61.05 years
female: 62.94 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.4% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
11,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
370 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria and yellow fever
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic groups:
Fang 85.7%, Bubi 6.5%, Mdowe 3.6%, Annobon 1.6%, Bujeba 1.1%, other
1.4% (1994 census)
Religions:
nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
Languages:
Spanish 67.6% (official), other 32.4% (includes French (official),
Fang, Bubi) (1994 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87%
male: 93.4%
female: 80.5% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male: 9 years
female: 7 years (2000)
Education expenditures:
0.6% of GDP (2003)
country comparison to the world: 185
Government ::Equatorial Guinea
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea
conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea
local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial/Republique de Guinee
equatoriale
local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial/Guinee equatoriale
former: Spanish Guinea
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Malabo
geographic coordinates: 3 45 N, 8 47 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko
Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Independence:
12 October 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Constitution:
approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; amended January
1995
Legal system:
partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA
MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979 when he seized power in a military coup)
head of government: Prime Minister Ignacio MILAM Tang (since 8 July
2008);
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(no term limits); election last held on 29 November 2009 (next to be
held in 2016); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed
by the president
election results: Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected president;
percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO 95.8%, Placido Mico
ABOGO 3.6%; elections marred by widespread fraud
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of People's Representatives or Camara de
Representantes del Pueblo (100 seats; members directly elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 4 May 2008 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PDGE 89, EC 10, CPDS 1
note: Parliament has little power since the constitution vests all
executive authority in the president
Judicial branch:
Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Placido MICO Abogo];
Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE [Teodoro OBIANG
NGUEMA MBASOGO] (ruling party); Electoral Coalition or EC; Party for
Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action
of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Avelino MOCACHE]; Popular Union or UP
Political pressure groups and leaders:
ASODEGUE (Madrid-based pressure group for democratic reform); Global
Witness (anti-corruption)
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, CPLP (associate), FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Purificacion ANGUE ONDO
chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700
FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alberto M. FERNANDEZ
embassy: K-3, Carreterade Aeropuerto, al lado de Restaurante El
Paraiso, Malabo; note - relocated embassy is opened for limited
functions; inquiries should continue to be directed to the US
Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon
mailing address: B.P. 817, Yaounde, Cameroon; US Embassy Yaounde, US
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [237] 2220-1500
FAX: [237] 2220-1572
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red, with a
blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms
centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow
six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore
islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below
which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity,
Peace, Justice); green symbolizes the jungle and natural resources,
blue represents the sea that connects the mainland to the islands,
white stands for peace, and red recalls the fight for independence
National anthem:
name: "Caminemos pisando la senda" (Let Us Tread the Path)
lyrics/music: Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO/Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO or
Ramiro Sanchez LOPEZ (disputed)
note: adopted 1968
Economy ::Equatorial Guinea
Economy - overview:
The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves have
contributed to dramatic economic growth but fluctuating oil prices
have produced huge swings in GDP growth in recent years. Forestry,
farming, and fishing are also major components of GDP. Subsistence
farming is the dominate form of livelihood. Although
pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for
hard currency earnings, the neglect of the rural economy under
successive regimes has diminished potential for agriculture-led
growth (the government has stated its intention to reinvest some oil
revenue into agriculture). A number of aid programs sponsored by the
World Bank and the IMF have been cut off since 1993 because of
corruption and mismanagement. Government officials and their family
members own most businesses, but corruption is rampant. Undeveloped
natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium,
and alluvial gold. Growth remained strong in 2008, led by oil, but
dropped in 2009-10, as the price of oil fell.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$24.66 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
$24.18 billion (2009 est.)
$22.96 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$14.55 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
5.3% (2009 est.)
11.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$37,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$38,200 (2009 est.)
$37,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 93.9%
services: 3.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
195,200 NA (2007)
country comparison to the world: 170
Unemployment rate:
30% (1998 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
29.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Public debt:
4.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
5.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
7.1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 100
4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.86 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 121
$1.295 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$2.207 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
$1.473 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.534 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 136
$3.579 billion (31 December 2008)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil
nuts; livestock; timber
Industries:
petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas
Industrial production growth rate:
1.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Electricity - production:
28 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Electricity - consumption:
26.04 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
346,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Oil - exports:
362,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Oil - imports:
1,114 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Oil - proved reserves:
1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Natural gas - production:
6.67 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Natural gas - consumption:
1.5 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Natural gas - exports:
5.17 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Natural gas - proved reserves:
36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Current account balance:
-$1.477 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
-$1.883 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$10.24 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
$8.495 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa
Exports - partners:
US 30.31%, China 12.54%, Japan 9.21%, Spain 7.5%, South Korea 7.01%,
Taiwan 5.63%, Italy 5.38%, Netherlands 4.09% (2009)
Imports:
$5.743 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
$5.258 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum sector equipment, other equipment
Imports - partners:
China 19.97%, US 17.28%, Spain 14.94%, France 9.49%, Cote d'Ivoire
6.34%, Italy 5.02% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$4.086 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$3.252 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$832 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
$766 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs per US dollar -
506.04 (2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 481.83 (2007), 522.4
(2006)
Communications ::Equatorial Guinea
Telephones - main lines in use:
10,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 201
Telephones - mobile cellular:
445,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 161
Telephone system:
general assessment: digital fixed-line network in most major urban
areas and good mobile coverage
domestic: fixed-line density is about 2 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing and in 2009 stood
at about 70 percent of the population
international: country code - 240; international communications from
Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state maintains control of broadcast media with domestic broadcast
media limited to 1 state-owned TV station, 1 state-owned radio
station, and 1 private radio station owned by the president's eldest
son; satellite TV service is available; transmissions of multiple
international broadcasters are accessible (2007)
Internet country code:
.gq
Internet hosts:
9 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 221
Internet users:
14,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 199
Transportation ::Equatorial Guinea
Airports:
7 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 166
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 38 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 2,880 km (2000)
country comparison to the world: 167
Merchant marine:
total: 4
country comparison to the world: 131
by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Norway 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Bata, Luba, Malabo (2010)
Military ::Equatorial Guinea
Military branches:
National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Guinea Ecuatoria, GNGE (Army),
with Coast Guard (Navy) and Air Wing) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; service
obligation 2 years; women hold only administrative positions in the
Coast Guard (2011)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 146,241
females age 16-49: 146,138 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 109,311
females age 16-49: 111,543 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 7,186
female: 6,920 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.1% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 173
Transnational Issues ::Equatorial Guinea
Disputes - international:
in 2002, ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of
Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of
Guinea, but a dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an
island at the mouth of the Ntem River and imprecisely defined
maritime coordinates in the ICJ decision delay final delimitation;
UN urges Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty
dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane and lesser islands and to create a
maritime boundary in the hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Equatorial Guinea is primarily a destination
country for children trafficked for the purpose of forced labor and
possibly for the purpose of sexual exploitation; children have been
trafficked from nearby countries for domestic servitude, market
labor, ambulant vending, and possibly sexual exploitation; women may
also be trafficked to Equatorial Guinea from Cameroon, Benin, other
neighboring countries, and China for sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Equatorial Guinea is on the Tier 2
Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts
to eliminate trafficking, particularly in the areas of prosecuting
and convicting trafficking offenders and failing to formalize
mechanisms to provide assistance to victims; although the government
made some effort to enforce laws against child labor exploitation,
it failed to report any trafficking prosecutions or convictions in
2007; the government continued to lack shelters or formal procedures
for providing care to victims (2008)
page last updated on January 24, 2011
======================================================================
@Eritrea (Africa)
Introduction ::Eritrea
Background:
The UN awarded Eritrea to Ethiopia in 1952 as part of a federation.
Ethiopia's annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later
sparked a 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 with
Eritrean rebels defeating governmental forces; independence was
overwhelmingly approved in a 1993 referendum. A two-and-a-half-year
border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN
auspices in December 2000. Eritrea hosted a UN peacekeeping
operation that monitored a 25 km-wide Temporary Security Zone (TSZ)
on the border with Ethiopia. Eritrea's denial of fuel to the mission
caused the UN to withdraw the mission and terminate its mandate 31
July 2008. An international commission, organized to resolve the
border dispute, posted its findings in 2002. However, both parties
have been unable to reach agreement on implementing the decision. On
30 November 2007, the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission remotely
demarcated the border by coordinates and dissolved itself, leaving
Ethiopia still occupying several tracts of disputed territory,
including the town of Badme. Eritrea accepted the EEBC's "virtual
demarcation" decision and called on Ethiopia to remove its troops
from the TSZ that it states is Eritrean territory. Ethiopia has not
accepted the virtual demarcation decision. In 2009 the UN imposed
sanctions on Eritrea after accusing it of backing anti-Ethiopian
Islamist insurgents in Somalia.
Geography ::Eritrea
Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan
Geographic coordinates:
15 00 N, 39 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 117,600 sq km
country comparison to the world: 100
land: 101,000 sq km
water: 16,600 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 1,626 km
border countries: Djibouti 109 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km
Coastline:
2,234 km (mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea 1,083 km)
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the
central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually, heaviest June
to September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands
Terrain:
dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands,
descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest
to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: near Kulul within the Danakil Depression -75 m
highest point: Soira 3,018 m
Natural resources:
gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish
Land use:
arable land: 4.78%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 95.19% (2005)
Irrigated land:
210 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
6.3 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.3 cu km/yr (3%/0%/97%)
per capita: 68 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
frequent droughts; locust swarms
volcanism: Dubbi (elev. 1,625 m, 5,331 ft), which last erupted in
1861, is the country's only historically active volcano
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of
infrastructure from civil warfare
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping
lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the
Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993
People ::Eritrea
Population:
5,792,984 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.8% (male 1,212,848/female 1,202,240)
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 1,483,169/female 1,547,078)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 92,009/female 109,824) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.5 years
male: 18.2 years
female: 18.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.522% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Birth rate:
33.48 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Death rate:
8.25 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 73
Urbanization:
urban population: 21% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 5.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 42.33 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 65
male: 47.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 36.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.15 years
country comparison to the world: 180
male: 60.06 years
female: 64.3 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.6 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
38,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,600 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Eritrean(s)
adjective: Eritrean
Ethnic groups:
nine recognized ethnic groups: Tigrinya 55%, Tigre 30%, Saho 4%,
Kunama 2%, Rashaida 2%, Bilen 2%, other (Afar, Beni Amir, Nera) 5%
(2010 est.)
Religions:
Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Languages:
Tigrinya (official), Arabic (official), English (official), Tigre,
Kunama, Afar, other Cushitic languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6%
male: 69.9%
female: 47.6% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 6 years
male: 7 years
female: 5 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
2% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 168
Government ::Eritrea
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Eritrea
conventional short form: Eritrea
local long form: Hagere Ertra
local short form: Ertra
former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
Government type:
transitional government
note: following a successful referendum on independence for the
Autonomous Region of Eritrea on 23-25 April 1993, a National
Assembly, composed entirely of the People's Front for Democracy and
Justice or PFDJ, was established as a transitional legislature; a
Constitutional Commission was also established to draft a
constitution; ISAIAS Afworki was elected president by the
transitional legislature; the constitution, ratified in May 1997,
did not enter into effect, pending parliamentary and presidential
elections; parliamentary elections were scheduled in December 2001
but were postponed indefinitely; currently the sole legal party is
the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ)
Capital:
name: Asmara (Asmera)
geographic coordinates: 15 20 N, 38 56 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
6 regions (zobatat, singular - zoba); Anseba, Debub (South),
Debubawi K'eyih Bahri (Southern Red Sea), Gash Barka, Ma'akel
(Central), Semenawi Keyih Bahri (Northern Red Sea)
Independence:
24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 24 May (1993)
Constitution:
adopted on 23 May 1997, but has not yet been fully implemented
Legal system:
primary basis is the Ethiopian legal code of 1957 with revisions;
new civil, commercial, and penal codes have not yet been
promulgated; government also issues unilateral proclamations setting
laws and policies; also relies on customary and
post-independence-enacted laws and, for civil cases involving
Muslims, Islamic law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government and
is head of the State Council and National Assembly
head of government: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993)
cabinet: State Council the collective executive authority; members
appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); the most recent and
only election held on 8 June 1993 (next election date uncertain as
the National Assembly did not hold a presidential election in
December 2001 as anticipated)
election results: ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afworki 95%, other 5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; members elected by direct
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: in May 1997, following the adoption of the new
constitution, 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old
Central Committee of the EPLF), 60 members of the 527-member
Constituent Assembly, which had been established in 1997 to discuss
and ratify the new constitution, and 15 representatives of Eritreans
living abroad were formed into a Transitional National Assembly to
serve as the country's legislative body until countrywide elections
to a National Assembly were held; although only 75 of 150 members of
the Transitional National Assembly were elected, the constitution
stipulates that once past the transition stage, all members of the
National Assembly will be elected by secret ballot of all eligible
voters; National Assembly elections scheduled for December 2001 were
postponed indefinitely
Judicial branch:
High Court - regional, subregional, and village courts; also have
military and special courts
Political parties and leaders:
People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ [ISAIAS Afworki]
(the only party recognized by the government); note - a National
Assembly committee drafted a law on political parties in January
2001, but the full National Assembly has yet to debate or vote on it
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Eritrean Democratic Party (EDP) [HAGOS, Mesfin]; Eritrean Islamic
Jihad or EIJ (includes Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement or EIJM also
known as the Abu Sihel Movement); Eritrean Islamic Salvation or EIS
(also known as the Arafa Movement); Eritrean Liberation Front or ELF
[ABDULLAH Muhammed]; Eritrean National Alliance or ENA (a coalition
including EIJ, EIS, ELF, and a number of ELF factions) [HERUY Tedla
Biru]; Eritrean Public Forum or EPF [ARADOM Iyob]
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber),
ITU, ITUC, LAS (observer), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador GHIRMAI Ghebremariam
chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991
FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304
consulate(s) general: Oakland (California)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Joel REIFMAN
embassy: 179 Ala Street, Asmara
mailing address: P. O. Box 211, Asmara
telephone: [291] (1) 120004
FAX: [291] (1) 127584
Flag description:
red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flag
into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower one
is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on
the hoist side of the red triangle; green stands for the country's
agriculture economy, red signifies the blood shed in the fight for
freedom, and blue symbolizes the bounty of the sea; the wreath-olive
branch symbol is similar to that on the first flag of Eritrea from
1952; the shape of the red triangle broadly mimics the shape of the
country
National anthem:
name: "Ertra, Ertra, Ertra" (Eritrea, Eritrea, Eritrea)
lyrics/music: SOLOMON Tsehaye Beraki/Isaac Abraham MEHAREZGI and
ARON Tekle Tesfatsion
note: adopted 1993; upon independence from Ethiopia in 1993, Eritrea
adopted its own national anthem
Economy ::Eritrea
Economy - overview:
Since independence from Ethiopia in 1993, Eritrea has faced the
economic problems of a small, desperately poor country, accentuated
by the recent implementation of restrictive economic policies.
Eritrea has a command economy under the control of the sole
political party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice
(PFDJ). Like the economies of many African nations, a large share of
the population - nearly 80% - is engaged in subsistence agriculture,
but they produce only a small share of total output. Since the
conclusion of the Ethiopian-Eritrea war in 2000, the government has
maintained a firm grip on the economy, expanding the use of the
military and party-owned businesses to complete Eritrea's
development agenda. The government strictly controls the use of
foreign currency by limiting access and availability. Few private
enterprises remain in Eritrea. Eritrea's economy depends heavily on
taxes paid by members of the diaspora. Erratic rainfall and the
delayed demobilization of agriculturalists from the military
continue to interfere with agricultural production, and Eritrea's
recent harvests have been unable to meet the food needs of the
country. The Government continues to place its hope for additional
revenue on the development of several international mining projects.
Despite difficulties for international companies in working with the
Eritrean Government, a Canadian mining company signed a contract
with the government in 2007 and began mineral extraction in 2010.
Eritrea's economic future depends upon its ability to master social
problems such as illiteracy, unemployment, and low skills, and more
importantly, on the government's willingness to support a true
market economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.178 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
$4.017 billion (2009 est.)
$3.877 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.254 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
3.6% (2009 est.)
2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223
$700 (2009 est.)
$700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11.8%
industry: 20.4%
services: 67.7% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.935 million NA (2007)
country comparison to the world: 120
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
50% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
10.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
20% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
20% (2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA%
Stock of narrow money:
$1.382 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 128
$1.007 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$2.872 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
$2.171 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.919 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
$2.206 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Agriculture - products:
sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, sisal;
livestock, goats; fish
Industries:
food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, light
manufacturing, salt, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Electricity - production:
271 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Electricity - consumption:
228 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Oil - imports:
4,790 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Current account balance:
-$212 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
-$188 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$25 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
$20 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures
Exports - partners:
India 25.3%, Italy 20.7%, Sudan 14.1%, China 12.9%, France 5.5%,
Saudi Arabia 5.4% (2008)
Imports:
$738 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
$682 million (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 20.7%, India 13.6%, Italy 12.6%, China 9.9%, US 5.1%,
Germany 4.6% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$104 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
$88 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$961.9 million (31 December 2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
nakfa (ERN) per US dollar - 15.375 (2010), 15.375 (2009), 15.38
(2008), 15.5 (2007), 15.4 (2006)
Communications ::Eritrea
Telephones - main lines in use:
48,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 163
Telephones - mobile cellular:
141,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 177
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate; most telephones are in Asmara;
government is seeking international tenders to improve the system
(2002)
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership is
only about 3 per 100 persons (2009)
international: country code - 291; note - international connections
exist
Broadcast media:
government controls broadcast media with private ownership
prohibited; 1 state-owned TV station; state-owned radio operates 2
networks; purchases of satellite dishes and subscriptions to
international broadcast media are permitted (2007)
Internet country code:
.er
Internet hosts:
1,241 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 166
Internet users:
200,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 140
Transportation ::Eritrea
Airports:
13 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 152
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Railways:
total: 306 km
country comparison to the world: 120
narrow gauge: 306 km 0.950-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 4,010 km
country comparison to the world: 157
paved: 874 km
unpaved: 3,136 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 4
country comparison to the world: 132
by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Assab, Massawa
Military ::Eritrea
Military branches:
Eritrean Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-40 years of age for male and female voluntary and compulsory
military service; 16-month conscript service obligation (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,307,012
females age 16-49: 1,319,682 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 864,608
females age 16-49: 920,104 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 64,489
female: 64,476 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
6.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Transnational Issues ::Eritrea
Disputes - international:
Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by 2002 Ethiopia-Eritrea
Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision but, neither
party responded to the revised line detailed in the November 2006
EEBC Demarcation Statement; Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting
eastern Sudanese rebel groups; in 2008 Eritrean troops move across
the border on Ras Doumera peninsula and occupy Doumera Island with
undefined sovereignty in the Red Sea
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 32,000 (border war with Ethiopia from 1998-2000; most IDPs are
near the central border region) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Eritrea is a source country for men, women, and
children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial
sexual exploitation; each year, large numbers of migrant workers
depart Eritrea in search of work, particularly in the Gulf States,
where some likely become victims of forced labor, including in
domestic servitude, or commercial sexual exploitation; thousands of
Eritreans flee the country illegally, mostly to Sudan, Ethiopia, and
Kenya where their illegal status makes them vulnerable to situations
of human trafficking; the government remains complicit in
conscripting children into military service
tier rating: Tier 3 - the Government of Eritrea does not fully
comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking
and is not making significant efforts to do so; the Eritrean
government does not operate with transparency and published neither
data nor statistics regarding its efforts to combat human
trafficking; it did not respond to requests to provide information
for this report; the government made no known progress in
prosecuting and punishing trafficking crimes over the reporting
period and did not appear to provide any significant assistance to
victims of trafficking during the reporting period (2009)
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Estonia (Europe)
Introduction ::Estonia
Background:
After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule,
Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into
the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US - it
regained its freedom in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia has been free to
promote economic and political ties with Western Europe. It joined
both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.
Geography ::Estonia
Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland,
between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
59 00 N, 26 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 45,228 sq km
country comparison to the world: 132
land: 42,388 sq km
water: 2,840 sq km
note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined
Land boundaries:
total: 633 km
border countries: Latvia 343 km, Russia 290 km
Coastline:
3,794 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination with
neighboring states
Climate:
maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Terrain:
marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m
Natural resources:
oil shale, peat, rare earth elements, phosphorite, clay, limestone,
sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud
Land use:
arable land: 12.05%
permanent crops: 0.35%
other: 87.6% (2005)
Irrigated land:
40 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
21.1 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.41 cu km/yr (56%/39%/5%)
per capita: 1,060 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
sometimes flooding occurs in the spring
Environment - current issues:
air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants
in northeast; however, the amount of pollutants emitted to the air
have fallen steadily, the emissions of 2000 were 80% less than in
1980; the amount of unpurified wastewater discharged to water bodies
in 2000 was one-20th the level of 1980; in connection with the
start-up of new water purification plants, the pollution load of
wastewater decreased; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and
manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas need to be
monitored; coastal seawater is polluted in certain locations
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 Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
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:
the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; offshore lie
more than 1,500 islands
People ::Estonia
Population:
1,291,170 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.9% (male 99,748/female 94,051)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 417,816/female 459,246)
65 years and over: 17.6% (male 75,486/female 153,024) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.2 years
male: 36.7 years
female: 43.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.635% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 227
Birth rate:
10.42 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Death rate:
13.48 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Net migration rate:
-3.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Urbanization:
urban population: 69% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.063 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female
total population: 0.84 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.19 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 167
male: 8.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.08 years
country comparison to the world: 117
male: 67.74 years
female: 78.76 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.43 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
9,900 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne disease: tickborne encephalitis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Estonian(s)
adjective: Estonian
Ethnic groups:
Estonian 68.7%, Russian 25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Belarusian 1.2%, Finn
0.8%, other 1.6% (2008 census)
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 13.6%, Orthodox 12.8%, other Christian
(including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic,
Pentecostal) 1.4%, unaffiliated 34.1%, other and unspecified 32%,
none 6.1% (2000 census)
Languages:
Estonian (official) 67.3%, Russian 29.7%, other 2.3%, unknown 0.7%
(2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 17 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 68
Government ::Estonia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Estonia
conventional short form: Estonia
local long form: Eesti Vabariik
local short form: Eesti
former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
name: Tallinn
geographic coordinates: 59 26 N, 24 43 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:
15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond); Harjumaa (Tallinn),
Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa (Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide), Jogevamaa
(Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu), Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere), Parnumaa
(Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva), Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa (Kuressaare),
Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa
(Voru)
note: counties have the administrative center name following in
parentheses
Independence:
20 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 was
the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia; 20
August 1991 was the date it declared its independence from the
Soviet Union
Constitution:
adopted 28 June 1992
Legal system:
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Toomas Hendrik ILVES (since 9 October 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Andrus ANSIP (since 12 April 2005)
cabinet: Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by
Parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure
two-thirds of the votes after three rounds of balloting in the
Parliament, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus
members of local councils) elects the president, choosing between
the two candidates with the largest number of votes; election last
held on 23 September 2006 (next to be held in the fall of 2011);
prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament
election results: Toomas Hendrik ILVES elected president on 23
September 2006 by a 345-member electoral assembly; ILVES received
174 votes to incumbent Arnold RUUTEL's 162; remaining 9 ballots left
blank or invalid
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 4 March 2007 (next to be held in March 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - Estonian Reform Party
27.8%, Center Party of Estonia 26.1%, Union of Pro Patria and Res
Publica 17.9%, Social Democratic Party 10.6%, Estonian Greens 7.1%,
Estonian People's Union 7.1%, other 5%; seats by party - Estonian
Reform Party 31, Center Party 28, Union of Pro Patria and Res
Publica 19, Social Democratic Party 10, Estonian Greens 6, Estonian
People's Union 6, independent 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (chairman appointed for life by Parliament)
Political parties and leaders:
Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR]; Estonian
Greens (Rohelised) [Marek STRANDBERG]; Estonian People's Union
(Rahvaliit) [Juhan AARE]; Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond)
[Andrus ANSIP]; Social Democratic Party [Sven MIKSER]; Union of Pro
Patria and Res Publica (Isamaa je Res Publica Liit) [Mart LAAR]
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA
(cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE,
PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNTSO, UPU,
WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Vaino REINART
chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101
FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael C. POLT
embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [372] 668-8100
FAX: [372] 668-8265
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white;
various interpretations are linked to the flag colors; blue
represents faith, loyalty, and devotion, while also reminiscent of
the sky, sea, and lakes of the country; black symbolizes the soil of
the country and the dark past and suffering endured by the Estonian
people; white refers to the striving towards enlightenment and
virtue, and is the color of birch bark and snow, as well as summer
nights illuminated by the midnight sun
National anthem:
name: "Mu isamaa, mu onn ja room" (My Native Land, My Pride and Joy)
lyrics/music: Johann Voldemar JANNSEN/Fredrik PACIUS
note: adopted 1920, though banned between 1940 and 1990 under Soviet
occupation; the anthem, used in Estonia since 1869, shares the same
melody with that of Finland but has different lyrics
Economy ::Estonia
Economy - overview:
Estonia, a 2004 European Union entrant, has a modern market-based
economy and one of the higher per capita income levels in Central
Europe and the Baltic region. Estonia's successive governments have
pursued a free market, pro-business economic agenda and have wavered
little in their commitment to pro-market reforms. The current
government has pursued relatively sound fiscal policies that have
resulted in balanced budgets and very low public debt. The economy
benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and
strong trade ties with Finland, Sweden, and Germany. Tallinn's
priority has been to sustain high growth rates - on average 8% per
year from 2003 to 2007. Estonia's economy slowed down markedly and
fell sharply into recession in mid-2008, primarily as a result of an
investment and consumption slump following the bursting of the real
estate market bubble. GDP dropped nearly 15% in 2009, among the
world's highest rates of contraction. A modest recovery began in
2010, but unemployment stands above 13%. Estonia adopted the euro in
January 2011.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$24.53 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$24.07 billion (2009 est.)
$27.96 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$19.22 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
-13.9% (2009 est.)
-5.1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$19,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
$18,500 (2009 est.)
$21,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.5%
industry: 28.7%
services: 68.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
688,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.8%
industry: 22.7%
services: 74.5% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
13.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
13.8% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
19.5% (2007)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 27.7% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 91
37 (1999)
Investment (gross fixed):
22.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Public debt:
7.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
7.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
-0.1% (2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.39% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
8.55% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$5.345 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 85
$5.822 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$10.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
$11.37 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$18.94 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
$20.32 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$2.654 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 94
$1.95 billion (31 December 2008)
$6.037 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish
Industries:
engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles;
information technology, telecommunications
Industrial production growth rate:
10% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Electricity - production:
11.46 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Electricity - consumption:
7.686 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Electricity - exports:
2.31 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
1.369 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
7,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Oil - consumption:
30,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Oil - exports:
7,280 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Oil - imports:
30,590 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Natural gas - consumption:
1.51 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Natural gas - imports:
1.51 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Current account balance:
$265 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$898.7 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$10.77 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$9.08 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment 29%, wood and paper 13%, metals 10%, food
products 8%, textiles 5%, chemical products
Exports - partners:
Finland 18.57%, Sweden 12.52%, Latvia 9.51%, Russia 9.33%, Germany
6.09%, Lithuania 4.76%, US 4.26% (2009)
Imports:
$11.52 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$9.783 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment 35%, textiles 19%, mineral fuels 19%,
chemical products 9%, foodstuffs 6%
Imports - partners:
Finland 14.52%, Lithuania 10.84%, Latvia 10.47%, Germany 10.33%,
Russia 8.59%, Sweden 8.34%, Poland 5.63% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.641 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$3.981 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$25.13 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$25.56 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$17.53 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$16.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$7.134 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$6.534 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
kroon (EEK) per US dollar - 12.11 (2010), 11.232 (2009), 10.7
(2008), 11.535 (2007), 12.473 (2006)
note: Estonia adopted the euro on 1 January 2011
Communications ::Estonia
Telephones - main lines in use:
492,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 98
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.72 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 117
Telephone system:
general assessment: foreign investment in the form of joint business
ventures greatly improved telephone service with a wide range of
high quality voice, data, and Internet services available
domestic: substantial fiber-optic cable systems carry telephone, TV,
and radio traffic in the digital mode; Internet services are widely
available; schools and libraries are connected to the Internet, a
large percentage of the population files income-tax returns online,
and online voting was used for the first time in the 2005 local
elections
international: country code - 372; fiber-optic cables to Finland,
Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide packet-switched
service; 2 international switches are located in Tallinn (2008)
Broadcast media:
the publicly-owned broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhaaling (ERR),
operates 2 television channels; national private TV channels
expanding service; a range of channels are aimed at Russian-speaking
viewers; high penetration rate for cable TV services with more than
half of Estonian households connected; publicly-owned broadcaster,
ERR, operates 4 radio networks and there are a growing number of
private commercial radio stations broadcasting nationally,
regionally, and locally (2008)
Internet country code:
.ee
Internet hosts:
729,534 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 48
Internet users:
971,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 102
Transportation ::Estonia
Airports:
19 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 136
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 13
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 859 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 1,196 km
country comparison to the world: 86
broad gauge: 1,196 km 1.520 m/1.524-m gauge (131 km electrified)
(2008)
Roadways:
total: 58,034 km
country comparison to the world: 78
paved: 34,936 km (includes 104 km of expressways)
unpaved: 23,098 km (2009)
Waterways:
520 km (320 km are navigable year round) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 84
Merchant marine:
total: 24
country comparison to the world: 94
by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 17, petroleum
tanker 2
foreign-owned: 3 (Germany 1, Norway 2)
registered in other countries: 77 (Antigua and Barbuda 20, Belize 1,
Cambodia 1, Cyprus 7, Dominica 6, Finland 2, Latvia 4, Malta 16,
former Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 10, Sierra Leone 1, Sweden 3,
Venezuela 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Kuivastu, Kunda, Muuga, Parnu Reid, Sillamae, Tallinn
Military ::Estonia
Military branches:
Estonian Defense Forces: Land Force, Navy, Air Force (Eesti
Ohuvagi), Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit, KL) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
obligation for compulsory service ages 16-60, with conscription
"likely" ages 18-27; service requirement 8-11 months (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 297,096
females age 16-49: 308,229 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 213,740
females age 16-49: 255,926 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 6,945
female: 6,564 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Transnational Issues ::Estonia
Disputes - international:
Russia recalled its signature to the 1996 technical border agreement
with Estonia in 2005, rather than concede to Estonia's appending
prepared a unilateral declaration referencing Soviet occupation and
territorial losses; Russia demands better accommodation of
Russian-speaking population in Estonia; Estonian citizen groups
continue to press for realignment of the boundary based on the 1920
Tartu Peace Treaty that would bring the now divided ethnic Setu
people and parts of the Narva region within Estonia; as a member
state that forms part of the EU's external border, Estonia must
implement the strict Schengen border rules with Russia
Illicit drugs:
growing producer of synthetic drugs; increasingly important
transshipment zone for cannabis, cocaine, opiates, and synthetic
drugs since joining the European Union and the Schengen Accord;
potential money laundering related to organized crime and drug
trafficking is a concern, as is possible use of the gambling sector
to launder funds; major use of opiates and ecstasy
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Ethiopia (Africa)
Introduction ::Ethiopia
Background:
Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy
maintained its freedom from colonial rule with the exception of a
short-lived Italian occupation from 1936-41. In 1974, a military
junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile SELASSIE (who had ruled since
1930) and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups,
uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, the
regime was finally toppled in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces,
the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). A
constitution was adopted in 1994, and Ethiopia's first multiparty
elections were held in 1995. A border war with Eritrea late in the
1990s ended with a peace treaty in December 2000. In November 2007,
the Eritrea-Ethiopia Border Commission remotely demarcated the
border by geographical coordinates, but final demarcation of the
boundary on the ground is currently on hold because of Ethiopian
objections to an international commission's finding requiring it to
surrender territory considered sensitive to Ethiopia.
Geography ::Ethiopia
Location:
Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1,104,300 sq km
country comparison to the world: 27
land: 1 million sq km
water: 104,300 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,328 km
border countries: Djibouti 349 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 861 km,
Somalia 1,600 km, Sudan 1,606 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
Terrain:
high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Danakil Depression -125 m
highest point: Ras Dejen 4,533 m
Natural resources:
small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas,
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 10.01%
permanent crops: 0.65%
other: 89.34% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,900 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
110 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 5.56 cu km/yr (6%/0%/94%)
per capita: 72 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
volcanism: Ethiopia experiences volcanic activity in the Great Rift
Valley; Erta Ale (elev. 613 m, 2,011 ft), which has caused frequent
lava flows in recent years, is the country's most active volcano;
Dabbahu became active in 2005, causing evacuations; other
historically active volcanoes include Alayta, Dalaffilla, Dallol,
Dama Ali, Fentale, Kone, Manda Hararo, and Manda-Inakir
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water
shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor
management
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de
jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993; the Blue Nile, the
chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in T'ana Hayk
(Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia; three major crops are believed to
have originated in Ethiopia: coffee, grain sorghum, and castor bean
People ::Ethiopia
Population:
88,013,491
country comparison to the world: 14
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.1% (male 19,596,784/female 19,688,887)
15-64 years: 51.2% (male 21,376,495/female 22,304,812)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 975,923/female 1,294,437) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.8 years
male: 16.5 years
female: 17.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.202% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Birth rate:
43.34 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Death rate:
11.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Net migration rate:
-0.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 119
note: repatriation of Ethiopian refugees residing in Sudan is
expected to continue for several years; some Sudanese, Somali, and
Eritrean refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from the fighting or famine
in their own countries, continue to return to their homes (2010 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 17% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 78.99 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 16
male: 90.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 67.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 55.8 years
country comparison to the world: 196
male: 53.28 years
female: 58.39 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.07 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
980,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
67,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Ethiopian(s)
adjective: Ethiopian
Ethnic groups:
Oromo 34.5%, Amara 26.9%, Somalie 6.2%, Tigraway 6.1%, Sidama 4%,
Guragie 2.5%, Welaita 2.3%, Hadiya 1.7%, Affar 1.7%, Gamo 1.5%,
Gedeo 1.3%, other 11.3% (2007 Census)
Religions:
Orthodox 43.5%, Muslim 33.9%, Protestant 18.6%, traditional 2.6%,
Catholic 0.7%, other 0.7% (2007 Census)
Languages:
Amarigna (Amharic) (official) 32.7%, Oromigna (official regional)
31.6%, Tigrigna (official regional) 6.1%, Somaligna 6%, Guaragigna
3.5%, Sidamigna 3.5%, Hadiyigna 1.7%, other 14.8%, English
(official) (major foreign language taught in schools), Arabic
(official) (1994 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.7%
male: 50.3%
female: 35.1% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male: 9 years
female: 8 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.5% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 44
Government ::Ethiopia
Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
conventional short form: Ethiopia
local long form: Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
local short form: Ityop'iya
former: Abyssinia, Italian East Africa
abbreviation: FDRE
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
name: Addis Ababa
geographic coordinates: 9 02 N, 38 42 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 ethnically based states (kililoch, singular - kilil) and 2
self-governing administrations* (astedaderoch, singular -
astedader); Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara),
Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela Peoples),
Hareri Hizb (Harari People), Oromiya (Oromia), Sumale (Somali),
Tigray, Ye Debub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations,
Nationalities and Peoples)
Independence:
oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the
world - at least 2,000 years (may be traced to the Aksumite Kingdom,
which coalesced in the first centuries B.C.)
National holiday:
National Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)
Constitution:
ratified 8 December 1994, effective 22 August 1995
Legal system:
based on civil law; currently transitional mix of national and
regional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President GIRMA Woldegiorgis (since 8 October 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since August 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided for in the December 1994
constitution; ministers selected by the prime minister and approved
by the House of People's Representatives
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by the House of People's
Representatives for a six-year term (eligible for a second term);
election last held on 9 October 2007 (next to be held in October
2013); prime minister designated by the party in power following
legislative elections
election results: GIRMA Woldegiorgis elected president; percent of
vote by the House of People's Representatives - 79%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Federation (or upper
chamber responsible for interpreting the constitution and
federal-regional issues) (108 seats; members chosen by state
assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the House of People's
Representatives (or lower chamber responsible for passing
legislation) (547 seats; members directly elected by popular vote
from single-member districts to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 23 May 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - EPRDF 499,
SPDP 24, BGPDP 9, ANDP 8, GPUDM 3, HNL 1, FORUM 1, APDO 1,
independent 1
Judicial branch:
Federal Supreme Court (the president and vice president of the
Federal Supreme Court are recommended by the prime minister and
appointed by the House of People's Representatives; for other
federal judges, the prime minister submits to the House of People's
Representatives for appointment candidates selected by the Federal
Judicial Administrative Council)
Political parties and leaders:
Afar National Democratic Party or ANDP [Mohammed KEDIR]; Arena
Tigray; Argoba People's Democratic Organization or APDO; Benishangul
Gumuz People's Democratic Party or BGPDP [Mulualem BESSE]; Coalition
for Unity and Democratic Party or CUDP; Ethiopian Federal Democatic
Forum or FORUM (a UDJ-led 8-party alliance established for the 2010
parliamentary elections); Ethiopian People's Revolutionary
Democratic Front or EPRDF; Gambella Peoples Unity Democratic
Movement or GPUDM [Umod UBONG]; Gurage Nationalities' Democratic
Movement or GNDM; Harari National League or HNL [Murad ABDULHADI];
Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement or OFDM [BULCHA Demeksa]; Oromo
People's Congress or OPC [IMERERA Gudina]; Somali Democratic
Alliance Forces or SODAF; Somali People's Democratic Party or SPDP;
United Ethiopian Democratic Forces or UEDF [BEYENE Petros]; Unity
for Democracy and Justice or UDJ [Birtukan MEDEKSA, currently
imprisoned]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Ethiopian People's Patriotic Front or EPPF; Ogaden National
Liberation Front or ONLF; Oromo Liberation Front or OLF [DAOUD Ibsa]
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN,
UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Tesfaye
YILMA Sabo
chancery: 3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 364-1200
FAX: [1] (202) 587-0195
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald E. BOOTH
embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
telephone: [251] 11-517-40-00
FAX: [251] 11-517-40-01
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red, with a
yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from the angles
between the points on a light blue disk centered on the three bands;
green represents hope and the fertility of the land, yellow
symbolizes justice and harmony, while red stands for sacrifice and
heroism in the defense of the land; the blue of the disk symbolizes
peace and the pentagram represents the unity and equality of the
nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia
note: Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the
three main colors of her flag (adopted ca. 1895) were so often
adopted by other African countries upon independence that they
became known as the Pan-African colors; the emblem in the center of
the current flag was added in 1996
National anthem:
name: "Whedefit Gesgeshi Woude Henate Ethiopia" (March Forward, Dear
Mother Ethiopia)
lyrics/music: DEREJE Melaku Mengesha/SOLOMON Lulu
note: adopted 1992
Economy ::Ethiopia
Economy - overview:
Ethiopia's poverty-stricken economy is based on agriculture,
accounting for almost 45% of GDP, and 85% of total employment. The
agricultural sector suffers from frequent drought and poor
cultivation practices. Coffee is critical to the Ethiopian economy
with exports of some $350 million in 2006, but historically low
prices have seen many farmers switching to qat to supplement income.
Under Ethiopia's constitution, the state owns all land and provides
long-term leases to the tenants; the system continues to hamper
growth in the industrial sector as entrepreneurs are unable to use
land as collateral for loans. In November 2001, Ethiopia qualified
for debt relief from the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)
initiative, and in December 2005 the IMF forgave Ethiopia's debt.
The global economic downturn led to balance of payments pressures,
partially alleviated by recent emergency funding from the IMF. While
GDP growth has remained high, per capita inome is among the lowest
in the world.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$84.02 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$78.52 billion (2009 est.)
$72.24 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$30.94 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
8.7% (2009 est.)
11.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
$900 (2009 est.)
$900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 42.9%
industry: 13.7%
services: 43.4% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
37.9 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 17
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 85%
industry: 5%
services: 10% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
38.7% (FY05/06 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 25.6% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30 (2000)
country comparison to the world: 112
40 (1995)
Investment (gross fixed):
25.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Public debt:
39.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
35.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
8.5% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA%
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 129
7% (31 December 2006)
Stock of narrow money:
$4.764 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 91
$4.972 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$8.248 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
$8.641 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$8.661 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
$9.292 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, cotton, sugarcane, potatoes, qat,
cut flowers; hides, cattle, sheep, goats; fish
Industries:
food processing, beverages, textiles, leather, chemicals, metals
processing, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
9.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Electricity - production:
3.46 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Electricity - consumption:
3.13 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Oil - consumption:
38,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Oil - imports:
33,590 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Oil - proved reserves:
430,000 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Natural gas - proved reserves:
24.92 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Current account balance:
-$2.232 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
-$1.996 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.729 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
$1.636 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, qat, gold, leather products, live animals, oilseeds
Exports - partners:
China 10.87%, Germany 9.75%, Saudi Arabia 7.39%, US 7.21%,
Netherlands 6.38%, Switzerland 5.33%, Sudan 4.35%, Belgium 4% (2009)
Imports:
$7.517 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
$6.946 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals,
machinery, motor vehicles, cereals, textiles
Imports - partners:
China 14.73%, Saudi Arabia 8.41%, India 7.65%, US 4.3% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.88 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
$1.781 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.289 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
$3.621 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
birr (ETB) per US dollar - 14.4 (2010), 11.7776 (2009), 9.57 (2008),
8.96 (2007), 8.69 (2006)
Communications ::Ethiopia
Telephones - main lines in use:
915,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 82
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.052 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 103
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate telephone system with the Ethiopian
Telecommunications Corporation (ETC) maintaining a monopoly over
telecommunication services; open-wire, microwave radio relay; radio
communication in the HF, VHF, and UHF frequencies; 2 domestic
satellites provide the national trunk service
domestic: the number of fixed lines and mobile telephones is
increasing from a small base; combined fixed and mobile-cellular
teledensity is only about 5 per 100 persons
international: country code - 251; open-wire to Sudan and Djibouti;
microwave radio relay to Kenya and Djibouti; satellite earth
stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
1 public TV broadcast station broadcasting nationally and 1 public
radio broadcaster with stations in each of the 13 administrative
districts; a few commercial radio stations and roughly a dozen
community radio stations (2009)
Internet country code:
.et
Internet hosts:
151 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 200
Internet users:
447,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 119
Transportation ::Ethiopia
Airports:
61 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 79
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 44
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 7 (2010)
Railways:
total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the 781 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti
railroad)
country comparison to the world: 106
narrow gauge: 681 km 1.000-m gauge
note: railway is under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia but is
largely inoperable (2008)
Roadways:
total: 36,469 km
country comparison to the world: 94
paved: 6,980 km
unpaved: 29,489 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
total: 9
country comparison to the world: 118
by type: cargo 8, roll on/roll off 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Ethiopia is landlocked and uses ports of Djibouti in Djibouti and
Berbera in Somalia
Military ::Ethiopia
Military branches:
Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF): Ground Forces, Ethiopian
Air Force (ETAF) (2010)
note: Ethiopia is landlocked and has no navy; following the
secession of Eritrea, Ethiopian naval facilities remained in
Eritrean possession
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no compulsory
military service, but the military can conduct call-ups when
necessary and compliance is compulsory (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 18,485,269
females age 16-49: 19,145,307 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 11,466,713
females age 16-49: 12,444,706 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 934,523
female: 947,103 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.2% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 124
Transnational Issues ::Ethiopia
Disputes - international:
Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by the 2002 Eritrea-Ethiopia
Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but neither
party responded to the revised line detailed in the November 2006
EEBC Demarcation Statement; the undemarcated former British
administrative line has little meaning as a political separation to
rival clans within Ethiopia's Ogaden and southern Somalia's Oromo
region; Ethiopian forces invaded southern Somalia and routed
Islamist Courts from Mogadishu in January 2007; "Somaliland"
secessionists provide port facilities in Berbera and trade ties to
landlocked Ethiopia; civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered
efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 66,980 (Sudan); 16,576 (Somalia);
13,078 (Eritrea)
IDPs: 200,000 (border war with Eritrea from 1998-2000, ethnic
clashes in Gambela, and ongoing Ethiopian military counterinsurgency
in Somali region; most IDPs are in Tigray and Gambela Provinces)
(2007)
Illicit drugs:
transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia
and destined for Europe, as well as cocaine destined for markets in
southern Africa; cultivates qat (khat) for local use and regional
export, principally to Djibouti and Somalia (legal in all three
countries); the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the
country's utility as a money laundering center
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@European Union (Europe)
Introduction ::European Union
Preliminary statement:
The evolution of the European Union (EU) from a regional economic
agreement among six neighboring states in 1951 to today's
supranational organization of 27 countries across the European
continent stands as an unprecedented phenomenon in the annals of
history. Dynastic unions for territorial consolidation were long the
norm in Europe. On a few occasions even country-level unions were
arranged - the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the
Austro-Hungarian Empire were examples - but for such a large number
of nation-states to cede some of their sovereignty to an overarching
entity is truly unique.
Although the EU is not a federation in the strict sense, it is far
more than a free-trade association such as ASEAN, NAFTA, or
Mercosur, and it has many of the attributes associated with
independent nations: its own flag, anthem, founding date, and
currency, as well as an incipient common foreign and security policy
in its dealings with other nations.
In the future, many of these nation-like characteristics are likely
to be expanded. Thus, inclusion of basic intelligence on the EU has
been deemed appropriate as a new, separate entity in The World
Factbook. However, because of the EU's special status, this
description is placed after the regular country entries.
Background:
Following the two devastating World Wars in the first half of the
20th century, a number of European leaders in the late 1940s became
convinced that the only way to establish a lasting peace was to
unite the two chief belligerent nations - France and Germany - both
economically and politically. In 1950, the French Foreign Minister
Robert SCHUMAN proposed an eventual union of all Europe, the first
step of which would be the integration of the coal and steel
industries of Western Europe. The following year the European Coal
and Steel Community (ECSC) was set up when six members, Belgium,
France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, signed
the Treaty of Paris.
The ECSC was so successful that within a few years the decision was
made to integrate other parts of the countries' economies. In 1957,
the Treaties of Rome created the European Economic Community (EEC)
and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), and the six
member states undertook to eliminate trade barriers among themselves
by forming a common market. In 1967, the institutions of all three
communities were formally merged into the European Community (EC),
creating a single Commission, a single Council of Ministers, and the
European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament were
initially selected by national parliaments, but in 1979 the first
direct elections were undertaken and they have been held every five
years since.
In 1973, the first enlargement of the EC took place with the
addition of Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The 1980s saw
further membership expansion with Greece joining in 1981 and Spain
and Portugal in 1986. The 1992 Treaty of Maastricht laid the basis
for further forms of cooperation in foreign and defense policy, in
judicial and internal affairs, and in the creation of an economic
and monetary union - including a common currency. This further
integration created the European Union (EU). In 1995, Austria,
Finland, and Sweden joined the EU, raising the membership total to
15.
A new currency, the euro, was launched in world money markets on 1
January 1999; it became the unit of exchange for all of the EU
states except the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Denmark. In 2002,
citizens of the 12 euro-area countries (the European Monetary Union
or EMU) began using the euro banknotes and coins. Ten new countries
joined the EU in 2004 - Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia,
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia -
and in 2007 Bulgaria and Romania joined, bringing the current
membership to 27. In order to ensure that the EU can continue to
function efficiently with an expanded membership, the Treaty of Nice
(in force as of 1 February 2003) set forth rules streamlining the
size and procedures of EU institutions. An effort to establish an EU
constitution, begun in October 2004, failed to attain unanimous
ratification. A new effort, undertaken in June 2007, created an
Intergovernmental Conference to formulate a political agreement -
initially known as the Reform Treaty but subsequently referred to as
the Treaty of Lisbon - which would serve as a constitution. Unlike
the constitution, however, the Treaty of Lisbon sought to amend
existing treaties rather than replace them. In October 2009, an
Irish referendum approved the Treaty (overturning a previous
rejection) and cleared the way for an ultimate unanimous endorsement
- the Czech Republic signed on soon after. Treaty implementation
began on 1 December 2009. In 2010, the prospect of a Greek default
on its euro-denominated debt created severe strains within the EMU
and raised the question of whether a member country might be removed.
Geography ::European Union
Location:
Europe between the North Atlantic Ocean in the west and Russia,
Belarus, and Ukraine to the east
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 4,324,782 sq km
Area - comparative:
less than one-half the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 12,440.8 km
border countries: Albania 282 km, Andorra 120.3 km, Belarus 1,050
km, Croatia 999 km, Holy See 3.2 km, Liechtenstein 34.9 km,
Macedonia 394 km, Moldova 450 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Norway 2,348 km,
Russia 2,257 km, San Marino 39 km, Serbia 945 km, Switzerland 1,811
km, Turkey 446 km, Ukraine 1,257 km
note: data for European Continent only
Coastline:
65,992.9 km
Maritime claims:
NA
Climate:
cold temperate; potentially subarctic in the north to temperate;
mild wet winters; hot dry summers in the south
Terrain:
fairly flat along the Baltic and Atlantic coast; mountainous in the
central and southern areas
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lammefjord, Denmark -7 m; Zuidplaspolder, Netherlands
-7 m
highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m; note - situated on the border
between France and Italy
Natural resources:
iron ore, natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, lead, zinc, bauxite,
uranium, potash, salt, hydropower, arable land, timber, fish
Land use:
arable land: NA
permanent crops: NA
other: NA
Irrigated land:
168,050 sq km (2003 est.)
Natural hazards:
flooding along coasts; avalanches in mountainous area; earthquakes
in the south; volcanic eruptions in Italy; periodic droughts in
Spain; ice floes in the Baltic
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94
signed but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
People ::European Union
Population:
492,387,344 (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.44% (male 38,992,677/female 36,940,450)
15-64 years: 67.23% (male 166,412,403/female 164,295,636)
65 years and over: 17.33% (male 35,376,333/female 49,853,361) (2009
est.)
Median age:
note - see individual country entries of member states (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.098 % (2010 est.)
Birth rate:
9.83 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
Death rate:
10.33 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.61 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 181
male: 6.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.82 years
country comparison to the world: 41
male: 75.7 years
female: 82.13 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.51 children born/woman (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
note - see individual country entries of member states
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
note - see individual country entries of member states
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
note - see individual country entries of member states
Religions:
Roman Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Muslim, Jewish
Languages:
Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French,
Gaelic, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian,
Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish,
Swedish
note: only official languages are listed; German, the major language
of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, is the most widely spoken
mother tongue - over 19% of the EU population; English is the most
widely spoken language - about 49% of the EU population is
conversant with it (2007)
Government ::European Union
Union name:
conventional long form: European Union
abbreviation: EU
Political structure:
a hybrid intergovernmental and supranational organization
Capital:
name: Brussels (Belgium), Strasbourg (France), Luxembourg
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
note: the Council of the European Union meets in Brussels, Belgium;
the European Parliament meets in Brussels and Strasbourg, France;
the Court of Justice of the European Communities meets in Luxembourg
Member states:
27 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK;
note - candidate countries: Croatia, Iceland, Macedonia, Montenegro,
Turkey
Independence:
7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signed establishing the EU); 1
November 1993 (Maastricht Treaty entered into force)
National holiday:
Europe Day 9 May (1950); note - a Union-wide holiday, the day that
Robert SCHUMAN proposed the creation of the European Coal and Steel
Community to achieve an organized Europe
Constitution:
none
note: based on a series of treaties: the Treaty of Paris, which set
up the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951; the
Treaties of Rome, which set up the European Economic Community (EEC)
and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) in 1957; the
Single European Act in 1986; the Treaty on European Union
(Maastricht) in 1992; the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1997; and the
Treaty of Nice in 2003; note - a new draft Constitutional Treaty,
signed on 29 October 2004 in Rome, gave member states two years for
ratification either by parliamentary vote or national referendum
before it was scheduled to take effect on 1 November 2006; defeat in
French and Dutch referenda in May-June 2005 dealt a severe setback
to the ratification process; in June 2007, the European Council
agreed on a clear and concise mandate for an Intergovernmental
Conference to form a political agreement and put it into legal form;
this agreement, known as the Reform Treaty, would have served as a
constitution and was presented to the European Council in October
2007 for individual country ratification; it was rejected by Irish
voters in June 2008, again stalling the ratification process; the
Reform Treaty, more recently known as the Treaty of Lisbon, was
again circulated for ratification, and by November 2009 was approved
by all 27 countries; it came into effect on 1 December 2009
Legal system:
comparable to the legal systems of member states; first
supranational law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of union: President of the European Commission Jose Manuel
BARROSO (since 2004)
cabinet: European Commission (composed of 27 members, one from each
member country; each commissioner responsible for one or more policy
areas)
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the president of the European Commission designated by
member governments and confirmed by the European Parliament; working
from member state recommendations, the Commission president then
assembles a "college" of Commission members; the European Parliament
confirms the entire Commission for a five-year term; the next
confirmation process will likely be held in January 2015
note: the European Council brings together heads of state and
government and the president of the European Commission and meets at
least four times a year; its aim is to provide the impetus for the
major political issues relating to European integration and to issue
general policy guidelines; leaders of the EU member states appointed
then Belgian Prime Minister Herman VAN ROMPUY to be the first
full-time president of the European Council in November 2009; he
took office on 1 December 2009 and will serve a
two-and-one-half-year term, renewable once; his core
responsibilities include chairing the four summits each year and
providing continuity beyond the rotating, six-month presidencies of
the Council of the EU
Legislative branch:
two legislative bodies consisting of the Council of the European
Union (27 member-state ministers having 345 votes; the number of
votes is roughly proportional to member-states' population) and the
European Parliament (736 seats; seats allocated among member states
in proportion to population; members elected by direct universal
suffrage for a five-year term); note - the Council is the main
decision-making body of the EU; leaders of the EU member states
appointed UK Baroness Catherine Ashton to be the first High
Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy;
Ashton took office on 1 December 2009; her concurrent appointment as
Vice President of the European Commission - both of which are
subject to confirmation by the European Parliament - endows her
position with the policymaking influence of the Council of the EU
and the budgetary influence of the European Commission
elections: last held on 4-7 June 2009 (next to be held in June 2014)
election results: percent of vote - EPP 36%, S&D 25%, ALDE 11.4%,
Greens/EFA 7.5%, ECR 7.3%, GUE/NGL 4.8%, EFD 4.3%, independents
3.7%; seats by party - EPP 265, S&D 184, ALDE 84, Greens/EFA 55, ECR
54, GUE/NGL 35, EFD 32, independents 27
Judicial branch:
Court of Justice of the European Communities (ensures that the
treaties are interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU;
resolve constitutional issues among the EU institutions) - 27
justices (one from each member state) appointed for a six-year term;
note - for the sake of efficiency, the court can sit with 13
justices known as the "Grand Chamber"; Court of First Instance - 27
justices appointed for a six-year term
Political parties and leaders:
Confederal Group of the European United Left-Nordic Green Left or
GUE/NGL [Lothar BISKY]; Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group or EFD
[Nigel FARAGE and Francesco SPERONI]; European Conservatives and
Reformists Group or ECR [Michael KAMINSKI]; Group of Greens/European
Free Alliance or Greens/EFA [Rebecca HARMS and Daniel COHN-BENDIT];
Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe or ALDE
[Guy VERHOFSTADT]; Group of the European People's Party or EPP
[Joseph DAUL]; Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and
Democrats in the European Parliament or S&D [Martin SCHULZ]
International organization participation:
European Union: ARF (dialogue member), ASEAN (dialogue member), FAO,
G-8, G-20, IDA, OAS (observer), PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), UN
(observer), WTO
European Commission: Australian Group, CBSS, CERN, EBRD, FATF, G-10,
IEA, LAIA WTO, ZC (observer)
European Central Bank: BIS
European Investment Bank: EBRD
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joao P. Castanheira do VALE DE ALMEIDA
chancery: 2300 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 862-9500
FAX: [1] (202) 429-1766
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Christopher
MURRAY
embassy: 13 Zinnerstraat/Rue Zinner, B-1000 Brussels
mailing address: same as above
telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111
FAX: [32] (2) 508-2063
Flag description:
a blue field with 12 five-pointed gold stars arranged in a circle in
the center; blue represents the sky of the Western world, the stars
are the peoples of Europe in a circle, a symbol of unity; the number
of stars is fixed
National anthem:
name: "Ode to Joy""
lyrics/music: none/Ludwig VON BEETHOVEN, arranged by Herbert VON
KARAJAN
note: adopted 1972, not in use until 1986; according to the European
Union, the song is meant to represent all of Europe rather than just
the organization; the song also serves as the anthem for the Council
of Europe
Economy ::European Union
Economy - overview:
Internally, the EU has abolished trade barriers, adopted a common
currency, and is striving toward convergence of living standards.
Internationally, the EU aims to bolster Europe's trade position and
its political and economic power. Because of the great differences
in per capita income among member states (from $7,000 to $78,000)
and in national attitudes toward issues like inflation, debt, and
foreign trade, the EU faces difficulties in devising and enforcing
common policies. In the wake of the global economic crisis, the
European Commission projected that the EU's economy would shrink by
4% in 2009 and 0.1% in 2010. The EU has recovered from the crisis
faster than expected, however, and the Commission estimates 2010
growth at 1.8%. Significant risks to growth nevertheless remain,
including, high official debts and deficits, aging populations,
over-regulation of non-financial businesses, and doubts about the
sustainability of European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). In
June 2010, prompted by the Greek financial crisis, the EU and the
IMF set up a $1 trillion bailout fund to rescue any EMU member in
danger of default, but it has not calmed market jitters that have
diminished the value of the euro. Eleven established EU member
states introduced the euro as their common currency on 1 January
1999 (Greece did so two years later), but the UK and Denmark have
'opt-outs' that allow them to keep their national currencies, and
Sweden has not taken the steps needed to participate. Between 2004
and 2007, the EU admitted 12 countries that are, in general, less
advanced economically than the other 15. Of the 12 most recent
member states, only Slovenia (1 January 2007), Cyprus and Malta (1
January 2008), Slovakia (1 January 2009), and Estonia (1 January
2011) have adopted the euro; the remaining states other than the UK
and Denmark are legally required to adopt the currency upon meeting
EU's fiscal and monetary convergence criteria.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$14.89 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
$14.64 trillion (2009 est.)
$15.27 trillion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$15.9 trillion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
-4% (2009 est.)
0.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$32,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
$32,400 (2009 est.)
$33,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.8%
industry: 25.2%
services: 72.9% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
225.2 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 5.6%
industry: 27.7%
services: 66.7% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
9% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
note - see individual country entries of member states
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 25.6% (2002 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
31.2 (1996 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
1.8% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 121
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.52% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
8.58% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$5.542 trillion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 2
$5.649 trillion (31 December 2007)
note: this is the quantity of money, M1, for the euro area,
converted into US dollars at the exchange rate for the date
indicated; it excludes the stock of money carried by non-euro-area
members of the European Union
Stock of broad money:
$11.17 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
$10.83 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)
note: this is the quantity of quasi money, M2-M1, for the euro area,
converted into US dollars at the exchange rate for the date
indicated; it excludes the stock of quasi money carried by
non-euro-area members of the European Union
Stock of domestic credit:
$22.65 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
$21.24 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)
note: this figure refers to the euro area only; it excludes credit
data for non-euro-area members of the EU
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
$7.564 trillion (31 December 2008)
$15.57 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, oilseeds, sugar beets, wine, grapes; dairy products,
cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry; fish
Industries:
among the world's largest and most technologically advanced, the EU
industrial base includes: ferrous and non-ferrous metal production
and processing, metal products, petroleum, coal, cement, chemicals,
pharmaceuticals, aerospace, rail transportation equipment, passenger
and commercial vehicles, construction equipment, industrial
equipment, shipbuilding, electrical power equipment, machine tools
and automated manufacturing systems, electronics and
telecommunications equipment, fishing, food and beverage processing,
furniture, paper, textiles, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
3.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Electricity - production:
3.08 trillion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Electricity - consumption:
2.906 trillion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Electricity - exports:
NA kWh
Electricity - imports:
NA kWh
Oil - production:
2.383 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Oil - consumption:
13.68 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Oil - exports:
2.196 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Oil - imports:
8.613 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Oil - proved reserves:
5.414 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Natural gas - production:
181.6 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Natural gas - consumption:
489.4 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Natural gas - exports:
NA cu m
Natural gas - imports:
NA cu m
Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.242 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Current account balance:
$NA (2009)
$51.4 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.952 trillion (2007)
country comparison to the world: 1
$1.33 trillion (2005)
note: external exports, excluding intra-EU trade
Exports - commodities:
machinery, motor vehicles, aircraft, plastics, pharmaceuticals and
other chemicals, fuels, iron and steel, nonferrous metals, wood pulp
and paper products, textiles, meat, dairy products, fish, alcoholic
beverages.
Imports:
$1.69 trillion (2007)
country comparison to the world: 2
$1.466 trillion (2005)
note: external imports, excluding intra-EU trade
Imports - commodities:
machinery, vehicles, aircraft, plastics, crude oil, chemicals,
textiles, metals, foodstuffs, clothing
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA
Debt - external:
country comparison to the world: 2
$13.72 trillion (30 June 2010); This is the external debt for the
euro area only; it excludes the external debt of the non-euro-area
members of the EU
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7338 (2009), 0.6827 (2008),
0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::European Union
Telephones - main lines in use:
238 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
466 million (2005)
Telephone system:
note - see individual country entries of member states
Internet country code:
.eu; note - see country entries of member states for individual
country codes
Internet hosts:
140,277; note - this sum reflects the number of internet hosts
assigned the .eu internet country code (2010)
Internet users:
247 million (2006)
Transportation ::European Union
Airports:
3,383 (2010)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1,992
over 3,047 m: 116
2,438 to 3,047 m: 340
1,524 to 2,437 m: 546
914 to 1,523 m: 422
under 914 m: 568 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1,391
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 254
under 914 m: 1,112 (2010)
Heliports:
99 (2010)
Railways:
total: 229,450 km (2008)
Roadways:
total: 5,919,704 km (2008)
Waterways:
52,332 km (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Braila (Romania), Bremen
(Germany), Burgas (Bulgaria), Constanta (Romania), Copenhagen
(Denmark), Galati (Romania), Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany),
Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre
(France), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Marseille (France), Naples
(Italy), Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Riga (Latvia), Rotterdam
(Netherlands), Stockholm (Sweden), Talinn (Estonia), Tulcea
(Romania), Varna (Bulgaria)
Military ::European Union
Military - note:
the five-nation Eurocorps - created in 1992 by France, Germany,
Belgium, Spain, and Luxembourg - has deployed troops and police on
peacekeeping missions to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, and the
Democratic Republic of the Congo and assumed command of the ISAF in
Afghanistan in August 2004; Eurocorps directly commands the
5,000-man Franco-German Brigade, the Multinational Command Support
Brigade, and EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina; in November 2004, the
EU Council of Ministers formally committed to creating 13 1,500-man
battle groups by the end of 2007, to respond to international crises
on a rotating basis; 22 of the EU's 27 nations have agreed to supply
troops; France, Italy, and the UK formed the first of three battle
groups in 2005; Norway, Sweden, Estonia, and Finland established the
Nordic Battle Group effective 1 January 2008; nine other groups are
to be formed; a rapid-reaction naval EU Maritime Task Group was
stood up in March 2007 (2007)
Transnational Issues ::European Union
Disputes - international:
as a political union, the EU has no border disputes with neighboring
countries, but Estonia has no land boundary agreements with Russia,
Slovenia disputes its land and maritime boundaries with Croatia, and
Spain has territorial and maritime disputes with Morocco and with
the UK over Gibraltar; the EU has set up a Schengen area -
consisting of 22 EU member states that have signed the convention
implementing the Schengen agreements or "acquis" (1985 and 1990) on
the free movement of persons and the harmonization of border
controls in Europe; these agreements became incorporated into EU law
with the implementation of the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam on 1 May
1999; in addition, non-EU states Iceland and Norway (as part of the
Nordic Union) have been included in the Schengen area since 1996
(full members in 2001), and Switzerland since 2008 bringing the
total current membership to 25; the UK (since 2000) and Ireland
(since 2002) take part in only some aspects of the Schengen area,
especially with respect to police and criminal matters; nine of the
12 new member states that joined the EU since 2004 joined Schengen
on 21 December 2007; of the three remaining EU states, Cyprus is
expected to join by 2009, while Romania and Bulgaria continue to
enhance their border security systems
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (South America)
Introduction ::Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Background:
Although first sighted by an English navigator in 1592, the first
landing (English) did not occur until almost a century later in
1690, and the first settlement (French) was not established until
1764. The colony was turned over to Spain two years later and the
islands have since been the subject of a territorial dispute, first
between Britain and Spain, then between Britain and Argentina. The
UK asserted its claim to the islands by establishing a naval
garrison there in 1833. Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April
1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that landed
seven weeks later and after fierce fighting forced an Argentine
surrender on 14 June 1982.
Geography ::Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Location:
Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of
southern Argentina
Geographic coordinates:
51 45 S, 59 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 12,173 sq km
country comparison to the world: 164
land: 12,173 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and
about 200 small islands
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,288 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on
more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 24 inches
in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and
February, but typically does not accumulate
Terrain:
rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
Natural resources:
fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
strong winds persist throughout the year
Environment - current issues:
overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were
introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is
the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the
1986 Chornobyl disaster
Geography - note:
deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing
season
People ::Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Population:
3,140 (July 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 230
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate:
0.011% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Birth rate:
NA
Death rate:
NA
Net migration rate:
NA
Urbanization:
urban population: 92% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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: Falkland Islander(s)
adjective: Falkland Island
Ethnic groups:
British
Religions:
Christian 67.2%, none 31.5%, other 1.3% (2006 census)
Languages:
English
Literacy:
NA
Government ::Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Stanley
geographic coordinates: 51 42 S, 57 51 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends
third Sunday in April
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution:
1 January 2009
Legal system:
English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor Nigel HAYWOOD (since 16 October 2010)
is the Queen's representative; Chief Executive Dr. Tim THOROGOOD
(since 3 January 2008)
cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative
Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial
secretary), and the governor; the governor must obey the rulings of
the Executive Council on domestic affairs
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (10 seats; 2 members are ex officio
and 8 are elected by popular vote; members to serve four-year
terms); presided over by the governor
elections: last held on 5 November 2009 (next to be held in November
2013)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court
(senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions);
Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders:
none; all independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Falkland Islands Association (supports freedom of the people from
external causes)
International organization participation:
UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Flag description:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
the Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the outer half of the
flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising was once
the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose
crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the
motto DESIRE THE RIGHT
National anthem:
name: "Song of the Falklands""
lyrics/music: Christopher LANHAM
note: adopted 1930s; the song is the local unofficial anthem; as a
territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official
(see United Kingdom)
Economy ::Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Economy - overview:
The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming,
but today fishing contributes the bulk of economic activity. In
1987, the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign
trawlers operating within the Falkland Islands' exclusive fishing
zone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year, which
help support the island's health, education, and welfare system.
Squid accounts for 75% of the fish taken. Dairy farming supports
domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Foreign exchange
earnings come from shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the
sale of postage stamps and coins. The islands are now self-financing
except for defense. The British Geological Survey announced a
200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands in 1993, and early
seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing
500,000 barrels per day; to date, no exploitable site has been
identified. An agreement between Argentina and the UK in 1995 seeks
to defuse licensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen
foreign interest in exploiting potential oil reserves. Political
tensions between the UK and Argentina rose in early 2010 after a UK
company began oil drilling activities in the waters around the
Falkland Islands but abated somewhat when the drilling operation
failed to discover commercially exploitable oil reserves. Tourism,
especially eco-tourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 30,000
visitors in 2001. Another large source of income is interest paid on
money the government has in the bank. The British military presence
also provides a sizeable economic boost.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$105.1 million (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
GDP (official exchange rate):
$105.1 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$35,400 (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 95%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (1996)
Labor force:
1,724 (1996) (1996)
country comparison to the world: 224
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)
industry and services: 5% (1996)
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):
3.6% (1998)
country comparison to the world: 105
Agriculture - products:
fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products; fish, squid
Industries:
fish and wool processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
16 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Electricity - consumption:
14.88 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Oil - consumption:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Oil - imports:
271 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Exports:
$125 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Exports - commodities:
wool, hides, meat, fish, squid
Imports:
$90 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Imports - commodities:
fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Falkland pounds (FKP) per US dollar - 0.5302 (2008), 0.4993 (2007),
0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004)
note: the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound
Communications ::Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 223
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 212
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB
radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all
points on both islands
international: country code - 500; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other
countries
Broadcast media:
television service provided by a multi-channel service provider;
radio services provided by the public broadcaster Falkland Islands
Radio Service (FIRS), broadcasting on both AM and FM frequencies,
and by the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) (2007)
Internet country code:
.fk
Internet hosts:
91 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 203
Internet users:
2,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 208
Transportation ::Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Airports:
7 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 167
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 5
under 914 m: 5 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 440 km
country comparison to the world: 197
paved: 50 km
unpaved: 390 km (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Stanley
Military ::Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Military branches:
no regular military forces
Military expenditures:
NA
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Disputes - international:
Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly
occupied them by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek
settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requests for
sovereignty talks
page last updated on January 10, 2011
======================================================================
@Faroe Islands (Europe)
Introduction ::Faroe Islands
Background:
The population of the Faroe Islands is largely descended from Viking
settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands have been
connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century. A high
degree of self government was granted the Faroese in 1948, who have
autonomy over most internal affairs while Denmark is responsible for
justice, defense, and foreign affairs. The Faroe Islands are not
part of the European Union.
Geography ::Faroe Islands
Location:
Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, about half way between Iceland and Norway
Geographic coordinates:
62 00 N, 7 00 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 1,393 sq km
country comparison to the world: 182
land: 1,393 sq km
water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
Area - comparative:
eight times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,117 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Climate:
mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Terrain:
rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
Natural resources:
fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Land use:
arable land: 2.14%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.86% (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Marine Dumping - associate member to the London Convention
and Ship Pollution
Geography - note:
archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and
a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea
lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits
habitation to small coastal lowlands
People ::Faroe Islands
Population:
49,057 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.6% (male 5,451/female 5,108)
15-64 years: 64% (male 16,708/female 14,544)
65 years and over: 14.4% (male 3,324/female 3,721) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.1 years
male: 36.5 years
female: 37.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.424% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Birth rate:
12.9 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Death rate:
8.66 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Urbanization:
urban population: 41% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.069 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.18 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 176
male: 6.43 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.58 years
country comparison to the world: 33
male: 77.13 years
female: 82.21 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.43 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Faroese (singular and plural)
adjective: Faroese
Ethnic groups:
Scandinavian
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 83.8%, other and unspecified 16.2% (2006 census)
Languages:
Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Literacy:
NA; note - probably 99%, the same as Denmark proper
Government ::Faroe Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Faroe Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Foroyar
Dependency status:
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark since 1948
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Torshavn
geographic coordinates: 62 01 N, 6 46 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 34 municipalities
Independence:
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark)
National holiday:
Olaifest (Olavsoka ), 29 July
Constitution:
5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system:
the laws of Denmark where applicable apply
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January
1972), represented by High Commissioner Dan Michael KNUDSEN, chief
administrative officer (since 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Kaj Leo JOHANNESSEN (since 26
September 2008)
cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed
by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually
elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held
on 19 January 2008 (next to be held no later than January 2012)
election results: Joannes EIDESGAARD elected prime minister in 2008;
governing coalition collapses in September 2008, Kaj Leo JOHANNESSEN
becomes prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (33 seats; members elected
by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven
constituencies to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 19 January 2008 (next to be held no later
than January 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 21%, Social
Democratic Party 19.3%, Republican Party 23.3%, People's Party
20.1%, Center Party 8.4%, Independence Party 7.2%, other 0.7%; seats
by party - Republican Party 8, Union Party 7, Social Democratic
Party 6, People's Party 7, Center Party 3, Independence Party 2
note: election of two seats to the Danish Parliament was last held
on 13 November 2007 (next to be held no later than November 2011);
results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican
Party 1, Union Party 1
Judicial branch:
none
Political parties and leaders:
Center Party [Jenis av RANA]; Independence Party [Kari P. HOJGAARD];
People's Party [Jorgen NICLASEN]; Republican Party [Hogni HOYDAL];
Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union Party [Kaj Leo
JOHANNESEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
conservationists
International organization participation:
Arctic Council, IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag description:
white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges of
the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoist
side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); referred to as
Merkid, meaning "the banner" or "the mark," the flag resembles those
of neighboring Iceland and Norway, and uses the same three colors -
but in a different sequence; white represents the clear Faroese sky
as well as the foam of the waves; red and blue are traditional
Faroese colors
National anthem:
name: "Mitt alfagra land" (My Fairest Land)
lyrics/music: Simun av SKAROI/Peter ALBERG
note: adopted 1948; the anthem is also known as "Tu alfagra land
mitt" (Thou Fairest Land of Mine); as an autonomous overseas
division of Denmark, the Faroe Islands are permitted their own
national anthem
Economy ::Faroe Islands
Economy - overview:
The Faroese economy is dependent on fishing, which makes the economy
vulnerable to price swings. The sector accounts for about 95% of
exports and nearly half of GDP. In early 2008 the Faroese economy
began to slow as a result of smaller catches and historically high
oil prices that continue to trouble the economy. Though oil prices
have come down, reduced catches, especially of cod and haddock, have
continued to strain the Faroese economy. GDP grew 0.5% in 2008-09.
The slowdown in the Faroese economy followed a strong performance
since the mid-1990s with annual growth rates averaging close to 6%,
mostly a result of increased fish landings and salmon farming, and
high export prices. Unemployment reached its lowest level in the
first half of 2008, but increased to 3.9% in 2009 and is rising. The
Faroese Home Rule Government produced increasing budget surpluses
that helped to reduce the large public debt, most of it to Denmark.
However, total dependence on fishing and salmon farming make the
Faroese economy very vulnerable to fluctuations in world demand. In
addition, budget surpluses turned to deficits in 2008-09, and the
economy at both the country and local level is running large
deficits. Initial discoveries of oil in the Faroese area give hope
for eventual oil production, which may provide a foundation for a
more diversified economy and less dependence on Danish economic
assistance. Aided by an annual subsidy from Denmark amounting to
about 6% of Faroese GDP, the Faroese have a standard of living
almost equal to that of Denmark and Greenland.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.642 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.45 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$34,000 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 16%
industry: 29%
services: 55% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
34,680 (November 2008)
country comparison to the world: 201
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 10.2%
industry: 20.5%
services: 69.2% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
3.9% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 34
1.2% (2008)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-1.1% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 6
6.4% (2008)
Agriculture - products:
milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish
Industries:
fishing, fish processing, small ship repair and refurbishment,
handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Electricity - production:
275.8 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Electricity - consumption:
264.4 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2008)
country comparison to the world: 195
Oil - imports:
4,922 bbl/day (2008)
country comparison to the world: 157
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 196
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 185
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 180
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 180
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Exports:
$848 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 157
$634 million (2006)
Exports - commodities:
fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships
Exports - partners:
Hungary 36.26%, Denmark 21.36%, UK 12.21%, Nigeria 7.72%, US 6.49%,
Norway 5.46% (2009)
Imports:
$983 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 171
$751 million (2006)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%,
machinery and transport equipment 29%, fuels, fish, salt
Imports - partners:
Denmark 54.42%, Norway 20.76%, Sweden 4.79% (2009)
Debt - external:
$68.1 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 185
Exchange rates:
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.774 (2009), 5.0236 (2008),
5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006)
Communications ::Faroe Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
20,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 192
Telephones - mobile cellular:
57,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 194
Telephone system:
general assessment: good international communications; good domestic
facilities
domestic: conversion to digital system completed in 1998; both NMT
(analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed
international: country code - 298; satellite earth stations - 1
Orion; 1 fiber-optic submarine cable to the Shetland Islands,
linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland; fiber-optic
submarine cable connection to Canada-Europe cable
Broadcast media:
1 publicly-owned TV station; the Faroese telecommunications company
distributes local and international channels through its digital
terrestrial network; publicly-owned radio station supplemented by 2
privately-owned stations broadcasting over multiple frequencies
(2008)
Internet country code:
.fo
Internet hosts:
8,936 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 128
Internet users:
37,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 175
Transportation ::Faroe Islands
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 230
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 463 km (2006)
country comparison to the world: 194
Merchant marine:
total: 26
country comparison to the world: 91
by type: cargo 11, chemical tanker 6, container 2, passenger 1,
passenger/cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 11 (Norway 6, Sweden 5) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Fuglafjordur, Torshavn, Vagur
Military ::Faroe Islands
Military branches:
no regular military forces
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 11,788 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 9,792
females age 16-49: 8,354 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 379
female: 368 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Denmark
Transnational Issues ::Faroe Islands
Disputes - international:
because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been
realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been
deferred; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that
the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Fiji (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Fiji
Background:
Fiji became independent in 1970 after nearly a century as a British
colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in
1987 caused by concern over a government perceived as dominated by
the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers brought to
the islands by the British in the 19th century). The coups and a
1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian control of Fiji
led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in
economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the
majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more equitable.
Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by
an Indo-Fijian, but a civilian-led coup in May 2000 ushered in a
prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held
in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected
government led by Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE. Re-elected in May
2006, QARASE was ousted in a December 2006 military coup led by
Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, who initially appointed himself acting
president but in January 2007 became interim prime minister. Since
taking power BAINIMARAMA has neutralized his opponents, crippled
Fiji's democratic institutions, and refused to hold elections.
Geography ::Fiji
Location:
Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds
of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
18 00 S, 175 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 18,274 sq km
country comparison to the world: 156
land: 18,274 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,129 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation;
rectilinear shelf claim added
Climate:
tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m
Natural resources:
timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 10.95%
permanent crops: 4.65%
other: 84.4% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
28.6 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.07 cu km/yr (14%/14%/71%)
per capita: 82 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber
83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited
People ::Fiji
Population:
875,983 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.3% (male 146,327/female 140,327)
15-64 years: 64.9% (male 307,077/female 305,886)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 20,300/female 24,803) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.6 years
male: 26.4 years
female: 26.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.827% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Birth rate:
21.52 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Death rate:
5.88 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Net migration rate:
-7.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Urbanization:
urban population: 52% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.28 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 146
male: 12.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.03 years
country comparison to the world: 136
male: 68.46 years
female: 73.73 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.65 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
600 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Nationality:
noun: Fijian(s)
adjective: Fijian
Ethnic groups:
Fijian 57.3% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture),
Indian 37.6%, Rotuman 1.2%, other 3.9% (European, other Pacific
Islanders, Chinese) (2007 census)
Religions:
Christian 64.5% (Methodist 34.6%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Assembly of
God 5.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 3.9%, Anglican 0.8%, other 10.4%),
Hindu 27.9%, Muslim 6.3%, Sikh 0.3%, other or unspecified 0.3%, none
0.7% (2007 census)
Languages:
English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.9% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
6.2% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 33
Government ::Fiji
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands
conventional short form: Fiji
local long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands/Matanitu ko Viti
local short form: Fiji/Viti
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Suva (on Viti Levu)
geographic coordinates: 18 08 S, 178 25 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins fourth Sunday in October; ends
last Sunday in March
Administrative divisions:
4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*,
Western
Independence:
10 October 1970 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)
Constitution:
enacted on 25 July 1997; effective on 28 July 1998; note - it
encourages multiculturalism and makes multiparty government mandatory
Legal system:
based on British system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ratu Epeli NAILATIKAU (since 30 July 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10
September 2000); note - although QARASE is still the legal prime
minister, he has been confined to his home island; former President
ILOILOVATU appointed Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA interim prime
minister under the military regime
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament and responsible to Parliament; note - coup
leader Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA has appointed an interim cabinet
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: under the constitution, president elected by the Great
Council of Chiefs for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
in 2007 the Great Council of Chiefs was suspended from its role in
electing the president; prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Ratu Epeli NAILATIKAU was appointed by Chief
Justice Anthony GATES
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (32 seats; 14 members
appointed by the president on the advice of the Great Council of
Chiefs, 9 appointed by the president on the advice of the Prime
Minister, 8 on the advice of the opposition leader, and 1 appointed
on the advice of the council of Rotuma) and the House of
Representatives (71 seats; 23 members reserved for ethnic Fijians,
19 reserved for ethnic Indians, 3 reserved for other ethnic groups,
1 reserved for the council of Rotuma constituency encompassing the
whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats; members serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held on 6-13 May 2006
(next to be held in 2011)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - SDL 44.6%, FLP 39.2%, UPP 0.8%, independents 4.9%, other
10.5%; seats by party - SDL 36, FLP 31, UPP 2, independents 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court of
Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]; Fiji Democratic
Party or FDP [Filipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian Democrat
Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or
FAP, Fijian Political Party or SVT [Sitiveni RABUKA] (primarily
Fijian), and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Ofa SWANN]); Fiji Labor
Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY]; General Voters Party or GVP
(became part of United General Party); Girmit Heritage Party or GHP;
Justice and Freedom Party or AIM; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR;
National Federation Party or NFP [Pramond RAE] (primarily Indian);
Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party of
National Unity or PANU [Ponipate LESAVUA]; Party of the Truth or
POTT; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL
[Laisenia QARASE]; United Peoples Party or UPP [Millis Mick BEDDOES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Group Against Racial Discrimination or GARD [Dr. Anirudk SINGH] (for
restoration of a democratic government); Viti Landowners Association
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C (suspended), CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Winston THOMPSON
chancery: 2000 M Street, NW, Suite 710, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 466-8320
FAX: [1] (202) 466-8325
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador C. Steven MCGANN
embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva
mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva
telephone: [679] 331-4466
FAX: [679] 330-0081
Flag description:
light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the
blue symbolizes the Pacific ocean and the Union Jack reflects the
links with Great Britain; the shield - taken from Fiji's coat of
arms - depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the
cross of Saint George; the four quarters depict stalks of sugarcane,
a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove
National anthem:
name: "God Bless Fiji"
lyrics/music: Michael Francis Alexander PRESCOTT/C. Austin MILES
(adapted by Michael Francis Alexander PRESCOTT)
note: adopted 1970; the anthem is known in Fijian as "Meda Dau Doka"
(Let Us Show Pride); adapted from the hymn, "Dwelling in Beulah
Land," the anthem's English lyrics are generally sung, although they
differ in meaning from the official Fijian lyrics
Economy ::Fiji
Economy - overview:
Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of
the most developed of the Pacific island economies though still with
a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports, remittances from Fijians
working abroad, and a growing tourist industry - with 400,000 to
500,000 tourists annually - are the major sources of foreign
exchange. Fiji's sugar has special access to European Union markets
but will be harmed by the EU's decision to cut sugar subsidies.
Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity but is
not efficient. Fiji's tourism industry was damaged by the December
2006 coup and is facing an uncertain recovery time. In 2007 tourist
arrivals were down almost 6%, with substantial job losses in the
service sector, and GDP dipped. The coup has created a difficult
business climate. The EU has suspended all aid until the interim
government takes steps toward new elections. Long-term problems
include low investment, uncertain land ownership rights, and the
government's inability to manage its budget. Overseas remittances
from Fijians working in Kuwait and Iraq have decreased
significantly. Fiji's current account deficit reached 23% of GDP in
2006.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.792 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
$3.725 billion (2009 est.)
$3.821 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.154 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
-2.5% (2009 est.)
-0.1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
$4,300 (2009 est.)
$4,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.9%
industry: 13.5%
services: 77.6% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
335,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 70%
industry and services: 30% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.6% (1999)
country comparison to the world: 81
Population below poverty line:
25.5% (FY90/91)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.8% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 138
Central bank discount rate:
3% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 70
6.32% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.85% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
7.97% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$748 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 147
$1.042 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of broad money:
$NA (31 December 2009)
$1.76 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.799 billion (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 104
$568.2 million (31 December 2008)
$522.2 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes,
bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish
Industries:
tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage
industries
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
928 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Electricity - consumption:
863 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Oil - consumption:
11,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Oil - exports:
2,455 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Oil - imports:
20,340 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Current account balance:
-$507 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Exports:
$1.202 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 147
Exports - commodities:
sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil
Exports - partners:
US 15.21%, Australia 12.11%, UK 11.23%, Samoa 5.39%, Tonga 4.74%,
Japan 4.44% (2009)
Imports:
$3.12 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 137
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum
products, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Singapore 27.27%, Australia 19.36%, NZ 15.15%, China 6.92%, India
5.23%, Thailand 4.25% (2009)
Debt - external:
$127 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.7313 (2006), 1.691
(2005), 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003)
Communications ::Fiji
Telephones - main lines in use:
136,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 135
Telephones - mobile cellular:
640,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 156
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern local, interisland, and international
(wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone,
telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications
center
domestic: telephone or radio telephone links to almost all inhabited
islands; most towns and large villages have automatic telephone
exchanges and direct dialing; combined fixed and mobile-cellular
teledensity is about 80 per 100 persons
international: country code - 679; access to important cable links
between US and Canada as well as between NZ and Australia; satellite
earth stations - 2 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
Fiji TV, a publicly-traded company, operates a free-to-air channel
as well as the Sky Fiji and Sky Pacific multi-channel pay-TV
services; state-owned commercial company, Fiji Broadcasting
Corporation, Ltd, operates 6 radio stations - 2 public broadcasters
and 4 commercial broadcasters with multiple repeaters; 5 radio
stations with repeaters operated by Communications Fiji, Ltd;
transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available
(2009)
Internet country code:
.fj
Internet hosts:
17,088 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 113
Internet users:
114,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 157
Transportation ::Fiji
Airports:
28 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 118
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 19 (2010)
Railways:
total: 597 km
country comparison to the world: 110
narrow gauge: 597 km 0.600-m gauge
note: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation; used
to haul sugarcane during the harvest season, which runs from May to
December (2008)
Roadways:
total: 3,440 km
country comparison to the world: 162
paved: 1,692 km
unpaved: 1,748 km (2000)
Waterways:
203 km
country comparison to the world: 98
note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges
(2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 10
country comparison to the world: 112
by type: passenger 4, passenger/cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 2 (Australia 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Lautoka, Levuka, Suva
Military ::Fiji
Military branches:
Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval Forces
(2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 248,020
females age 16-49: 243,468 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 195,414
females age 16-49: 206,386 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 9,131
female: 8,776 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 80
Transnational Issues ::Fiji
Disputes - international:
none
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Fiji is a source country for children trafficked
for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation and a destination
country for a small number of women from China and India trafficked
for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Fiji does not fully comply with the
minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not
making significant efforts to do so; the government has demonstrated
no action to investigate or prosecute traffickers, assist victims,
take steps to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts, or support
any anti-trafficking information or education campaigns; Fiji has
not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2009)
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Finland (Europe)
Introduction ::Finland
Background:
Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the
12th to the 19th centuries, and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia
after 1809. It won its complete independence in 1917. During World
War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and resist
invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory.
In the subsequent half century, the Finns made a remarkable
transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern
industrial economy; per capita income is now among the highest in
Western Europe. A member of the European Union since 1995, Finland
was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation
in January 1999. In the 21st century, the key features of Finland's
modern welfare state are a high standard of education, equality
promotion, and national social security system; currently challenged
by an aging population and the fluctuations of an export-driven
economy.
Geography ::Finland
Location:
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf
of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
64 00 N, 26 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 338,145 sq km
country comparison to the world: 64
land: 303,815 sq km
water: 34,330 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 2,654 km
border countries: Norway 727 km, Sweden 614 km, Russia 1,313 km
Coastline:
1,250 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm)
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary
with Sweden
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because
of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea,
and more than 60,000 lakes
Terrain:
mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low
hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m
Natural resources:
timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold,
silver, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 6.54%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 93.44% (2005)
Irrigated land:
640 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
110 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.33 cu km/yr (14%/84%/3%)
per capita: 444 cu m/yr (1999)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to
acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural
chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, 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, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital
on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern
coastal plain
People ::Finland
Population:
5,255,068 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.4% (male 438,425/female 422,777)
15-64 years: 66.8% (male 1,773,495/female 1,732,792)
65 years and over: 16.8% (male 357,811/female 524,975) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 42.3 years
male: 40.7 years
female: 44 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.084% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Birth rate:
10.37 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Death rate:
10.15 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Net migration rate:
0.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Urbanization:
urban population: 63% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.45 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 213
male: 3.75 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.13 years
country comparison to the world: 39
male: 75.64 years
female: 82.76 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.73 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,400 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Nationality:
noun: Finn(s)
adjective: Finnish
Ethnic groups:
Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.6%, Russian 0.5%, Estonian 0.3%, Roma (Gypsy)
0.1%, Sami 0.1% (2006)
Religions:
Lutheran Church of Finland 82.5%, Orthodox Church 1.1%, other
Christian 1.1%, other 0.1%, none 15.1% (2006)
Languages:
Finnish 91.2% (official), Swedish 5.5% (official), other 3.3% (small
Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities) (2007)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 18 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.4% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 51
Government ::Finland
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Finland
conventional short form: Finland
local long form: Suomen tasavalta/Republiken Finland
local short form: Suomi/Finland
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Helsinki
geographic coordinates: 60 10 N, 24 56 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:
20 regions (maakunnat, singular - maakunta (Finnish); landskapen,
singular - landskapet (Swedish)); Aland (Swedish), Ahvenanmaa
(Finnish); Etela-Karjala (Finnish), Sodra Karelen (Swedish) [South
Karelia]; Etela-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Sodra Osterbotten (Swedish)
[South Ostrobothnia]; Etela-Savo (Finnish), Sodra Savolax (Swedish)
[South Savo]; Kanta-Hame (Finnish), Egentliga Tavastland (Swedish);
Ita-Uusimaa (Finnish), Ostra Nyland (Swedish) [East Newland]; Kainuu
(Finnish), Kajanaland (Swedish); Keski-Pohjanmaa (Finnish),
Mellersta Osterbotten (Swedish) [Central Ostrobothnia]; Keski-Suomi
(Finnish), Mellersta Finland (Swedish) [Central Finland];
Kymenlaakso (Finnish), Kymmenedalen (Swedish); Lappi (Finnish),
Lappland (Swedish); Paijat-Hame (Finnish), Paijanne-Tavastland
(Swedish); Pirkanmaa (Finnish), Birkaland (Swedish) [Tampere];
Osterbotten (Swedish), Pohjanmaa (Finnish) [Ostrobothnia];
Pohjois-Karjala (Finnish), Norra Karelen (Swedish) [North Karelia];
Pohjois-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Norra Osterbotten (Swedish) [North
Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Savo (Finnish), Norra Savolax (Swedish)
[North Savo]; Satakunta (Finnish and Swedish); Uusimaa (Finnish),
Nyland (Swedish) [Newland]; Varsinais-Suomi (Finnish), Egentliga
Finland (Swedish) [Southwest Finland]
Independence:
6 December 1917 (from Russia)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
Constitution:
1 March 2000
Legal system:
civil law system based on Swedish law; the president may request the
Supreme Court to review laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Mari KIVINIEMI (since 22 June
2010); Deputy Prime Minister Jyrki KATAINEN (since 19 April 2007)
cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the
president, responsible to parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 15 January 2006
(next to be held in January 2012); the president appoints the prime
minister and deputy prime minister from the majority party or the
majority coalition after parliamentary elections and the parliament
must approve the appointment; Prime Minister VANHANEN reelected on
17 April 2007
election results: percent of vote - Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 46.3%, Sauli
NIINISTO (Kok) 24.1%, Matti VANHANEN (Kesk) 18.6%, Heidi HAUTALA
(VIHR) 3.5%; a runoff election between HALONEN and NIINISTO was held
29 January 2006 - HALONEN 51.8%, NIINISTO 48.2%; Matti VANHANEN
reelected prime minister; election results 121-71
note: government coalition - Kesk, KOK, VIHR, and SFP
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members elected by
popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 18 March 2007 (next to be held in April 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - Kesk 23.1%, Kok 22.3%,
SDP 21.4%, VAS 8.8%, VIHR 8.5%, KD 4.9%, SFP 4.5%, True Finns 4.1%,
other 3.4%; seats by party - Kesk 51, Kok 50, SDP 45, VAS 17, VIHR
15, SFP 9, KD 7, True Finns 5, other 1 (the constituency of Aland)
Judicial branch:
general courts - deal with criminal and civil cases (include
district courts, Courts of Appeal, and the Supreme Court or Korkein
Oikeus, whose judges are appointed by the president); administrative
courts
Political parties and leaders:
Center Party or Kesk [Mari KIVINIEMI]; Christian Democrats or KD
[Paivi RASANEN]; Green Party or VIHR [Anni SINNEMAKI]; Left Alliance
or VAS [Paavo ARHINMAKI]; National Coalition Party or Kok [Jyrki
KATAINEN]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Jutta URPILAINEN];
Swedish People's Party or SFP [Stefan WALLIN]; True Finns [Timo
SOINI]
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council,
Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU,
FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pekka LINTU
chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800
FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bruce J. ORECK
embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14B, 00140 Helsinki
mailing address: APO AE 09723
telephone: [358] (9) 616250
FAX: [358] (9) 6162 5800
Flag description:
white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the
vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style
of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the blue represents the thousands of
lakes scattered across the country, while the white is for the snow
that covers the land in winter
National anthem:
name: "Maamme" (Our Land)
lyrics/music: Johan Ludvig RUNEBERG/Fredrik PACIUS
note: in use since 1848; although never officially adopted by law,
the anthem has been popular since it was first sung by a student
group in 1848; Estonia's anthem uses the same melody as that of
Finland
Economy ::Finland
Economy - overview:
Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy
with per capita output roughly that of Austria, Belgium, the
Netherlands, and Sweden. Trade is important with exports accounting
for over one third of GDP in recent years. Finland is strongly
competitive in manufacturing - principally the wood, metals,
engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Finland
excels in high-tech exports such as mobile phones. Except for timber
and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials,
energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the
climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining
self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export
earner, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population.
Finland had been one of the best performing economies within the EU
in recent years and its banks and financial markets avoided the
worst of global financial crisis. However, the world slowdown hit
exports and domestic demand hard in 2009, with Finland experiencing
one of the deepest contractions in the euro zone. A recovery of
exports stimulated economic growth in 2010, and led to a lowering of
unemployment. The recession left a deep mark on general government
finances and the debt ratio, turning previously strong budget
surpluses into deficits. In the next few years, the great challenge
of economic policy will be to implement a post-recession exit
strategy in which measures supporting growth will be combined with
general government adjustment measures. Longer-term, Finland must
address a rapidly aging population and decreasing productivity that
threaten competitiveness, fiscal sustainability, and economic growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$185.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$181.6 billion (2009 est.)
$197.6 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$232 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
-8.1% (2009 est.)
1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$35,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
$34,600 (2009 est.)
$37,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.6%
industry: 29.1%
services: 68.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
2.68 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture and forestry: 4.5%
industry: 18.2%
construction: 7.3%
commerce: 15.9%
finance, insurance, and business services: 14.5%
transport and communications: 6.9%
public services: 32.7% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
7.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
8.2% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 24.7% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
29.5 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 115
25.6 (1991)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Public debt:
45.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
40.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
0% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 114
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
3.51% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
5.79% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$108 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 29
$110.4 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro
area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating
within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$160.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$168.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$259.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$241.6 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$91.02 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 27
$154.4 billion (31 December 2008)
$369.2 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish
Industries:
metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific
instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals,
textiles, clothing
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Electricity - production:
77.44 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Electricity - consumption:
87.25 billion kWh (2008)
country comparison to the world: 32
Electricity - exports:
3.335 billion kWh (2008)
Electricity - imports:
16.11 billion kWh (2008)
Oil - production:
8,718 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Oil - consumption:
206,200 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Oil - exports:
130,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Oil - imports:
337,900 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Oil - proved reserves:
NA bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
Natural gas - production:
NA (2008 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
4.289 billion cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 63
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Natural gas - imports:
4.289 billion cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 34
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Current account balance:
$4.696 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$3.444 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$73.53 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$62.69 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
electrical and optical equipment, machinery, transport equipment,
paper and pulp, chemicals, basic metals; timber
Exports - partners:
Germany 10.32%, Sweden 9.79%, Russia 9%, US 7.85%, Netherlands 5.9%,
UK 5.24%, China 4.1% (2009)
Imports:
$69.11 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$57.68 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport
equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics,
grains
Imports - partners:
Russia 16.28%, Germany 15.76%, Sweden 14.65%, Netherlands 6.99%,
China 5.29%, France 4.22% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$9.128 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$11.45 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$370.8 billion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 23
$339.5 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$87.99 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$85.71 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$122.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$118.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Finland
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.43 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 65
Telephones - mobile cellular:
7.7 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 76
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system with excellent service
domestic: digital fiber-optic fixed-line network and an extensive
mobile-cellular network provide domestic needs
international: country code - 358; submarine cables provide links to
Estonia and Sweden; satellite earth stations - access to Intelsat
transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1
Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Finland shares
the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark,
Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)
Broadcast media:
a mix of publicly-operated TV stations and privately-owned TV
stations; the 2 publicly-owned TV stations recently expanded
services and the largest private TV station has introduced several
special-interest pay-TV channels; cable and satellite multi-channel
subscription services are available; all TV signals have been
broadcast digitally since September 2007; analog broadcasts via
cable networks were terminated in February 2008; public broadcasting
maintains a network of 13 national and 25 regional radio stations; a
large number of private radio broadcasters (2008)
Internet country code:
.fi; note - Aland Islands assigned .ax
Internet hosts:
4.394 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 21
Internet users:
4.393 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 55
Transportation ::Finland
Airports:
148 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 37
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 75
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 14 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 73
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 70 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 694 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 5,794 km
country comparison to the world: 31
broad gauge: 5,794 km 1.524-m gauge (3,047 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 78,141 km
country comparison to the world: 62
paved: 50,914 km (includes 739 km of expressways)
unpaved: 27,227 km (2009)
Waterways:
7,842 km (includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part
leased from Russia; water transport is used frequently in the summer
and is widely replaced with sledges on the ice in winter; there are
187,888 lakes in Finland that cover 31,500 km) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 18
Merchant marine:
total: 93
country comparison to the world: 53
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 26, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6,
container 3, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 16, petroleum tanker 5,
roll on/roll off 28, vehicle carrier 3
foreign-owned: 6 (Cyprus 1, Estonia 2, Iceland 1, Norway 2)
registered in other countries: 52 (Bahamas 8, Germany 5, Gibraltar
2, Liberia 2, Malta 2, Netherlands 14, Norway 1, Panama 2, Sweden
16) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Porvoo, Raahe, Rauma
Military ::Finland
Military branches:
Finnish Defense Forces (FDF): Army, Navy (includes Coastal Defense
Forces), Air Force (Suomen Ilmavoimat) (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for male voluntary and compulsory - and female
voluntary - national military and nonmilitary service; service
obligation 6-12 months; mandatory retirement at age 60 (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,160,812
females age 16-49: 1,111,743 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 958,949
females age 16-49: 916,818 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 33,297
female: 32,233 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Transnational Issues ::Finland
Disputes - international:
various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other
areas ceded to the Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government asserts
no territorial demands
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@France (Europe)
Introduction ::France
Background:
Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered
extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a
dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most
modern countries in the world and is a leader among European
nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a hybrid
presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the
instabilities experienced in earlier more purely parliamentary
administrations. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation
with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of
Europe, including the introduction of a common exchange currency,
the euro, in January 1999.
Geography ::France
Location:
metropolitan France: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and
English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK;
bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain
French Guiana: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname
Guadeloupe: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico
Martinique: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North
Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Reunion: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:
metropolitan France: 46 00 N, 2 00 E
French Guiana: 4 00 N, 53 00 W
Guadeloupe: 16 15 N, 61 35 W
Martinique: 14 40 N, 61 00 W
Reunion: 21 06 S, 55 36 E
Map references:
metropolitan France: Europe
French Guiana: South America
Guadeloupe: Central America and the Caribbean
Martinique: Central America and the Caribbean
Reunion: World
Area:
total: 643,427 sq km; 551,500 sq km (metropolitan France)
country comparison to the world: 42
land: 640,053 sq km; 549,970 sq km (metropolitan France)
water: 3,374 sq km; 1,530 sq km (metropolitan France)
note: the first numbers include the overseas regions of French
Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Reunion
Area - comparative:
slightly less than the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
metropolitan France - total: 2,889 km
border countries: Andorra 56.6 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km,
Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km,
Switzerland 573 km
French Guiana - total: 1,183 km
border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
Coastline:
total: 4,668 km
metropolitan France: 3,427 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean)
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
metropolitan France: generally cool winters and mild summers, but
mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional
strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral
French Guiana: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature
variation
Guadeloupe and Martinique: subtropical tempered by trade winds;
moderately high humidity; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable
to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average
Reunion: tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool
and dry (May to November), hot and rainy (November to April)
Terrain:
metropolitan France: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in
north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in
south, Alps in east
French Guiana: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small
mountains
Guadeloupe: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior
mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the
seven other islands are volcanic in origin
Martinique: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
Reunion: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m
highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m
note: in order to assess the possible effects of climate change on
the ice and snow cap of Mont Blanc, its surface and peak have been
extensively and periodically measured in recent years; these new
peak measurements have exceeded the traditional height of 4,807 m
and have varied between 4,808 m and 4,811 m; the actual rock summit
is 4,792 m and is 40 m away from the ice-covered summit
Natural resources:
metropolitan France: coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium,
antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, fish
French Guiana: gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin, niobium, tantalum,
clay
Land use:
arable land: 33.46%
permanent crops: 2.03%
other: 64.51%
note: French Guiana - arable land 0.13%, permanent crops 0.04%,
other 99.83% (90% forest, 10% other); Guadeloupe - arable land
11.70%, permanent crops 2.92%, other 85.38%; Martinique - arable
land 9.09%, permanent crops 10.0%, other 80.91%; Reunion - arable
land 13.94%, permanent crops 1.59%, other 84.47% (2005)
Irrigated land:
total: 26,190 sq km;
metropolitan France: 26,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
189 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 33.16 cu km/yr (16%/74%/10%)
per capita: 548 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
metropolitan France: flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms;
drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean
overseas departments: hurricanes (cyclones); flooding; volcanic
activity (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion)
Environment - current issues:
some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and
vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural
runoff
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, 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,
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: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
largest West European nation
People ::France
Population:
64,768,389
country comparison to the world: 21
note: the above figure is for metropolitan France and its four
overseas regions; the metropolitan France population is 62,814,233
(July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.6% (male 6,129,729/female 5,838,925)
15-64 years: 65% (male 20,963,124/female 20,929,280)
65 years and over: 16.4% (male 4,403,248/female 6,155,767) (2010
est.)
Median age:
total: 39.7 years
male: 38.2 years
female: 41.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.525% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Birth rate:
12.43 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Death rate:
8.65 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Net migration rate:
1.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Urbanization:
urban population: 77% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.051 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: 0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.31 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 215
male: 3.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 81.09 years
country comparison to the world: 12
male: 77.91 years
female: 84.44 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.97 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
140,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,600 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Nationality:
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French
Ethnic groups:
Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese,
Basque minorities
overseas departments: black, white, mulatto, East Indian, Chinese,
Amerindian
Religions:
Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%,
unaffiliated 4%
overseas departments: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Muslim,
Buddhist, pagan
Languages:
French (official) 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and
languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque,
Flemish)
overseas departments: French, Creole patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 42
Government ::France
Country name:
conventional long form: French Republic
conventional short form: France
local long form: Republique francaise
local short form: France
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Paris
geographic coordinates: 48 52 N, 2 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
note: applies to metropolitan France only, not to its overseas
departments, collectivities, or territories
Administrative divisions:
26 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine,
Auvergne, Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy), Bourgogne (Burgundy),
Bretagne (Brittany), Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse (Corsica),
Franche-Comte, Guadeloupe, Guyane (French Guiana), Haute-Normandie
(Upper Normandy), Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin,
Lorraine, Martinique, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la
Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur,
Reunion, Rhone-Alpes
note: France is divided into 22 metropolitan regions (including the
"territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and 4 overseas
regions (including French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and
Reunion) and is subdivided into 96 metropolitan departments and 4
overseas departments (which are the same as the overseas regions)
Dependent areas:
Clipperton Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic
Lands, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin,
Wallis and Futuna
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica; New Caledonia
has been considered a "sui generis" collectivity of France since
1998, a unique status falling between that of an independent country
and a French overseas department
Independence:
no official date of independence: 486 (Frankish tribes unified under
Merovingian kingship); 10 August 843 (Western Francia established
from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 14 July 1789 (French
monarchy overthrown); 22 September 1792 (First French Republic
founded); 4 October 1958 (Fifth French Republic established)
National holiday:
Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - although often
incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, the celebration actually
commemorates the holiday held on the first anniversary of the
storming of the Bastille (on 14 July 1789) and the establishment of
a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are Fete
Nationale (National Holiday) and quatorze juillet (14th of July)
Constitution:
adopted by referendum 28 September 1958; effective 4 October 1958;
amended many times
note: amended concerning election of president in 1962; amended to
comply with provisions of 1992 EC Maastricht Treaty, 1997 Amsterdam
Treaty, 2003 Treaty of Nice; amended to tighten immigration laws in
1993; amended in 2000 to change the seven-year presidential term to
a five-year term; amended in 2005 to make the EU constitutional
treaty compatible with the Constitution of France and to ensure that
the decision to ratify EU accession treaties would be made by
referendum
Legal system:
civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative
but not legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Francois FILLON (since 17 May
2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president at the
suggestion of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held on 22 April and 6 May 2007 (next to be held in
the spring of 2012); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Nicolas SARKOZY elected; first round: percent of
vote - Nicolas SARKOZY 31.2%, Segolene ROYAL 25.9%, Francois BAYROU
18.6%, Jean-Marie LE PEN 10.4%, others 13.9%; second round: SARKOZY
53.1%, ROYAL 46.9%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat
(343 seats; 321 for metropolitan France and overseas departments, 2
for New Caledonia, 2 for Mayotte, 1 for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, 1
for Saint-Barthelemy, 1 for Saint-Martin, 3 for overseas
territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members indirectly
elected by an electoral college to serve six-year terms; one third
elected every three years); note - between 2006 and 2011, 15 new
seats will be added to the Senate for a total of 348 seats - 326 for
metropolitan France and overseas departments, 2 for New Caledonia, 2
for Mayotte, 1 for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, 1 for
Saint-Barthelemy, 1 for Saint-Martin, 3 for overseas territories,
and 12 for French nationals abroad; starting in 2008, members will
be indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve six-year
terms with one-half elected every three years; and the National
Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; 555 for metropolitan
France, 15 for overseas departments, 7 for dependencies; members
elected by popular vote under a single-member majority system to
serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 21 September 2008 (next to be held
in September 2014); National Assembly - last held on 10 and 17 June
2007 (next to be held in June 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - UMP 151, PS 102, PCF 22, MoDem 11, NC 11, Greens 5, PG 2,
other 39; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - UMP 46.4%,
PS 42.2%, miscellaneous left wing parties 2.5%, PCF 2.3%, NC 2.1%,
PRG 1.6%, miscellaneous right wing parties 1.2%, the Greens 0.4%,
other 1.2%; seats by party - UMP 313, PS 186, NC 22, miscellaneous
left wing parties 15, PCF 16, miscellaneous right wing parties 9,
PRG 7, the Greens 3, other 6
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (judges are appointed
by the president from nominations of the High Council of the
Judiciary); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (three
members appointed by the president, three appointed by the president
of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of
the Senate); Council of State or Conseil d'Etat
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Movement or MoDem [Francois BAYROU] (previously Union for
French Democracy or UDF); French Communist Party or PCF [Pierre
LAURENT]; Greens [Cecile DUFLOT]; Left Party or PG [Jean-Luc
MELENCHON]; Left Radical Party or PRG [Jean-Michel BAYLET]
(previously Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical
Movement or MRG); Movement for France or MPF [Philippe DE VILLIERS];
National Front or FN [Jean-Marie LE PEN]; New Anticapitalist Party
or NPA [Olivier BESANCENOT]; New Center or NC [Herve MORIN]; Radical
Party [Jean-Louis BORLOO]; Rally for France or RPF [Charles PASQUA];
Republican and Citizen Movement or MRC [Jean Pierre CHEVENEMENT];
Socialist Party or PS [Martine AUBRY]; Union for a Popular Movement
or UMP [Jean-Francois COPE]; Worker's Struggle or LO [Nathalie
ARTHAUD]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation francaise democratique du travail or CFDT,
left-leaning labor union with approximately 803,000 members;
Confederation francaise de l'encadrement - Confederation generale
des cadres or CFE-CGC, independent white-collar union with 196,000
members; Confederation francaise des travailleurs chretiens of CFTC,
independent labor union founded by Catholic workers that claims
132,000 members; Confederation generale du travail or CGT,
historically communist labor union with approximately 700,000
members; Confederation generale du travail - Force ouvriere or FO,
independent labor union with an estimated 300,000 members; Mouvement
des entreprises de France or MEDEF, employers' union with 750,000
companies as members (claimed)
French Guiana: conservationists; gold mining pressure groups;
hunting pressure groups
Guadeloupe: Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or
KLPG; General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G; General
Union of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG; Movement for an Independent
Guadeloupe or MPGI; The Socialist Renewal Movement
Martinique: Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union
for Martinique Workers or CSTM; Frantz Fanon Circle; League of
Workers and Peasants; Proletarian Action Group or GAP
Reunion: NA
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council
(observer), Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS
(observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, FZ,
G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO,
MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW,
OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SECI
(observer), SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNTSO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000
FAX: [1] (202) 944-6166
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles H. RIVKIN
embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08
mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777
telephone: [33] (1) 43-12-22-22
FAX: [33] (1) 42 66 97 83
consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red;
known as the "Le drapeau tricolore" (French Tricolor), the origin of
the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution when the "ancient
French color" of white was combined with the blue and red colors of
the Parisian militia; the official flag for all French dependent
areas
note: the design and/or colors are similar to a number of other
flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Ireland,
Italy, Luxembourg, and Netherlands
National anthem:
name: "La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille)
lyrics/music: Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle
note: adopted 1795, restored 1870; originally known as "Chant de
Guerre pour l'Armee du Rhin" (War Song for the Army of the Rhine),
the National Guard of Marseille made the song famous by singing it
while marching into Paris in 1792 during the French Revolutionary
Wars
Economy ::France
Economy - overview:
France is in the midst of transition from a well-to-do modern
economy that has featured extensive government ownership and
intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The
government has partially or fully privatized many large companies,
banks, and insurers, and has ceded stakes in such leading firms as
Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales. It maintains a
strong presence in some sectors, particularly power, public
transport, and defense industries. With at least 75 million foreign
tourists per year, France is the most visited country in the world
and maintains the third largest income in the world from tourism.
France's leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which they
maintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies, and social
spending that reduce income disparity and the impact of free markets
on public health and welfare. France has weathered the global
economic crisis better than most other big EU economies because of
the relative resilience of domestic consumer spending, a large
public sector, and less exposure to the downturn in global demand
than in some other countries. Nonetheless, France's real GDP
contracted 2.5% in 2009, but recovered somewhat in 2010, while the
unemployment rate increased from 7.4% in 2008 to 9.5% in 2010. The
government pursuit of aggressive stimulus and investment measures in
response to the economic crisis, however, are contributing to a
deterioration of France's public finances. The government budget
deficit rose sharply from 3.4% of GDP in 2008 to 7.8% of GDP in
2010, while France's public debt rose from 68% of GDP to 84% over
the same period. Paris is terminating stimulus measures, eliminating
tax credits, and freezing most government spending to bring the
budget deficit under the 3% euro-zone ceiling by 2013, and to
highlight France's commitment to fiscal discipline at a time of
intense financial market scrutiny of euro zone debt levels.
President SARKOZY - who secured passage of pension reform in 2010 -
is expected to seek passage of some tax reforms in 2011, but he may
delay additional, more costly, reforms until after the 2012 election.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.16 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$2.126 trillion (2009 est.)
$2.18 trillion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.555 trillion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
-2.5% (2009 est.)
0.1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$33,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$33,000 (2009 est.)
$34,000 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.8%
industry: 19.2%
services: 79% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
28.21 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 24.3%
services: 71.8% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
9.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
9.1% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
6.2% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 24.8% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.7 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 98
32.7 (1995)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Public debt:
83.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
77.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
0.1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 116
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.46% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
8.13% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$858.6 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 8
$862.3 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro
area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating
within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$2.292 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$2.306 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$4.319 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$4.121 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.972 trillion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 6
$1.492 trillion (31 December 2008)
$2.771 trillion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy
products; fish
Industries:
machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft,
electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
3.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Electricity - production:
535.7 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Electricity - consumption:
447.2 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Electricity - exports:
58.69 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
10.68 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
70,820 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Oil - consumption:
1.875 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Oil - exports:
597,800 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Oil - imports:
2.386 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Oil - proved reserves:
101.2 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Natural gas - production:
877 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Natural gas - consumption:
44.84 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Natural gas - exports:
1.931 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Natural gas - imports:
45.85 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Natural gas - proved reserves:
7.079 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Current account balance:
-$53.29 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
-$51.86 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$508.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$473.9 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics,
chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages
Exports - partners:
Germany 15.88%, Italy 8.16%, Spain 7.8%, Belgium 7.44%, UK 7.04%, US
5.65%, Netherlands 3.99% (2009)
Imports:
$577.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$535.8 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics,
chemicals
Imports - partners:
Germany 19.41%, Belgium 11.61%, Italy 7.97%, Netherlands 7.15%,
Spain 6.68%, UK 4.9%, US 4.72%, China 4.44% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$133.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.698 trillion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 5
$4.935 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$1.207 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
$1.151 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.837 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
$1.711 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::France
Telephones - main lines in use:
36.431 million; 35.5 million (metropolitan France) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 7
Telephones - mobile cellular:
60.95 million; 59.543 million (metropolitan France) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 18
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed
domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive use
of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system
international: country code - 33; numerous submarine cables provide
links throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and US;
satellite earth stations - more than 3 (2 Intelsat (with total of 5
antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA
Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat - Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone
communications with more than 20 countries
overseas departments: country codes: French Guiana - 594; Guadeloupe
- 590; Martinique - 596; Reunion - 262
Broadcast media:
a mix of both publicly-operated and privately-owned TV stations;
state-owned France Televisions operates 4 networks, one of which is
a network of regional stations, and has part-interest in several
thematic cable/satellite channels and international channels; a
large number of privately-owned regional and local TV stations;
multi-channel satellite and cable services provide a large number of
channels; public broadcaster Radio France operates 7 national
networks, a series of regional networks, and operates services for
overseas territories and foreign audiences; Radio France
Internationale (RFI), under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is a
leading international broadcaster; a large number of commercial FM
stations, with many of them consolidating into commercial networks
(2008)
Internet country code:
metropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe - .gp;
Martinique - .mq; Reunion - .re
Internet hosts:
15.182 million; 15.161 million (metropolitan France) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 7
Internet users:
45.262 million; 44.625 million (metropolitan France) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 8
Transportation ::France
Airports:
474 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 16
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 297
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 97
914 to 1,523 m: 83
under 914 m: 76 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 177
914 to 1,523 m: 69
under 914 m: 108 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 14,688 km; oil 2,943 km; refined products 5,080 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 29,213 km
country comparison to the world: 9
standard gauge: 29,046 km 1.435-m gauge (15,164 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 167 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 1,027,183 km (metropolitan France; includes 10,958 km of
expressways)
country comparison to the world: 7
note: there are another 5,100 km of roadways in overseas departments
(2007)
Waterways:
metropolitan France: 8,501 km (1,621 km accessible to craft of 3,000
metric tons)
country comparison to the world: 16
French Guiana: 3,760 km (460 km navigable by small oceangoing
vessels and coastal and river steamers, 3,300 km by native craft)
(2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 167
country comparison to the world: 38
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 8, chemical tanker 36, container 25,
liquefied gas 12, passenger 11, passenger/cargo 44, petroleum tanker
17, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 11
foreign-owned: 57 (Belgium 7, China 5, Denmark 12, French Polynesia
12, Germany 1, New Caledonia 3, Norway 1, NZ 1, Singapore 3, Spain
1, Sweden 6, Switzerland 5)
registered in other countries: 146 (Bahamas 19, Belgium 5, Bermuda
1, Canada 1, Cyprus 16, Egypt 1, Hong Kong 3, Indonesia 1, Italy 2,
Luxembourg 16, Malta 13, Morocco 4, Netherlands 2, Norway 4, Panama
13, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Singapore 3, South Korea 1,
Taiwan 1, UK 33, US 4, unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Calais, Dunkerque, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes, Paris, Rouen
Military ::France
Military branches:
Army (Armee de Terre; includes Marines, Foreign Legion, Army Light
Aviation), Navy (Marine Nationale, includes Naval Air, Maritime
Gendarmerie (Coast Guard)), Air Force (Armee de l'Air (AdlA),
includes Air Defense), National Gendarmerie (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
17-40 years of age for male or female voluntary military service
(with parental consent); no conscription; 12-month service
obligation; women serve in noncombat military posts (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 14,591,656
females age 16-49: 14,285,551 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 12,053,912
females age 16-49: 11,763,951 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 389,956
female: 372,312 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Transnational Issues ::France
Disputes - international:
Madagascar claims the French territories of Bassas da India, Europa
Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros claims
Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial dispute
between Suriname and the French overseas department of French
Guiana; France asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie
Land); France and Vanuatu claim Matthew and Hunter Islands, east of
New Caledonia
Illicit drugs:
metropolitan France: transshipment point for South American cocaine,
Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics
French Guiana: small amount of marijuana grown for local
consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe
Martinique: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for
the US and Europe
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@French Polynesia (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::French Polynesia
Background:
The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th
century. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by
resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year
moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996. In recent
years, French Polynesia's autonomy has been considerably expanded.
Geography ::French Polynesia
Location:
Oceania, archipelagoes in the South Pacific Ocean about half way
between South America and Australia
Geographic coordinates:
15 00 S, 140 00 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)
country comparison to the world: 174
land: 3,827 sq km
water: 340 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
2,525 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical, but moderate
Terrain:
mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m
Natural resources:
timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 0.75%
permanent crops: 5.5%
other: 93.75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
occasional cyclonic storms in January
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
includes five archipelagoes (four volcanic, one coral); Makatea in
French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in
the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati
and Nauru
People ::French Polynesia
Population:
291,000 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.3% (male 35,631/female 34,097)
15-64 years: 68.9% (male 102,537/female 95,317)
65 years and over: 6.8% (male 9,821/female 9,629) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.5 years
male: 29.8 years
female: 29.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.355% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Birth rate:
15.67 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Death rate:
4.8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Net migration rate:
2.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Urbanization:
urban population: 52% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.41 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 165
male: 8.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.91 years
country comparison to the world: 64
male: 74.44 years
female: 79.5 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.89 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: French Polynesian(s)
adjective: French Polynesian
Ethnic groups:
Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%
Religions:
Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6%
Languages:
French 61.1% (official), Polynesian 31.4% (official), Asian
languages 1.2%, other 0.3%, unspecified 6% (2002 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 14 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1977 est.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::French Polynesia
Country name:
conventional long form: Overseas Lands of French Polynesia
conventional short form: French Polynesia
local long form: Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynesie Francaise
local short form: Polynesie Francaise
former: French Colony of Oceania
Dependency status:
overseas lands of France; overseas territory of France from 1946-2004
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Papeete
geographic coordinates: 17 32 S, 149 34 W
time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas lands of France); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are five archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises,
Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, Iles
Sous-le-Vent
Independence:
none (overseas lands of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
the laws of France where applicable apply
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007),
represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Adolphe COLRAT
(since 7 July 2008); note - will be replaced in 2011 by Richard
DIDIER
head of government: President of French Polynesia Gaston Tong SANG
(since 24 November 2009); President of the Territorial Assembly
Oscar TEMARU (since 10 April 2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members
of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as
ministers
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the
advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the
territorial government and the president of the Territorial Assembly
elected by the members of the assembly for five-year terms (no term
limits)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (57 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 27 January 2008 (first round) and 10
February 2008 (second round) (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - Our Home alliance
45.2%, Union for Democracy alliance 37.2%, Popular Rally (Tahoeraa
Huiraatira) 17.2% other 0.5%; seats by party - Our Home alliance 27,
Union for Democracy alliance 20, Popular Rally 10
note: two seats were elected to the French Senate on 21 September
2008 (next to be held in September 2014); results - percent of vote
by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 1, independent 1; two seats were
elected to the French National Assembly on 10-17 June 2007 (next to
be held in 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - UMP 2
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or
Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or
Tribunal Administratif
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for a New Democracy or ADN(includes the parties The New
Star and This Country is Yours); New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api);
Our Home alliance; People's Servant Party (Tavini Huiraatira);
Popular Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira); Union for Democracy alliance or
UPD
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ITUC, PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas lands of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas lands of France)
Flag description:
two red horizontal bands encase a wide white band in a 1:2:1 ratio;
centered on the white band is a disk with a blue and white wave
pattern depicting the sea on the lower half and a gold and white ray
pattern depicting the sun on the upper half; a stylized red, blue,
and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the ship has a crew of
five represented by five stars that symbolize the five island
groups; red and white are traditional Polynesian colors
note: similar to the red-white-red flag of Tahiti, the largest of
the islands in French Polynesia, which has no emblem in the white
band; the flag of France is used for official occasions
National anthem:
name: "Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui" (Long Live Tahiti Nui)
lyrics/music: Maeva BOUGES, Irmine TEHEI, Angele TEROROTUA, Johanna
NOUVEAU, Patrick AMARU, Louis MAMATUI and Jean-Pierre CELESTIN
note: adopted 1993; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of
France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)
Government - note:
under certain acts of France, French Polynesia has acquired autonomy
in all areas except those relating to police and justice, monetary
policy, tertiary education, immigration, and defense and foreign
affairs; the duties of its president are fashioned after those of
the French prime minister
Economy ::French Polynesia
Economy - overview:
Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region,
French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence agricultural economy
to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either
employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. With the
halt of French nuclear testing in 1996, the military contribution to
the economy fell sharply. Tourism accounts for about one-fourth of
GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. Other sources
of income are pearl farming and deep-sea commercial fishing. The
small manufacturing sector primarily processes agricultural
products. The territory benefits substantially from development
agreements with France aimed principally at creating new businesses
and strengthening social services.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.718 billion (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
$4.58 billion (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$6.1 billion (2004)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.7% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 134
5.1% (2002)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$18,000 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$17,500 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 20.4%
services: 76.1% (2005)
Labor force:
116,000 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 180
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 19%
services: 68% (2002)
Unemployment rate:
11.7% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 125
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.1% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 22
1.1% (2006 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
fish; coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits, coffee; poultry, beef,
dairy products
Industries:
tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
650 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Electricity - consumption:
604.5 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Oil - consumption:
7,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Oil - imports:
6,701 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Exports:
$211 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Exports - commodities:
cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark
meat
Imports:
$1.706 billion (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Imports - commodities:
fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 87.59
(2007), 94.97 (2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003)
note: pegged at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro
Communications ::French Polynesia
Telephones - main lines in use:
54,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 158
Telephones - mobile cellular:
208,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 171
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: combined fixed and mobile-cellular density is roughly 90
per 100 persons
international: country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
the publicly-owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which operates in
France's overseas departments and territories, broadcasts on 2
television channels and 1 radio station; a government-owned TV
station is operating; a small number of privately-owned radio
stations also broadcast (2008)
Internet country code:
.pf
Internet hosts:
36,056 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 95
Internet users:
120,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 154
Transportation ::French Polynesia
Airports:
53 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 90
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 46
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 33
under 914 m: 7 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 2,590 km
country comparison to the world: 169
paved: 1,735 km
unpaved: 855 km (1999)
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 13 (Cambodia 1, France 12) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 109
Ports and terminals:
Papeete
Military ::French Polynesia
Military branches:
no regular military forces
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 81,794 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 66,451
females age 16-49: 65,306 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,592
female: 2,481 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues ::French Polynesia
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@French Southern and Antarctic Lands (Antarctica)
Introduction ::French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Background:
In February 2007, the Iles Eparses became an integral part of the
French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF). The Southern Lands are
now divided into five administrative districts, two of which are
archipelagos, Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen; the third is a
district composed of two volcanic islands, Ile Saint-Paul and Ile
Amsterdam; the fourth, Iles Eparses, consists of five scattered
tropical islands around Madagascar. They contain no permanent
inhabitants and are visited only by researchers studying the native
fauna, scientists at the various scientific stations, fishermen, and
military personnel. The fifth district is the Antarctic portion,
which consists of "Adelie Land," a thin slice of the Antarctic
continent discovered and claimed by the French in 1840.
Ile Amsterdam: Discovered but not named in 1522 by the Spanish, the
island subsequently received the appellation of Nieuw Amsterdam from
a Dutchman; it was claimed by France in 1843. A short-lived attempt
at cattle farming began in 1871. A French meteorological station
established on the island in 1949 is still in use.
Ile Saint Paul: Claimed by France since 1893, the island was a
fishing industry center from 1843 to 1914. In 1928, a spiny lobster
cannery was established, but when the company went bankrupt in 1931,
seven workers were abandoned. Only two survived until 1934 when
rescue finally arrived.
Iles Crozet: A large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau,
Iles Crozet is divided into two main groups: L'Occidental (the
West), which includes Ile aux Cochons, Ilots des Apotres, Ile des
Pingouins, and the reefs Brisants de l'Heroine; and L'Oriental (the
east), which includes Ile d'Est and Ile de la Possession (the
largest island of the Crozets). Discovered and claimed by France in
1772, the islands were used for seal hunting and as a base for
whaling. Originally administered as a dependency of Madagascar, they
became part of the TAAF in 1955.
Iles Kerguelen: This island group, discovered in 1772, is made up of
one large island (Ile Kerguelen) and about 300 smaller islands. A
permanent group of 50 to 100 scientists resides at the main base at
Port-aux-Francais.
Adelie Land: The only non-insular district of the TAAF is the
Antarctic claim known as "Adelie Land." The US Government does not
recognize it as a French dependency.
Bassas da India: A French possession since 1897, this atoll is a
volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide.
Europa Island: This heavily wooded island has been a French
possession since 1897; it is the site of a small military garrison
that staffs a weather station.
Glorioso Islands: A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso
Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile
Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison
operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse.
Juan de Nova Island: Named after a famous 15th century Spanish
navigator and explorer, the island has been a French possession
since 1897. It has been exploited for its guano and phosphate.
Presently a small military garrison oversees a meteorological
station.
Tromelin Island: First explored by the French in 1776, the island
came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it
serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important
meteorological station.
Geography ::French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Location:
southeast and east of Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean,
some near Madagascar and others about equidistant between Africa,
Antarctica, and Australia; note - French Southern and Antarctic
Lands include Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, Iles
Kerguelen, Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de
Nova Island, and Tromelin Island in the southern Indian Ocean, along
with the French-claimed sector of Antarctica, "Adelie Land"; the US
does not recognize the French claim to "Adelie Land"
Geographic coordinates:
Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 37 50 S, 77 32 E
Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 38 72 S, 77 53 E
Iles Crozet: 46 25 S, 51 00 E
Iles Kerguelen: 49 15 S, 69 35 E
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): 21 30 S, 39 50 E
Europa Island (Iles Eparses): 22 20 S, 40 22 E
Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): 11 30 S, 47 20 E
Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): 17 03 S, 42 45 E
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): 15 52 S, 54 25 E
Map references:
Antarctic Region
Area:
Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): total - 55 sq km;
land - 55 sq km; water - 0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 229
Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): total - 7 sq km;
land - 7 sq km; water - 0 sq km
Iles Crozet: total - 352 sq km; land - 352 sq km; water - 0 sq km
Iles Kerguelen: total - 7,215 sq km; land - 7,215 sq km; water - 0
sq km
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): total - 80 sq km; land - 0.2 sq km;
water - 79.8 sq km (lagoon)
Europa Island (Iles Eparses): total - 28 sq km; land - 28 sq km;
water - 0 sq km
Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): total - 5 sq km; land - 5 sq km;
water - 0 sq km
Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): total - 4.4 sq km; land - 4.4 sq
km; water - 0 sq km
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): total - 1 sq km; land - 1 sq km;
water - 0 sq km
note: excludes "Adelie Land" claim of about 500,000 sq km in
Antarctica that is not recognized by the US
Area - comparative:
Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): less than one-half
the size of Washington, DC
Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): more than 10 times
the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Iles Crozet: about twice the size of Washington, DC
Iles Kerguelen: slightly larger than Delaware
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): land area about one-third the size
of The Mall in Washington, DC
Europa Island (Iles Eparses): about one-sixth the size of
Washington, DC
Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): about eight times the size of The
Mall in Washington, DC
Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): about seven times the size of
The Mall in Washington, DC
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): about 1.7 times the size of The Mall
in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 28 km
Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul):
Iles Kerguelen: 2,800 km
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): 35.2 km
Europa Island (Iles Eparses): 22.2 km
Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): 35.2 km
Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): 24.1 km
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): 3.7 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen and Iles Eparses
(does not include the rest of French Southern and Antarctic Lands);
Juan de Nova Island and Tromelin Island claim a continental shelf of
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul: oceanic with persistent westerly
winds and high humidity
Iles Crozet: windy, cold, wet, and cloudy
Iles Kerguelen: oceanic, cold, overcast, windy
Iles Eparses: tropical
Terrain:
Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): a volcanic island
with steep coastal cliffs; the center floor of the volcano is a
large plateau
Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): triangular in
shape, the island is the top of a volcano, rocky with steep cliffs
on the eastern side; has active thermal springs
Iles Crozet: a large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau is
divided into two groups of islands
Iles Kerguelen: the interior of the large island of Ile Kerguelen is
composed of rugged terrain of high mountains, hills, valleys, and
plains with a number of peninsulas stretching off its coasts
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): atoll, awash at high tide; shallow
(15 m) lagoon
Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: low, flat, and
sandy
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): low, flat, sandy; likely volcanic
seamount
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont de la Dives on Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et
Ile Saint-Paul) 867 m; unnamed location on Ile Saint-Paul (Ile
Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) 272 m; Pic Marion-Dufresne in Iles
Crozet 1,090 m; Mont Ross in Iles Kerguelen 1,850 m; unnamed
location on Bassas de India (Iles Eparses) 2.4 m; unnamed location
on Europa Island (Iles Eparses) 24 m; unnamed location on Glorioso
Islands (Iles Eparses) 12 m; unnamed location on Juan de Nova Island
(Iles Eparses) 10 m; unnamed location on Tromelin Island (Iles
Eparses) 7 m
Natural resources:
fish, crayfish
note: Glorioso Islands and Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) have
guano, phosphates, and coconuts
Land use:
Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) - 100% trees,
grasses, ferns, and moss; Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile
Saint-Paul) - 100% grass, ferns, and moss; Iles Crozet - 100%
tossock grass, heath, and fern; Iles Kerguelen - 100% tossock grass
and Kerguelen cabbage; Bassas da India (Iles Eparses) - 100% rock,
coral reef, and sand; Europa Island (Iles Eparses) - 100% mangrove
swamp and dry woodlands; Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses) - 100% lush
vegetation and coconut palms; Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses) -
90% forest, 10% other; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) - 100% grasses
and scattered brush (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are inactive volcanoes; Iles
Eparses subject to periodic cyclones; Bassas da India is a maritime
hazard since it is under water for a period of three hours prior to
and following the high tide and surrounded by reefs
volcanism: Reunion Island - Piton de la Fournaise (elev. 2,632 m,
8,635 ft), which has erupted many times in recent years, including
2010, is one of the world's most active volcanoes; although rare,
eruptions outside the volcano's caldera could threaten nearby cities
Environment - current issues:
introduction of foreign species on Iles Crozet has caused severe
damage to the original ecosystem; overfishing of Patagonian
toothfish around Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen
Geography - note:
islands component is widely scattered across remote locations in the
southern Indian Ocean
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): the atoll is a circular reef that
sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano
Europa Island and Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): wildlife
sanctuary for seabirds and sea turtles
Glorioso Island (Iles Eparses): the islands and rocks are surrounded
by an extensive reef system
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): climatologically important location
for forecasting cyclones in the western Indian Ocean; wildlife
sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)
People ::French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): has no permanent
residents but has a meteorological station
Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): is uninhabited but
is frequently visited by fishermen and has a scientific research
cabin for short stays
Iles Crozet: are uninhabited except for 18 to 30 people staffing the
Alfred Faure research station on Ile del la Possession
Iles Kerguelen: 50 to 100 scientists are located at the main base at
Port-aux-Francais on Ile Kerguelen
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): uninhabitable
Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses):
a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists on each
possession; visited by scientists
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): uninhabited, except for visits by
scientists
Government ::French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of the French Southern and
Antarctic Lands
conventional short form: French Southern and Antarctic Lands
local long form: Territoire des Terres Australes et Antarctiques
Francaises
local short form: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises
abbreviation: TAAF
Dependency status:
overseas territory of France since 1955
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are five administrative districts named Iles Crozet, Iles Eparses,
Iles Kerguelen, Ile Saint-Paul et Ile Amsterdam; the fifth district
is the "Adelie Land" claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by
the US
Legal system:
the laws of France where applicable apply
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007),
represented by Senior Administrator Christian GAUDIN (since 4
November 2010)
International organization participation:
UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
National anthem:
note: as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see
France)
Economy ::French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Economy - overview:
Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological and
geophysical research stations, military bases, and French and other
fishing fleets. The fish catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign
ships are exported to France and Reunion.
Communications ::French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Internet country code:
.tf
Internet hosts:
44 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 212
Communications - note:
one or more meteorological stations on each possession; note -
meteorological station on Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) is
important for forecasting cyclones
Transportation ::French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Airports:
4 (note - one each on Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova
Island, and Tromelin Island in the Iles Eparses district) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 188
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
Transportation - note:
aids to navigation - lighthouses: Europa Island 18m; Juan de Nova
Island (W side) 37m; Tromelin Island (NW point) 11m (all in the Iles
Eparses district)
Military ::French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues ::French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Disputes - international:
French claim to "Adelie Land" in Antarctica is not recognized by the
US
Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova
Island (Iles Eparses): claimed by Madagascar; the vegetated drying
cays of Banc du Geyser, which were claimed by Madagascar in 1976,
also fall within the EEZ claims of the Comoros and France (Glorioso
Islands)
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): claimed by Mauritius
page last updated on December 29, 2010
======================================================================
@Gabon (Africa)
Introduction ::Gabon
Background:
Until recently, only two autocratic presidents had ruled Gabon since
its independence from France in 1960. The recent president of Gabon,
El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of
state in the world - had dominated the country's political scene for
four decades. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system
and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of
electoral fraud during local elections in 2002-03 and the
presidential elections in 2005 exposed the weaknesses of formal
political structures in Gabon. President BONGO died in June 2009.
New elections in August 2009 brought Ali Ben BONGO, son of the
former president, to power. Despite political conditions, a small
population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign
support have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous and stable
African countries. In January 2010, Gabon assumed a nonpermanent
seat on the UN Security Council for the 2010-11 term.
Geography ::Gabon
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between
Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Geographic coordinates:
1 00 S, 11 45 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 267,667 sq km
country comparison to the world: 76
land: 257,667 sq km
water: 10,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries:
total: 2,551 km
border countries: Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km,
Equatorial Guinea 350 km
Coastline:
885 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold,
timber, iron ore, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 1.21%
permanent crops: 0.64%
other: 98.15% (2005)
Irrigated land:
70 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
164 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.12 cu km/yr (50%/8%/42%)
per capita: 87 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; poaching
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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
a small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabon
become one of Africa's wealthier countries; in general, these
circumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve its
pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity
People ::Gabon
Population:
1,545,255
country comparison to the world: 151
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.1% (male 320,414/female 318,027)
15-64 years: 53.9% (male 407,461/female 409,633)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 24,799/female 34,659) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.6 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 18.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.025% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Birth rate:
35.39 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Death rate:
12.9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Net migration rate:
-2.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Urbanization:
urban population: 85% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 50.88 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 49
male: 59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 42.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.75 years
country comparison to the world: 206
male: 51.96 years
female: 53.58 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.62 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
5.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
49,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,300 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria and chikungunya
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)
adjective: Gabonese
Ethnic groups:
Bantu tribes, including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Bapounou,
Nzebi, Obamba); other Africans and Europeans, 154,000, including
10,700 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality
Religions:
Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
Languages:
French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 63.2%
male: 73.7%
female: 53.3% (1995 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 12 years (1999)
Education expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2000)
country comparison to the world: 120
Government ::Gabon
Country name:
conventional long form: Gabonese Republic
conventional short form: Gabon
local long form: Republique Gabonaise
local short form: Gabon
Government type:
republic; multiparty presidential regime
Capital:
name: Libreville
geographic coordinates: 0 23 N, 9 27 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga,
Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Independence:
17 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 17 August (1960)
Constitution:
adopted 14 March 1991
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review
of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ali Ben BONGO Ondimba (since 16 October
2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Paul BIYOGHE MBA (since 15 July
2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in
consultation with the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(no term limits); election last held on 30 August 2009 (next to be
held in 2016); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Ali Ben BONGO Ondimba elected; percent
of vote - Ali Ben BONGO Ondimba 41.7%, Andre MBA OBAME 25.9%, Pierre
MAMBOUNDOU 25.2%, Zacharie MYBOTO 3.9%, other 3.3%
note: President BONGO died on 8 June 2009 after serving as president
for 32 years; in accordance with the constitution he was replaced on
an interim basis by the president of the Senate, Rose Francine
ROGOMBE on 10 June 2009; new elections where held on 30 August 2009
and the son of the former president, Ali Ben BONGO Ondimba, was
elected president
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (102 seats; members
elected by members of municipal councils and departmental assemblies
to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 18 January 2009 (next to be held in
January 2015); National Assembly - last held on 17 and 24 December
2006 (next to be held in December 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PDG 75, RPG 6, UGDD 3, CLR 2, PGCI 2, PSD 2, UPG 2, ADERE 1,
independents 9; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - PDG 82, RPG 8, UPG 8, UGDD 4, ADERE 3, CLR 2,
PGP-Ndaot 2, PSD 2, independents 4, others 5
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers -
Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courts
of Appeal; Court of State Security; County Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean Boniface ASSELE];
Congress for Democracy and Justice or CDJ [Jules Aristide Bourdes
OGOULIGUENDE]; Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE
[Divungui-di-Ndinge DIDJOB]; Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG
[Simplice Nguedet MANZELA] (former sole party); Gabonese Party for
Progress or PGP [Benoit Mouity NZAMBA]; Gabonese Union for Democracy
and Development or UGDD [Zacherie MYBOTO]; National Rally of
Woodcutters or RNB; National Rally of Woodcutters-Rally for Gabon or
RNB-RPG (Bucherons) [Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE]; Party of Development
and Social Solidarity or PDS [Seraphin Ndoat REMBOGO]; People's
Unity Party or PUP [Louis Gaston MAYILA]; Social Democratic Party or
PSD [Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU]; Union for Democracy and
Social Integration or UDIS; Union of Gabonese Patriots or UPG
[Pierre MAMBOUNDOU]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Victor BOUNGOU
chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000
FAX: [1] (202) 332-0668
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Eunice S. REDDICK
embassy: Boulevard du Bord de Mer, Libreville
mailing address: Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville; pouch:2270
Libreville Place, Washington, DC 20521-2270
telephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, after hours - 07380171
FAX: [241] 74 55 07
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue; green
represents the country's forests and natural resources, gold
represents the equator (which transects Gabon) as well as the sun,
blue represents the sea
National anthem:
name: "La Concorde" (The Concorde)
lyrics/music: Georges Aleka DAMAS
note: adopted 1960
Economy ::Gabon
Economy - overview:
Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most sub-Saharan
African nations, but because of high income inequality, a large
proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon depended on timber
and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s.
The oil sector now accounts for more than 50% of GDP although the
industry is in decline as fields pass their peak production. Gabon
continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, and
manganese exports and the global recession led to a GDP contraction
of 1.4% in 2009. Despite the abundance of natural wealth, poor
fiscal management hobbles the economy. In 1997, an IMF mission to
Gabon criticized the government for overspending on off-budget
items, overborrowing from the central bank, and slipping on its
schedule for privatization and administrative reform. The rebound of
oil prices from 1999 to 2008 helped growth, but drops in production
have hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains. Gabon
signed a 14-month Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF in May 2007, and
later that year issued a $1 billion sovereign bond to buy back a
sizable portion of its Paris Club debt.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$22.54 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
$21.39 billion (2009 est.)
$21.69 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$12.56 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
-1.4% (2009 est.)
2.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$14,100 (2009 est.)
$14,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.5%
industry: 62.7%
services: 32.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
712,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 60%
industry: 15%
services: 25% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
21% (2006 est.); NA%
country comparison to the world: 170
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 32.7% (2005)
Investment (gross fixed):
28.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Public debt:
25.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
27.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-1.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
1.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 99
4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.835 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 122
$1.623 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$2.764 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
$2.468 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.074 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
$826.8 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical
softwood); fish
Industries:
petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship
repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
4.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Electricity - production:
1.774 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Electricity - consumption:
1.446 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
241,700 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Oil - consumption:
14,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Oil - exports:
227,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Oil - imports:
4,185 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Oil - proved reserves:
2 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Natural gas - production:
90 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Natural gas - consumption:
90 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Natural gas - proved reserves:
28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Current account balance:
$591 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$887 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$6.803 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
$6.04 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil 70%, timber, manganese, uranium
Exports - partners:
Russia 30.62%, US 16.56%, China 15.87%, France 4.28% (2009)
Imports:
$2.433 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
$2.298 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction
materials
Imports - partners:
France 32.21%, US 7.92%, China 7.02%, Belgium 4.99%, Italy 4.81%,
Cameroon 4.56%, Netherlands 4.35% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.602 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
$1.993 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.374 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
$2.352 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs per US dollar -
507.71 (2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 481.83 (2007), 522.89
(2006)
Communications ::Gabon
Telephones - main lines in use:
26,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 181
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.373 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 141
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay,
tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a
domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
domestic: a growing mobile-cellular network with multiple providers
is making telephone service more widely available; subscribership
reached 90 per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 241; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC
fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and
Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state owns and operates 2 TV stations and 2 radio broadcast
stations; a few private radio and TV stations are operational;
transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are
accessible; satellite service subscriptions are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.ga
Internet hosts:
90 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 205
Internet users:
98,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 160
Transportation ::Gabon
Airports:
44 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 97
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 13
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 14 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 240 km; oil 858 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 814 km
country comparison to the world: 100
standard gauge: 814 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 9,170 km
country comparison to the world: 138
paved: 937 km
unpaved: 8,233 km (2004)
Waterways:
1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 51
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 148
Ports and terminals:
Gamba, Libreville, Lucinda, Owendo, Port-Gentil
Military ::Gabon
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police
Military service age and obligation:
20 years of age for voluntary military service; there is no
conscription (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 344,147
females age 16-49: 345,292 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 198,970
females age 16-49: 192,807 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 17,283
female: 17,276 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 145
Transnational Issues ::Gabon
Disputes - international:
UN urges Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty
dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and lesser islands and to
establish a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 7,178 (Republic of Congo) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Gabon is predominantly a destination country for
children trafficked from other African countries for the purpose of
forced labor; girls are primarily trafficked for domestic servitude,
forced market vending, forced restaurant labor, and sexual
exploitation, while boys are trafficked for forced street hawking
and forced labor in small workshops
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Gabon is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat
human trafficking in 2007, particularly in terms of efforts to
convict and punish trafficking offenders; the government has not
reported the convictions or sentences of any trafficking offenders;
the government did not take steps to reduce demand for commercial
sex acts (2008)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Gambia, The (Africa)
Introduction ::Gambia, The
Background:
The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965.
Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived
federation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two
nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions
have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH led
a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned
political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in
1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a
nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH has been elected president
in all subsequent elections including most recently in late 2006.
Geography ::Gambia, The
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates:
13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 11,295 sq km
country comparison to the world: 166
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,295 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries:
total: 740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 km
Coastline:
80 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: extent not specified
Climate:
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season
(November to May)
Terrain:
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 53 m
Natural resources:
fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon
Land use:
arable land: 27.88%
permanent crops: 0.44%
other: 71.68% (2005)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
8 cu km (1982)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.03 cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%)
per capita: 20 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of
Africa
People ::Gambia, The
Population:
1,824,158 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.6% (male 389,877/female 386,218)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 472,216/female 479,595)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 24,985/female 25,190) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 18 years
male: 17.9 years
female: 18.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.528% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Birth rate:
37.31 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Death rate:
12.03 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Urbanization:
urban population: 57% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 67.49 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 22
male: 73.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 61.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.07 years
country comparison to the world: 201
male: 52.32 years
female: 55.86 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.96 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
600 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian
Ethnic groups:
African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli
9%, other 4%), non-African 1% (2003 census)
Religions:
Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%
Languages:
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous
vernaculars
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 47.8%
female: 32.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 7 years
female: 7 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
2% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 170
Government ::Gambia, The
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Banjul
geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North
Bank, Upper River, Western
Independence:
18 February 1965 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Constitution:
approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; effective 16 January
1997
Legal system:
based on a composite of English common law, Islamic law, and
customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October
1996); note - from 1994 to 1996 he was chairman of the junta; Vice
President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18
October 1996); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held on 22 September 2006 (next to
be held in 2011)
election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent
of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 67.3%, Ousainou DARBOE 26.6%, Halifa
SALLAH 6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by
popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held on 25 January 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
APRC 47, UDP 4, NADD 1, independent 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya
A. J. J. JAMMEH] (the ruling party); Gambia People's Democratic
Party or GPDP [Henry GOMEZ]; National Alliance for Democracy and
Development or NADD [Halifa SALLAH]; National Convention Party or
NCP [Sheriff DIBBA]; National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat N.
K. BAH]; People's Democratic Organization for Independence and
Socialism or PDOIS [Halifa SALLAH]; United Democratic Party or UDP
[Ousainou DARBOE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
National Environment Agency or NEA; West African Peace Building
Network-Gambian Chapter or WANEB-GAMBIA; Youth Employment Network
Gambia or YENGambia
other: special needs group advocates; teachers and principals
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alieu Momodou NGUM
chancery: Suite 240, Georgetown Plaza, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379, 1399, 1425
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cindy GREGG
embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul
mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
telephone: [220] 439-2856, 437-6169, 437-6170
FAX: [220] 439-2475
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges,
and green; red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue represents
the Gambia River, and green symbolizes forests and agriculture; the
white stripes denote unity and peace
National anthem:
name: "For The Gambia, Our Homeland"
lyrics/music: Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE
note: adopted 1965; the music is an adaptation of the traditional
Mandinka song "Foday Kaba Dumbuya"
Economy ::Gambia, The
Economy - overview:
The Gambia has sparse natural resource deposits and a limited
agricultural base, and relies in part on remittances from workers
overseas and tourist receipts. About three-quarters of the
population depends on the agricultural sector for its livelihood.
Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of
peanuts, fish, and hides. The Gambia's natural beauty and proximity
to Europe has made it one of the larger markets for tourism in West
Africa, boosted by government and private sector investments in
eco-tourism and upscale facilities. In the past few years, The
Gambia's re-export trade - traditionally a major segment of economic
activity - has declined, but its banking sector has grown rapidly.
Unemployment and underemployment rates remain high; economic
progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on
responsible government economic management, and on continued
technical assistance from multilateral and bilateral donors. The
quality of fiscal management, however, is weak. The government has
promised to raise civil service wages over the next two years and
the deficit is projected to worsen.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.406 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
$3.244 billion (2009 est.)
$3.073 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.04 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
5.6% (2009 est.)
6.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
$1,800 (2009 est.)
$1,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 30.1%
industry: 16.3%
services: 53.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
777,100 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 146
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 75%
industry: 19%
services: 6% (1996)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 36.9% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.2 (1998)
country comparison to the world: 23
Investment (gross fixed):
28% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
4.6% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
9% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 38
11% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
27% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
27.92% (31 December 2007)
Stock of narrow money:
$222.9 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 172
$210.2 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$453.9 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
$438.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$293.5 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
$283.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca),
palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries:
processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism, beverages,
agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Industrial production growth rate:
8.9%
country comparison to the world: 21
note: although The Gambia had the highest industrial growth rate in
the world in 2009, this growth is from a tiny industrial base (2010
est.)
Electricity - production:
160 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Electricity - consumption:
148.8 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Oil - consumption:
2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Oil - exports:
42 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Oil - imports:
2,266 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Current account balance:
-$90 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
-$81 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$107 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
$95 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports
Exports - partners:
India 42.06%, France 15.34%, UK 9.03%, China 7.38%, Hong Kong 4.55%,
Belgium 3.97% (2009)
Imports:
$306 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
$280 million (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Imports - partners:
China 20.45%, Senegal 11.97%, Brazil 8.48%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.71%,
Netherlands 4.68%, US 4.49% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$203 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
$224 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$530 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
$489 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 28.5193 (2010), 26.67 (2009), 22.75
(2008), 27.79 (2007), 28.066 (2006)
Communications ::Gambia, The
Telephones - main lines in use:
49,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 162
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.433 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 140
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate microwave radio relay and open-wire
network; state-owned Gambia Telecommunications partially privatized
in 2007
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity, aided
by multiple mobile-cellular providers, approached 85 per 100 persons
in 2009
international: country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to
Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; a landing station for the Africa Coast to
Europe (ACE) undersea fiber-optic cable is scheduled for completion
in 2011; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-owned, single-channel TV service; state-owned radio station
and 4 privately-owned radio stations; transmissions of multiple
international broadcasters are available, some via shortwave radio;
foreign cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable
in some parts of the country (2007)
Internet country code:
.gm
Internet hosts:
1,453 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 162
Internet users:
130,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 150
Transportation ::Gambia, The
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 211
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 3,742 km
country comparison to the world: 159
paved: 723 km
unpaved: 3,019 km (2004)
Waterways:
390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km)
(2008)
country comparison to the world: 90
Merchant marine:
total: 5
country comparison to the world: 130
by type: passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Banjul
Military ::Gambia, The
Military branches:
Office of the Chief of Defense Staff: Gambian National Army (GNA),
Gambian Navy (GN) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no
conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 402,073
females age 16-49: 406,100 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 238,006
females age 16-49: 248,065 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 20,858
female: 20,762 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 139
Transnational Issues ::Gambia, The
Disputes - international:
attempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling, and
other illegal activities by separatists from southern Senegal's
Casamance region, as well as from conflicts in other west African
states
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 5,955 (Sierra Leone) (2007)
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Gaza Strip (Middle East)
Introduction ::Gaza Strip
Background:
The September 1993 Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim
Self-Government Arrangements provided for a transitional period of
Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Under a
series of agreements signed between May 1994 and September 1999,
Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security and
civilian responsibility for many Palestinian-populated areas of the
West Bank and Gaza Strip. Negotiations to determine the permanent
status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip stalled following the
outbreak of an intifada in September 2000. In April 2003, the
Quartet (US, EU, UN, and Russia) presented a roadmap to a final
settlement of the conflict by 2005 based on reciprocal steps by the
two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic
Palestine. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's death in late
2004, Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA president in January 2005. A month
later, Israel and the PA agreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments
in an effort to move the peace process forward. In September 2005,
Israel unilaterally withdrew all its settlers and soldiers and
dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip and withdrew
settlers and redeployed soldiers from four small northern West Bank
settlements. Nonetheless, Israel still controls maritime, airspace,
and most access to the Gaza Strip; and it enforces a restricted zone
along the border inside Gaza. In January 2006, the Islamic
Resistance Movement, HAMAS, won control of the Palestinian
Legislative Council (PLC). HAMAS took control of the PA government
in March 2006, but President ABBAS had little success negotiating
with HAMAS to present a political platform acceptable to the
international community so as to lift economic sanctions on
Palestinians. Violent clashes between Fatah and HAMAS supporters in
the Gaza Strip in 2006 and early 2007 resulted in numerous
Palestinian deaths and injuries. In February 2007, ABBAS and HAMAS
Political Bureau Chief MISHAL signed the Mecca Agreement in Saudi
Arabia that resulted in the formation of a Palestinian National
Unity Government (NUG) headed by HAMAS member Ismail HANIYA.
However, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip, and in June 2007,
HAMAS militants succeeded in a violent takeover of all military and
governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip. ABBAS dismissed the NUG
and through a series of presidential decrees formed a PA government
in the West Bank led by independent Salam FAYYAD. HAMAS rejected the
NUG's dismissal, and despite multiple rounds of Egyptian-brokered
reconciliation negotiations, the two groups have failed to bridge
their differences. Late November 2007 through June 2008 witnessed a
substantial increase in Israeli-Palestinian violence. An
Egyptian-brokered truce in June 2008 between Israel and HAMAS
brought about a five-month pause in hostilities, but spiraling
end-of-year violence resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,100 to
1,400 Palestinians and left tens of thousands of people homeless.
International donors pledged $4.5 billion in aid to rebuild the Gaza
Strip, but by the end of 2010 large-scale reconstruction had not
begun.
Geography ::Gaza Strip
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and
Israel
Geographic coordinates:
31 25 N, 34 20 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 360 sq km
country comparison to the world: 205
land: 360 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 62 km
border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km
Coastline:
40 km
Maritime claims:
Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the
Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be
determined through further negotiation
Climate:
temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers
Terrain:
flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Awdah) 105 m
Natural resources:
arable land, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 29%
permanent crops: 21%
other: 50% (2002)
Irrigated land:
155 sq km; (note - includes West Bank) (2003)
Natural hazards:
droughts
Environment - current issues:
desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment;
water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contamination
of underground water resources
Geography - note:
strategic strip of land along Mideast-North African trade routes has
experienced an incredibly turbulent history; the town of Gaza itself
has been besieged countless times in its history
People ::Gaza Strip
Population:
1,604,238 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.4% (male 353,489/female 334,770)
15-64 years: 53% (male 420,618/female 402,297)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 16,483/female 24,202) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.5 years
male: 17.4 years
female: 17.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.29% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Birth rate:
36.26 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Death rate:
3.36 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Urbanization:
urban population: 72% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 17.71 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 107
male: 18.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.68 years
country comparison to the world: 111
male: 72.05 years
female: 75.4 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.9 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: NA
adjective: NA
Ethnic groups:
Palestinian Arab
Religions:
Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 99.3%, Christian 0.7%
Languages:
Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by many Palestinians), English (widely
understood)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.4%
male: 96.7%
female: 88% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Gaza Strip
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gaza Strip
local long form: none
local short form: Qita' Ghazzah
Economy ::Gaza Strip
Economy - overview:
High population density, limited land and sea access, continuing
isolation, and strict internal and external security controls have
degraded economic conditions in the Gaza Strip - the smaller of the
two areas in the Palestinian Territories. Israeli-imposed crossings
closures, which became more restrictive after HAMAS violently took
over the territory in June 2007, and fighting between HAMAS and
Israel during December 2008-January 2009, resulted in the near
collapse of most of the private sector, extremely high unemployment,
and high poverty rates. Shortages of goods are met through
large-scale humanitarian assistance - led by UNRWA - and the
HAMAS-regulated black market tunnel trade that flourishes under the
Gaza Strip's border with Egypt. However, chnages to the blockade in
2010 included moving from a white list - in which only approved
items were allowed into Gaza through the crossings - to a black
list, where all but non-approved items were allowed into Gaza
through the crossings. Israeli authorities have recently signaled
that exports from the territory might be possible in the future, but
currently regular exports from Gaza are not permitted.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
see entry for West Bank
GDP - real growth rate:
see entry for West Bank
GDP - per capita (PPP):
see entry for West Bank
GDP - composition by sector:
see entry for West Bank
Labor force:
339,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 160
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 5%
services: 83% (June 2008)
Unemployment rate:
40% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
40% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
70% (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
11.5% (2008)
note: includes West Bank
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
see entry for West Bank
Stock of domestic credit:
note: see entry for West Bank
Agriculture - products:
olives, fruit, vegetables, flowers; beef, dairy products
Industries:
textiles, food processing
Industrial production growth rate:
see entry for West Bank
Electricity - production:
65,000 kWh (2009)
country comparison to the world: 212
Electricity - consumption:
202,000 kWh (2009)
country comparison to the world: 213
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
120,000 kWh; note - from Israeli Electric Company (2009)
Oil - production:
See entry for West Bank
Oil - consumption:
See entry for West Bank
Oil - exports:
See entry for West Bank
Oil - imports:
See entry for West Bank
Oil - proved reserves:
NA bbl NA bbl
Exports - commodities:
strawberries, carnations
Imports:
see entry for West Bank
Imports - commodities:
food, consumer goods
note: Israel permits limited imports through crossings with Gaza,
but many "dual use" goods, such as construction materials, are
smuggled through tunnels beneath Gaza's border with Egypt
Debt - external:
see entry for West Bank
Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.7461 (2010), 3.9326
(2009), 3.56 (2008), 4.14 (2007), 4.4565 (2006)
Communications ::Gaza Strip
Telephones - main lines in use:
360,400 (includes West Bank) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 108
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.405 million (includes West Bank) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 124
Telephone system:
general assessment: Gaza continues to repair the damage to its
telecommunications infrastructure caused by fighting in 2009
domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL
are responsible for fixed line services; the Palestinian JAWWAL
company provides cellular services
international: country code - 970 (2009)
Broadcast media:
1 television station and about 10 radio stations (2008)
Internet country code:
.ps; note - same as West Bank
Internet users:
1.379 million (includes West Bank) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 87
Transportation ::Gaza Strip
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 223
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Roadways:
note: see entry for West Bank
Ports and terminals:
Gaza
Military ::Gaza Strip
Military branches:
Palestinian Authority security forces have operated only in the West
Bank, not in the Gaza Strip, since HAMAS seized power in June 2007;
law and order and other security functions are performed by HAMAS
security organizations (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 372,843 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 324,203
females age 16-49: 308,835 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 18,931
female: 18,010 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues ::Gaza Strip
Disputes - international:
West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status
subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent
status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel removed
settlers and military personnel from the Gaza Strip in August 2005
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 1.017 million (Palestinian Refugees
(UNRWA)) (2007)
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Georgia (Middle East)
Introduction ::Georgia
Background:
The region of present day Georgia contained the ancient kingdoms of
Colchis and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman influence in
the first centuries A.D. and Christianity became the state religion
in the 330s. Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks was followed
by a Georgian golden age (11th-13th centuries) that was cut short by
the Mongol invasion of 1236. Subsequently, the Ottoman and Persian
empires competed for influence in the region. Georgia was absorbed
into the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Independent for three
years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly
incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991.
An attempt by the incumbent Georgian government to manipulate
national legislative elections in November 2003 touched off
widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard
SHEVARDNADZE, president since 1995. New elections in early 2004
swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI into power along with his National
Movement party. Progress on market reforms and democratization has
been made in the years since independence, but this progress has
been complicated by Russian assistance and support to the breakaway
regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. After a series of Russian and
separatist provocations in summer 2008, Georgian military action in
South Ossetia in early August led to a Russian military response
that not only occupied the breakaway areas, but large portions of
Georgia proper as well. Russian troops pulled back from most
occupied Georgian territory, but in late August 2008 Russia
unilaterally recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia. This action was strongly condemned by most of the world's
nations and international organizations.
Geography ::Georgia
Location:
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and
Russia, with a sliver of land north of the Caucasus extending into
Europe
Geographic coordinates:
42 00 N, 43 30 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 69,700 sq km
country comparison to the world: 120
land: 69,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 1,461 km
border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km,
Turkey 252 km
Coastline:
310 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
Terrain:
largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and
Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhet'is Dablobi (Kolkhida
Lowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in
the east; good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills of
Kolkhida Lowland
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m
Natural resources:
timber, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal
and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea
and citrus growth
Land use:
arable land: 11.51%
permanent crops: 3.79%
other: 84.7% (2005)
Irrigated land:
4,690 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
63.3 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 3.61 cu km/yr (20%/21%/59%)
per capita: 808 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari
River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil
pollution from toxic chemicals
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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:
strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia controls much
of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them
People ::Georgia
Population:
4,600,825 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 395,929/female 345,071)
15-64 years: 67.6% (male 1,503,360/female 1,616,234)
65 years and over: 16.4% (male 302,103/female 453,110) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.8 years
male: 36.3 years
female: 41.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.325% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
Birth rate:
10.7 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Death rate:
9.79 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Net migration rate:
-4.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Urbanization:
urban population: 53% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.12 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.67 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 120
male: 17.64 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.93 years
country comparison to the world: 63
male: 73.61 years
female: 80.64 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.44 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,700 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Nationality:
noun: Georgian(s)
adjective: Georgian
Ethnic groups:
Georgian 83.8%, Azeri 6.5%, Armenian 5.7%, Russian 1.5%, other 2.5%
(2002 census)
Religions:
Orthodox Christian 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%,
Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)
Languages:
Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7%
note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
2.9% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 151
Government ::Georgia
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Georgia
local long form: none
local short form: Sak'art'velo
former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: T'bilisi
geographic coordinates: 41 43 N, 44 47 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 regions (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 1 city (k'alak'i), and 2
autonomous republics (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom
respublika)
regions: Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti,
Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti,
Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli
city: Tbilisi
autonomous republics: Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri
Respublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika
(Bat'umi)
note: the administrative centers of the two autonomous republics are
shown in parentheses
Independence:
9 April 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 May (1918); note - 26 May 1918 was the date of
independence from Soviet Russia, 9 April 1991 was the date of
independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:
adopted 24 August 1995
Legal system:
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January
2004); the president is the chief of state and serves as head of
government for the power ministries of internal affairs and defense
head of government: Prime Minister Nikoloz GILAURI (since 6 February
2009); the prime minister is head of government for all the
ministries of government except the power ministries of internal
affairs and defense
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 5 January 2008
(next to be held in January 2013)
election results: Mikheil SAAKASHVILI reelected president; percent
of vote - Mikheil SAAKASHVILI 53.5%, Levan GACHECHILADZE 25.7%,
Badri PATARKATSISHVILI 7.1%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Parlamenti (also known as Supreme Council
or Umaghlesi Sabcho) (150 seats; 75 members elected by proportional
representation, 75 from single-seat constituencies; members to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held on 21 May 2008 (next to be held in the spring
of 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - United National
Movement 59.2%, National Council-New Rights (a Joint Opposition,
nine-party bloc) 17.7%, Christian Democratic Movement 8.8%, Labor
Party 7.4%, Republican Party 3.8%; seats by party - United National
Movement 120, National Council-New Rights 16, Christian Democratic
Movement 6, Labor Party 6, Republican Party 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges elected by the Supreme Council on the
president's or chairman of the Supreme Court's recommendation);
Constitutional Court; first and second instance courts
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Movement [Giorgi TARGAMADZE]; Conservative
Party [Kakha KUKAVA]; Democratic Movement United Georgia [Nino
BURJANADZE]; For Fair Georgia [Zurab NOGAIDELI]; Georgian Party
[Sozar SUBARI]; Georgian People's Front [Nodar NATADZE]; Greens
[Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; Industry Will Save Georgia (Industrialists)
or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; Labor Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI];
National Democratic Party or NDP [Bachuki KARDAVA]; National Forum
[Kakhaber SHARTAVA]; New Rights [David GAMKRELIDZE]; Our
Georgia-Free Democrats (OGFD) [Irakli ALASANIA]; People's Party
[Koba DAVITASHVILI; Republican Party [David USUPASHVILI]; Socialist
Party or SPG [Irakli MINDELI]; Traditionalists [Akaki ASATIANI];
United National Movement or UNM [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
International organization participation:
ADB, BSEC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-11, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OAS
(observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI (observer), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Temur IAKOBASHVILI
chancery: 2209 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390
FAX: [1] (202) 393-4537
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John BASS
embassy: 11 George Balanchine Street, T'bilisi 0131
mailing address: 7060 T'bilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060
telephone: [995] (32) 27-70-00
FAX: [995] (32) 53-23-10
Flag description:
white rectangle with a central red cross extending to all four sides
of the flag; each of the four quadrants displays a small red
bolnur-katskhuri cross; although adopted as the official Georgian
flag in 2004, the five-cross flag design appears to date back to the
14th century
National anthem:
name: "Tavisupleba" (Liberty)
lyrics/music: Dawit MAGRADSE/Zakaria PALIASHVILI (adapted by Joseb
KETSCHAKMADSE)
note: adopted 2004; after the Rose Revolution, a new anthem with
music based on the operas "Abesalom da Eteri" and "Daisi" was adopted
Economy ::Georgia
Economy - overview:
Georgia's economy sustained GDP growth of more than 10% in 2006-07,
based on strong inflows of foreign investment and robust government
spending. However, GDP growth slowed in 2008 following the August
2008 conflict with Russia, and turned negative in 2009 as foreign
direct investment and workers' remittances declined in the wake of
the global financial crisis, but rebounded in 2010. Georgia's main
economic activities include the cultivation of agricultural products
such as grapes, citrus fruits, and hazelnuts; mining of manganese
and copper; and output of a small industrial sector producing
alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, metals, machinery, aircraft
and chemicals. Areas of recent improvement include growth in the
construction, banking services, and mining sectors, but reduced
availability of external investment and the slowing regional economy
are emerging risks. The country imports nearly all its needed
supplies of natural gas and oil products. It has sizeable hydropower
capacity, a growing component of its energy supplies. Georgia has
overcome the chronic energy shortages and gas supply interruptions
of the past by renovating hydropower plants and by increasingly
relying on natural gas imports from Azerbaijan instead of from
Russia. The construction on the Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline,
the Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline, and the Kars-Akhalkalaki
Railroad are part of a strategy to capitalize on Georgia's strategic
location between Europe and Asia and develop its role as a transit
point for gas, oil and other goods. Georgia has historically
suffered from a chronic failure to collect tax revenues; however,
the government, since coming to power in 2004, has simplified the
tax code, improved tax administration, increased tax enforcement,
and cracked down on petty corruption. However, the economic downturn
of 2008-09 eroded the tax base and led to a decline in the budget
surplus and an increase in public borrowing needs. The country is
pinning its hopes for renewed growth on a determined effort to
continue to liberalize the economy by reducing regulation, taxes,
and corruption in order to attract foreign investment, but the
economy faces a more difficult investment climate both domestically
and internationally.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$22.32 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
$21.16 billion (2009 est.)
$22.02 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$11.23 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
-3.9% (2009 est.)
2.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
$4,600 (2009 est.)
$4,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11%
industry: 27.1%
services: 62% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.918 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 55.6%
industry: 8.9%
services: 35.5% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
16.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
13.6% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:
31% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 30.6% (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40.8 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 59
37.1 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
14.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
1.7% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
8% (25 December 2008)
NA% (31 December 2007)
note: this is the Refinancing Rate, the key monetary policy rate of
the Georgian National Bank
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
25.52% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
21.24% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.175 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 135
$1.122 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$2.146 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
$1.28 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.243 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
$3.569 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$733.3 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 106
$327.3 million (31 December 2008)
$1.389 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock
Industries:
steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining
(manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine
Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Electricity - production:
7.97 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Electricity - consumption:
6.902 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Electricity - exports:
628 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
430 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
995 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Oil - consumption:
13,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Oil - exports:
1,486 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Oil - imports:
16,590 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Oil - proved reserves:
35 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Natural gas - production:
8 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Natural gas - consumption:
1.73 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Natural gas - imports:
1.72 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Natural gas - proved reserves:
8.495 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Current account balance:
-$1.404 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
-$1.259 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$2.29 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
$1.893 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
scrap metal, wine, mineral water, ores, vehicles, fruits and nuts
Exports - partners:
Turkey 17.87%, Azerbaijan 12.3%, Bulgaria 9.6%, Canada 8.78%, UK
7.49%, Ukraine 6.82%, Spain 5.27%, US 4.99% (2009)
Imports:
$4.828 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
$4.293 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
fuels, vehicles, machinery and parts, grain and other foods,
pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:
Turkey 16.81%, Azerbaijan 9.72%, Ukraine 9.17%, Russia 7.39%, US
6.63%, Germany 6.22% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.35 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
$2.11 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.381 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 122
$7.711 billion (31 December 2008)
Exchange rates:
laris (GEL) per US dollar - 1.8009 (2010), 1.6705 (2009), 1.47
(2008), 1.7 (2007), 1.78 (2006)
Communications ::Georgia
Telephones - main lines in use:
620,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 93
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.837 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 115
Telephone system:
general assessment: fixed-line telecommunications network has only
limited coverage outside Tbilisi; long list of people waiting for
fixed line connections; multiple mobile-cellular providers provide
services to an increasing subscribership throughout the country
domestic: cellular telephone networks cover the entire country;
mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 60 per 100 people; urban
fixed-line telephone density is about 20 per 100 people; rural
telephone density is about 4 per 100 people; intercity facilities
include a fiber-optic line between T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi;
nationwide pager service is available
international: country code - 995; the Georgia-Russia fiber optic
submarine cable provides connectivity to Russia; international
service is available by microwave, landline, and satellite through
the Moscow switch; international electronic mail and telex service
are available
Broadcast media:
1 state-owned public television station in Tbilisi and 8
privately-owned TV stations; state-run public broadcaster operates 2
networks; dozens of cable TV operators and several major commercial
TV stations are operating; state-owned public radio broadcaster
operates 2 networks; several dozen private stations broadcast (2008)
Internet country code:
.ge
Internet hosts:
110,680 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 76
Internet users:
1.3 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 91
Transportation ::Georgia
Airports:
22 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 133
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 18
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Heliports:
3 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 1,596 km; oil 1,258 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 1,612 km
country comparison to the world: 80
broad gauge: 1,575 km 1.520-m gauge (1,575 electrified)
narrow gauge: 37 km 0.912-m gauge (37 electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 20,329 km
country comparison to the world: 109
paved: 7,854 km (includes 13 km of expressways)
unpaved: 12,475 km (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 193
country comparison to the world: 34
by type: bulk carrier 18, cargo 151, carrier 1, chemical tanker 3,
container 2, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 3,
refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 7, vehicle carrier 2
foreign-owned: 132 (China 11, Denmark 1, Egypt 11, Germany 4, Greece
3, Hong Kong 4, Israel 1, Italy 2, Latvia 1, Lebanon 1, Pakistan 1,
Romania 7, Russia 7, Syria 35, Turkey 22, UAE 1, UK 4, Ukraine 15,
US 1)
registered in other countries: 1 (unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Bat'umi, P'ot'i
Transportation - note:
large parts of transportation network are in poor condition because
of lack of maintenance and repair
Military ::Georgia
Military branches:
Georgian Armed Forces: Land Forces
note: naval forces have been incorporated into the coast guard and
the Air and Air Defense forces were incorporated into the Land
Forces (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 to 34 years of age for compulsory and voluntary active duty
military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2005)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,094,390
females age 16-49: 1,140,758 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 901,307
females age 16-49: 946,357 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 30,314
female: 28,299 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Military - note:
a CIS peacekeeping force of Russian troops is deployed in the
Abkhazia region of Georgia together with a UN military observer
group; a Russian peacekeeping battalion is deployed in South Ossetia
Transnational Issues ::Georgia
Disputes - international:
Russia and Georgia agree on delimiting 80% of their common border,
leaving certain small, strategic segments and the maritime boundary
unresolved; OSCE observers monitor volatile areas such as the
Pankisi Gorge in the Akhmeti region and the Argun Gorge in Abkhazia;
UN Observer Mission in Georgia has maintained a peacekeeping force
in Georgia since 1993; Meshkheti Turks scattered throughout the
former Soviet Union seek to return to Georgia; boundary with Armenia
remains undemarcated; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of
Georgia seek greater autonomy from the Georgian government;
Azerbaijan and Georgia continue to discuss the alignment of their
boundary at certain crossing areas
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 1,100 (Russia)
IDPs: 220,000-240,000 (displaced from Abkhazia and South Ossetia)
(2007)
Illicit drugs:
limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for domestic
consumption; used as transshipment point for opiates via Central
Asia to Western Europe and Russia
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Germany (Europe)
Introduction ::Germany
Background:
As Europe's largest economy and second most populous nation (after
Russia), Germany is a key member of the continent's economic,
political, and defense organizations. European power struggles
immersed Germany in two devastating World Wars in the first half of
the 20th century and left the country occupied by the victorious
Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945.
With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in
1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern
German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself
in key Western economic and security organizations, the EC, which
became the EU, and NATO, while the Communist GDR was on the front
line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the
end of the Cold War allowed for German unification in 1990. Since
then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring Eastern
productivity and wages up to Western standards. In January 1999,
Germany and 10 other EU countries introduced a common European
exchange currency, the euro. In January 2011, Germany assumed a
nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2011-12 term.
Geography ::Germany
Location:
Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between
the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark
Geographic coordinates:
51 00 N, 9 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 357,022 sq km
country comparison to the world: 62
land: 348,672 sq km
water: 8,350 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 3,621 km
border countries: Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 646
km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577
km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km
Coastline:
2,389 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers;
occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind
Terrain:
lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Neuendorf bei Wilster -3.54 m
highest point: Zugspitze 2,963 m
Natural resources:
coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium,
potash, salt, construction materials, timber, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 33.13%
permanent crops: 0.6%
other: 66.27% (2005)
Irrigated land:
4,850 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
188 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 38.01 cu km/yr (12%/68%/20%)
per capita: 460 cu m/yr (2001)
Natural hazards:
flooding
Environment - current issues:
emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries contribute to
air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions,
is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and
industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous waste
disposal; government established a mechanism for ending the use of
nuclear power over the next 15 years; government working to meet EU
commitment to identify nature preservation areas in line with the
EU's Flora, Fauna, and Habitat directive
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location on North European Plain and along the entrance to
the Baltic Sea
People ::Germany
Population:
82,282,988 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.7% (male 5,768,366/female 5,470,516)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 27,707,761/female 26,676,759)
65 years and over: 20.3% (male 7,004,805/female 9,701,551) (2010
est.)
Median age:
total: 44.3 years
male: 43 years
female: 45.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.061% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Birth rate:
8.21 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
Death rate:
11 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Net migration rate:
2.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Urbanization:
urban population: 74% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.055 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.95 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 205
male: 4.36 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.41 years
country comparison to the world: 36
male: 76.41 years
female: 82.57 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.42 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
53,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Nationality:
noun: German(s)
adjective: German
Ethnic groups:
German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely of Greek,
Italian, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish)
Religions:
Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or
other 28.3%
Languages:
German
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 16 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
4.4% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 92
People - note:
second most populous country in Europe after Russia
Government ::Germany
Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany
conventional short form: Germany
local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland
local short form: Deutschland
former: German Empire, German Republic, German Reich
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
name: Berlin
geographic coordinates: 52 31 N, 13 24 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:
16 states (Laender, singular - Land); Baden-Wurttemberg, Bayern
(Bavaria), Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen (Hesse),
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania),
Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Nordrhein-Westfalen (North
Rhine-Westphalia), Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate), Saarland,
Sachsen (Saxony), Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt),
Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen (Thuringia); note - Bayern, Sachsen,
and Thueringen refer to themselves as free states (Freistaaten,
singular - Freistaat)
Independence:
18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones
of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and France) in 1945 following World War
II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed 23
May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German
Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 October 1949
and included the former USSR zone; West Germany and East Germany
unified 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights
15 March 1991; notable earlier dates: 10 August 843 (Eastern Francia
established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 2 February
962 (crowning of OTTO I, recognized as the first Holy Roman Emperor)
National holiday:
Unity Day, 3 October (1990)
Constitution:
23 May 1949, known as Basic Law; became constitution of the united
Germany 3 October 1990
Legal system:
civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Christian WULFF (since 30 June 2010)
head of government: Chancellor Angela MERKEL (since 22 November 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) appointed by
the president on the recommendation of the chancellor
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected for a five-year term (eligible for a
second term) by a Federal Assembly, including all members of the
Federal Diet and an equal number of delegates elected by the state
parliaments; election last held on 30 June 2010 (next to be held by
June 2015); chancellor elected by an absolute majority of the
Federal Diet for a four-year term; Bundestag vote for Chancellor
last held after 27 September 2009 (next to follow the legislative
election to be held no later than 2013)
election results: Christian WULFF elected president; received 625
votes of the Federal Assembly against 494 for GAUCK and 121
abstentions; Angela MERKEL reelected chancellor; vote by Federal
Diet 323 to 285 with four abstentions
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the Federal Council or Bundesrat
(69 votes; state governments sit in the Council; each has three to
six votes in proportion to population and is required to vote as a
block) and the Federal Diet or Bundestag (622 seats; members elected
by popular vote for a four-year term under a system of personalized
proportional representation; a party must win 5% of the national
vote or three direct mandates to gain proportional representation
and caucus recognition)
elections: Bundestag - last held on 27 September 2009 (next to be
held no later than autumn 2013); note - there are no elections for
the Bundesrat; composition is determined by the composition of the
state-level governments; the composition of the Bundesrat has the
potential to change any time one of the 16 states holds an election
election results: Bundestag - percent of vote by party - CDU/CSU
33.8%, SPD 23%, FDP 14.6%, Left 11.9%, Greens 10.7%, other 6%; seats
by party - CDU/CSU 239, SPD 146, FDP 93, Left 76, Greens 68
Judicial branch:
Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht (half the
judges are elected by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat)
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance '90/Greens [Claudia ROTH and Cem OZDEMIR]; Christian
Democratic Union or CDU [Angela MERKEL]; Christian Social Union or
CSU [Horst SEEHOFER]; Free Democratic Party or FDP [Guido
WESTERWELLE]; Left Party or Die Linke [Klaus ERNST and Gesine
LOETZSCH]; Social Democratic Party or SPD [Sigmar GABRIEL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
business associations and employers' organizations; trade unions;
religious, immigrant, expellee, and veterans groups
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council
(observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CDB, CE,
CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8,
G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE,
Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), SICA
(observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Klaus SCHARIOTH
chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 298-4000
FAX: [1] (202) 298-4249
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Philip D. MURPHY
embassy: Pariser Platz 2, 14191 Berlin; note - new embassy opened 4
July 2008
mailing address: PSC 120, Box 1000, APO AE 09265, Clayallee 170,
14195 Berlin
telephone: [49] (030) 2385174
FAX: [49] (030) 8305-1215
consulate(s) general: Duesseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg,
Leipzig, Munich
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold; these
colors have played an important role in German history and can be
traced back to the medieval banner of the Holy Roman Emperor - a
black eagle with red claws and beak on a gold field
National anthem:
name: "Lied der Deutschen" (Song of the Germans)
lyrics/music: August Heinrich HOFFMANN VON FALLERSLEBE/Franz Joseph
HAYDN
note: adopted 1922, restored 1990; the anthem, also known as
"Deutschlandlied" (Song of Germany), was abolished in 1945 because
of the Nazi's use of the first verse, specifically the phrase,
"Deutschland, Deutschland uber alles" (Germany, Germany above all)
to promote nationalism; since restoration in 1990, only the third
verse is sung
Economy ::Germany
Economy - overview:
The German economy - the fifth largest economy in the world in PPP
terms and Europe's largest - is a leading exporter of machinery,
vehicles, chemicals, and household equipment and benefits from a
highly skilled labor force. Like its western European neighbors,
Germany faces significant demographic challenges to sustained
long-term growth. Low fertility rates and declining net immigration
are increasing pressure on the country's social welfare system and
necessitate structural reforms. The modernization and integration of
the eastern German economy - where unemployment can exceed 20% in
some municipalities - continues to be a costly long-term process,
with annual transfers from west to east amounting in 2008 alone to
roughly $12 billion. Reforms launched by the government of
Chancellor Gerhard SCHROEDER (1998-2005), deemed necessary to
address chronically high unemployment and low average growth,
contributed to strong growth in 2006 and 2007 and falling
unemployment, which in 2008 reached a new post-reunification low of
7.8%. These advances, as well as a government subsidized, reduced
working hour scheme, help explain the relatively modest increase in
unemployment during the 2008-09 recession - the deepest since World
War II - and its healthy decrease in 2010. GDP contracted nearly 5%
in 2009 but grew by 3.3% in 2010. Germany crept out of recession
thanks largely to rebounding manufacturing orders and exports -
primarily outside the Euro Zone - and relatively steady consumer
demand. Stimulus and stabilization efforts initiated in 2008 and
2009 and tax cuts introduced in Chancellor Angela MERKEL's second
term increased Germany's budget deficit to 3.3% in 2009 and to 3.6%
in 2010. The EU has given Germany until 2013 to get its consolidated
budget deficit below 3% of GDP. A new constitutional amendment
likewise limits the federal government to structural deficits of no
more than 0.35% of GDP per annum as of 2016.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.951 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$2.857 trillion (2009 est.)
$2.998 trillion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.306 trillion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
-4.7% (2009 est.)
1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$35,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$34,700 (2009 est.)
$36,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.8%
industry: 27.9%
services: 71.3% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
43.35 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 29.7%
services: 67.8% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
7.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
7.5% (2009 est.)
note: this is the International Labor Organization's estimated rate
for international comparisons; Germany's Federal Employment Office
estimated a seasonally adjusted rate of 10.8%
Population below poverty line:
11% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 24% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
27 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 125
30 (1994)
Investment (gross fixed):
18% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Public debt:
74.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
73.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
0.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 120
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
4.96% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
5.97% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.627 trillion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 6
$1.681 trillion (31 December 2009 est)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro
area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating
within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$4.288 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$4.202 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$5.2 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
$5.019 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.298 trillion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 9
$1.108 trillion (31 December 2008)
$2.106 trillion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbages; cattle, pigs,
poultry
Industries:
among the world's largest and most technologically advanced
producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery,
vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages,
shipbuilding, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Electricity - production:
593.4 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Electricity - consumption:
547.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Electricity - exports:
61.7 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
41.67 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
156,800 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Oil - consumption:
2.437 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Oil - exports:
536,600 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Oil - imports:
2.862 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Oil - proved reserves:
276 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Natural gas - production:
15.29 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Natural gas - consumption:
96.26 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Natural gas - exports:
12.64 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Natural gas - imports:
94.57 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Natural gas - proved reserves:
175.6 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Current account balance:
$162.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
$168.1 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.337 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
$1.145 trillion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery, vehicles, chemicals, metals and manufactures, foodstuffs,
textiles
Exports - partners:
France 10.2%, US 6.7%, Netherlands 6.7%, UK 6.6%, Italy 6.3%,
Austria 6%, China 4.5%, Switzerland 4.4% (2009)
Imports:
$1.12 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
$956.7 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, vehicles, chemicals, foodstuffs, textiles, metals
Imports - partners:
Netherlands 8.5%, China 8.2%, France 8.2%, US 5.9%, Italy 5.9%, UK
4.9%, Belgium 4.3%, Austria 4.3%, Switzerland 4.2% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$180.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.713 trillion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 4
$5.158 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$1.057 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
$1.054 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.484 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
$1.46 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Germany
Telephones - main lines in use:
48.7 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 3
Telephones - mobile cellular:
105 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 8
Telephone system:
general assessment: Germany has one of the world's most
technologically advanced telecommunications systems; as a result of
intensive capital expenditures since reunification, the formerly
backward system of the eastern part of the country, dating back to
World War II, has been modernized and integrated with that of the
western part
domestic: Germany is served by an extensive system of automatic
telephone exchanges connected by modern networks of fiber-optic
cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domestic
satellite system; cellular telephone service is widely available,
expanding rapidly, and includes roaming service to many foreign
countries
international: country code - 49; Germany's international service is
excellent worldwide, consisting of extensive land and undersea cable
facilities as well as earth stations in the Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Eutelsat, and Intersputnik satellite systems (2001)
Broadcast media:
a mixture of publicly-operated and privately-owned TV and radio
stations; national and regional public broadcasters compete with
nearly 400 privately-owned national and regional TV stations; more
than 90% of households have cable or satellite TV; hundreds of radio
stations broadcasting including multiple national radio networks,
regional radio networks, and a large number of local radio stations
(2008)
Internet country code:
.de
Internet hosts:
21.729 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 4
Internet users:
65.125 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 5
Transportation ::Germany
Airports:
549 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 13
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 330
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 53
1,524 to 2,437 m: 59
914 to 1,523 m: 70
under 914 m: 135 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 219
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 33
under 914 m: 184 (2010)
Heliports:
25 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 24,364 km; oil 3,379 km; refined products 3,843 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 41,896 km
country comparison to the world: 6
standard gauge: 41,641 km 1.435-m gauge (20,053 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 75 km 1.000-m gauge (75 km electrified); 180 km
0.750-m gauge (24 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 644,480 km
country comparison to the world: 11
paved: 644,480 km (includes 12,645 km of expressways)
note: includes local roads (2008)
Waterways:
7,467 km
country comparison to the world: 19
note: Rhine River carries most goods; Main-Danube Canal links North
Sea and Black Sea (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 421
country comparison to the world: 25
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 7, cargo 44, carrier 1,
chemical tanker 15, container 293, liquefied gas 7, passenger 4,
passenger/cargo 27, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 1, roll
on/roll off 9, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 10 (China 2, Finland 5, Greece 1, Sweden 1,
Switzerland 1)
registered in other countries: 3,287 (Antigua and Barbuda 1050,
Australia 2, Bahamas 39, Belize 1, Bermuda 15, Brazil 6, Bulgaria
25, Burma 1, Cayman Islands 6, China 1, Cook Islands 1, Cyprus 189,
Denmark 10, Dominica 2, Estonia 1, France 1, Georgia 4, Gibraltar
125, Hong Kong 10, Isle of Man 56, Italy 1, Jamaica 10, Liberia
1049, Luxembourg 9, Malta 127, Marshall Islands 247, Morocco 2,
Netherlands 92, former Netherlands Antilles 32, NZ 2, Panama 27,
Portugal 13, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Singapore 30,
Slovakia 4, Spain 5, Sri Lanka 5, Sweden 3, Turkey 1, UK 77, US 3,
Venezuela 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Bremen, Bremerhaven, Duisburg, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Lubeck,
Neuss-Dusseldorf, Rostock, Wilhemshaven
Military ::Germany
Military branches:
Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr): Army (Heer), Navy (Deutsche
Marine, includes naval air arm), Air Force (Luftwaffe), Joint
Support Services (Streitkraeftbasis), Central Medical Service
(Zentraler Sanitaetsdienst) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (conscripts serve a 9-month tour of compulsory
military service) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 19,195,804
females age 16-49: 18,159,851 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 15,564,748
females age 16-49: 14,723,200 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 421,227
female: 398,809 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Transnational Issues ::Germany
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors;
transshipment point for and consumer of Southwest Asian heroin,
Latin American cocaine, and European-produced synthetic drugs; major
financial center
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Ghana (Africa)
Introduction ::Ghana
Background:
Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and
the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first
sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence.
Ghana endured a long series of coups before Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS took
power in 1981 and banned political parties. After approving a new
constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, RAWLINGS won
presidential elections in 1992 and 1996, but was constitutionally
prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR
succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. John Atta MILLS took over
as head of state in early 2009.
Geography ::Ghana
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire
and Togo
Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 238,533 sq km
country comparison to the world: 81
land: 227,533 sq km
water: 11,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 2,094 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo
877 km
Coastline:
539 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and
humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain:
mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Afadjato 885 m
Natural resources:
gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber,
hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 17.54%
permanent crops: 9.22%
other: 73.24% (2005)
Irrigated land:
310 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
53.2 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.98 cu km/yr (24%/10%/66%)
per capita: 44 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January to
March; droughts
Environment - current issues:
recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities;
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat
destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution;
inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake
People ::Ghana
Population:
24,339,838
country comparison to the world: 47
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.2% (male 4,494,633/female 4,394,074)
15-64 years: 59.2% (male 7,065,273/female 7,086,023)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 389,886/female 457,923) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.1 years
male: 20.8 years
female: 21.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.855% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Birth rate:
28.09 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Death rate:
8.93 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Net migration rate:
-0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Urbanization:
urban population: 50% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 49.89 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 52
male: 53.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 46.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.55 years
country comparison to the world: 187
male: 59.36 years
female: 61.78 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.57 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
260,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
21,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Ghanaian(s)
adjective: Ghanaian
Ethnic groups:
Akan 45.3%, Mole-Dagbon 15.2%, Ewe 11.7%, Ga-Dangme 7.3%, Guan 4%,
Gurma 3.6%, Grusi 2.6%, Mande-Busanga 1%, other tribes 1.4%, other
7.8% (2000 census)
Religions:
Christian 68.8% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 24.1%, Protestant 18.6%,
Catholic 15.1%, other 11%), Muslim 15.9%, traditional 8.5%, other
0.7%, none 6.1% (2000 census)
Languages:
Asante 14.8%, Ewe 12.7%, Fante 9.9%, Boron (Brong) 4.6%, Dagomba
4.3%, Dangme 4.3%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.7%, Akyem 3.4%, Ga 3.4%,
Akuapem 2.9%, other 36.1% (includes English (official)) (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.9%
male: 66.4%
female: 49.8% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
5.4% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 52
Government ::Ghana
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Ghana
conventional short form: Ghana
former: Gold Coast
Government type:
constitutional democracy
Capital:
name: Accra
geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra,
Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western
Independence:
6 March 1957 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Constitution:
approved 28 April 1992
Legal system:
based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January
2009); Vice President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2009);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January
2009); Vice President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject
to approval by Parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
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 on 7 and 28 December 2008 (next to be held on 7
December 2012)
election results: John Evans Atta MILLS elected president in run-off
election; percent of vote - John Evans Atta MILLS 50.23%, Nana Addo
Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO 49.77%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (230 seats; members elected by direct, popular
vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 7 December 2008 (next to be held on 7
December 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NDC 114, NPP 107, PNC 2, CPP 1, independent 4, other 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Convention People's Party or CPP [Ladi NYLANDER]; Democratic Freedom
Party or DFP [Alhaji Abudu Rahman ISSAKAH]; Every Ghanaian Living
Everywhere or EGLE; Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP [Dan
LARTEY]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Kwabena ADJEI];
New Patriotic Party or NPP [Peter MAC-MANU]; People's National
Convention or PNC [Alhaji Amed RAMADAN]; Reform Party [Kyeretwie
OPUKU]; United Renaissance Party or URP [Charles WAYO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Christian Aid (water rights); Committee for Joint Action or CJA
(education reform); National Coalition Against the Privatization of
Water or CAP (water rights); Oxfam (water rights); Public Citizen
(water rights); Students Coalition Against EPA [Kwabena Ososukene
OKAI] (education reform); Third World Network (education reform)
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM,
OAS (observer), OIF (associate member), OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel Ohene AGYEKUM
chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520
FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald G. TEITELBAUM
embassy: 24 4th Circular Rd. Cantonments, Accra
mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra
telephone: [233] (21) 741-000
FAX: [233] (21) 741-389
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with a
large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; red
symbolizes the blood shed for independence, yellow represents the
country's mineral wealth, while green stands for its forests and
natural wealth; the black star is said to be the lodestar of African
freedom
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to
the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow
band
National anthem:
name: "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana"
lyrics/music: unknown/Philip GBEHO
note: music adopted 1957, lyrics adopted 1966; the lyrics were
changed twice, once when a republic was declared in 1960 and again
after a 1966 coup
Economy ::Ghana
Economy - overview:
Ghana is well endowed with natural resources and agriculture
accounts for roughly one-third of GDP and employs more than half of
the workforce, mainly small landholders. The services sector
accounts for 50% of GDP. Gold and cocoa production and individual
remittances are major sources of foreign exchange. Oil production at
Ghana's offshore Jubilee field began in mid-December and is expected
to boost economic growth. Ghana signed a Millennium Challenge
Corporation (MCC) Compact in 2006, which aims to assist in
transforming Ghana's agricultural sector. Ghana opted for debt
relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) program in
2002, and is also benefiting from the Multilateral Debt Relief
Initiative that took effect in 2006. In 2009 Ghana signed a
three-year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility with the IMF to
improve macroeconomic stability, private sector competitiveness,
human resource development, and good governance and civic
responsibility. Sound macro-economic management along with high
prices for gold and cocoa helped sustain GDP growth in 2008-10. In
early 2010 President John Atta MILLS targeted recovery from high
inflation and current account and budget deficits as his priorities.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$38.24 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$36.53 billion (2009 est.)
$35.09 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$18.06 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
4.1% (2009 est.)
7.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
$1,500 (2009 est.)
$1,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 33.7%
industry: 24.7%
services: 41.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
10.56 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 56%
industry: 15%
services: 29% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
11% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Population below poverty line:
28.5% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 32.8% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39.4 (2005-06)
country comparison to the world: 65
40.7 (1999)
Investment (gross fixed):
39.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Public debt:
59.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
55.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
19.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
18% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 15
17% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$6.26 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 82
$5.203 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$9.583 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
$7.823 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$7.155 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
$6.987 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$2.508 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 88
$3.394 billion (31 December 2008)
$2.38 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas;
timber
Industries:
mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food
processing, cement, small commercial ship building
Industrial production growth rate:
5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Electricity - production:
6.746 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Electricity - consumption:
5.702 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Electricity - exports:
249 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
435 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
7,081 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Oil - consumption:
57,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Oil - exports:
4,843 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Oil - imports:
45,380 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Oil - proved reserves:
15 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Natural gas - proved reserves:
22.65 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Current account balance:
-$1.871 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
-$1.199 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$7.326 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$5.84 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore,
diamonds, horticulture
Exports - partners:
Netherlands 13.45%, UK 7.87%, France 5.85%, Ukraine 5.84%, Malaysia
3.97% (2009)
Imports:
$10.18 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
$8.046 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
China 16.8%, Nigeria 11.88%, US 6.63%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.99%, India
5.57%, France 5.09%, UK 4.23% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$3.165 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$6.483 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
$5.427 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
cedis (GHC) per US dollar - 1.4 (2010), 1.4 (2009), 1.1 (2008), 0.95
(2007), 9,174.8 (2006)
Communications ::Ghana
Telephones - main lines in use:
267,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 120
Telephones - mobile cellular:
15.109 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 49
Telephone system:
general assessment: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local
loop has been installed; outdated and unreliable fixed-line
infrastructure heavily concentrated in Accra
domestic: competition among multiple mobile-cellular providers has
spurred growth with a subscribership of more than 60 per 100 persons
and rising
international: country code - 233; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC,
Main One, and GLO-1 fiber-optic submarine cables that provide
connectivity to South Africa, Europe, and Asia; satellite earth
stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link
to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-owned TV station, 2 state-owned radio networks; several
privately-owned TV stations and a large number of privately-owned
radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters
are accessible; several cable and satellite TV subscription services
are obtainable (2007)
Internet country code:
.gh
Internet hosts:
41,082 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 93
Internet users:
1.297 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 93
Transportation ::Ghana
Airports:
11 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 155
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Pipelines:
oil 5 km; refined products 309 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 947 km
country comparison to the world: 93
narrow gauge: 947 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 62,221 km
country comparison to the world: 74
paved: 9,955 km
unpaved: 52,266 km (2006)
Waterways:
1,293 km
country comparison to the world: 58
note: 168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano
rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta
(2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 4
country comparison to the world: 135
by type: petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3
foreign-owned: 2 (Brazil 1, South Korea 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Takoradi, Tema
Military ::Ghana
Military branches:
Ghanaian Army, Ghanaian Navy, Ghanaian Air Force (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service, with basic education
certificate; no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,126,707
females age 16-49: 6,058,958 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,022,056
females age 16-49: 4,101,964 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 270,993
female: 263,961 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 90
Transnational Issues ::Ghana
Disputes - international:
Ghana struggles to accommodate returning nationals who worked in the
cocoa plantations and escaped fighting in Cote d'Ivoire
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 35,653 (Liberia); 8,517 (Togo) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; major
transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and, to a
lesser extent, South American cocaine destined for Europe and the
US; widespread crime and money laundering problem, but the lack of a
well developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility
as a money laundering center; significant domestic cocaine and
cannabis use
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Gibraltar (Europe)
Introduction ::Gibraltar
Background:
Strategically important, Gibraltar was reluctantly ceded to Great
Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison
was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum held in
1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British
dependency. The subsequent granting of autonomy in 1969 by the UK
led to Spain closing the border and severing all communication
links. A series of talks were held by the UK and Spain between 1997
and 2002 on establishing temporary joint sovereignty over Gibraltar.
In response to these talks, the Gibraltar Government called a
referendum in late 2002 in which the majority of citizens voted
overwhelmingly against any sharing of sovereignty with Spain. Since
late 2004, tripartite talks among Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar have
been held with the aim of cooperatively resolving problems that
affect the local population, and work continues on cooperation
agreements in areas such as taxation and financial services;
communications and maritime security; policy, legal and customs
services; environmental protection; and education and visa services.
Throughout 2009, a dispute over Gibraltar's claim to territorial
waters extending out three miles gave rise to periodic non-violent
maritime confrontations between Spanish and UK naval patrols. A new
noncolonial constitution came into effect in 2007, and the European
Court of First Instance recognized Gibraltar's right to regulate its
own tax regime in December 2008, but the UK retains responsibility
for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial
stability.
Geography ::Gibraltar
Location:
Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links
the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern
coast of Spain
Geographic coordinates:
36 08 N, 5 21 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 6.5 sq km
country comparison to the world: 242
land: 6.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
more than 10 times the size of The National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries:
total: 1.2 km
border countries: Spain 1.2 km
Coastline:
12 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate:
Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Terrain:
a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or natural rock
water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for drinking
water) and adequate desalination plant
Geography - note:
strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North
Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
People ::Gibraltar
Population:
28,877 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.9% (male 3,088/female 2,922)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 9,667/female 9,467)
65 years and over: 12.7% (male 1,754/female 1,898) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 33.1 years
male: 32.2 years
female: 34.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.27% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Birth rate:
14.2 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Death rate:
8.17 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Net migration rate:
-3.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Urbanization:
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.071 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.82 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 168
male: 7.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.53 years
country comparison to the world: 46
male: 75.69 years
female: 81.56 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.96 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Gibraltarian(s)
adjective: Gibraltar
Ethnic groups:
Spanish, Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, German, North
Africans
Religions:
Roman Catholic 78.1%, Church of England 7%, other Christian 3.2%,
Muslim 4%, Jewish 2.1%, Hindu 1.8%, other or unspecified 0.9%, none
2.9% (2001 census)
Languages:
English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish,
Italian, Portuguese
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: above 80%
male: NA
female: NA
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Gibraltar
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gibraltar
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Gibraltar
geographic coordinates: 36 08 N, 5 21 W
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:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national
referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or join Spain
Constitution:
5 June 2006; came into force 2 January 2007
Legal system:
the laws of the UK where applicable apply
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; and British citizens who have been
residents six months or more
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor Vice Admiral Sir Adrian JOHNS (since 26
October 2009)
head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 17 elected
members of the Parliament by the governor in consultation with the
chief minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy 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 Parliament (18 seats: 17 members elected by popular vote,
1 for the speaker appointed by Parliament; members serve four-year
terms)
elections: last held on 11 October 2007 (next to be held not later
than October 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - GSD 49.3%, GSLP 31.8%,
Gibraltar Liberal Party 13.6%; seats by party - GSD 10, GSLP 4,
Gibraltar Liberal Party 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
Gibraltar Liberal Party [Joseph GARCIA]; Gibraltar Social Democrats
or GSD [Peter CARUANA]; Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP
[Joseph John BOSSANO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization; Women's
Association
International organization participation:
Interpol (subbureau), 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:
two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a
three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging
from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band; the
design is that of Gibraltar's coat of arms granted on 10 July 1502
by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain; the castle symbolizes
Gibraltar as a fortress, while the key represents Gibraltar's
strategic importance - the key to the Mediterranean
National anthem:
name: "Gibraltar Anthem"
lyrics/music: Peter EMBERLEY
note: adopted 1994; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the
United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" remains official (see United
Kingdom)
Economy ::Gibraltar
Economy - overview:
Self-sufficient Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade,
offshore banking, and its position as an international conference
center. Tax rates are low to attract foreign investment. The British
military presence has been sharply reduced and now contributes about
7% to the local economy, compared with 60% in 1984. The financial
sector, tourism (almost 5 million visitors in 1998), gaming
revenues, shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also
generate revenue. The financial sector, tourism, and the shipping
sector contribute 30%, 30%, and 25%, respectively, of GDP.
Telecommunications, e-commerce, and e-gaming account for the
remaining 15%. In recent years, Gibraltar has seen major structural
change from a public to a private sector economy, but changes in
government spending still have a major impact on the level of
employment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.106 billion (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
$1.066 billion (2005 est.)
$769 million (2000 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.106 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.7% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 91
7% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$38,400 (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$38,200 (2005 est.)
$27,900 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0%
industry: 0%
services: 100% (2008)
Labor force:
12,690 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) (2001)
country comparison to the world: 214
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: negligible
industry: 40%
services: 60% (2001)
Unemployment rate:
3% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Public debt:
15.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 119
15.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.6% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 83
2.9% (2005)
Agriculture - products:
none
Industries:
tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
146 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Electricity - consumption:
146 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Oil - consumption:
21,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Oil - imports:
25,610 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Exports:
$271 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Exports - commodities:
(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods
Imports:
$2.967 billion (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Imports - commodities:
fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar - 0.6494 (2009), 0.5302 (2008),
0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006)
note: the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound
Communications ::Gibraltar
Telephones - main lines in use:
24,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 186
Telephones - mobile cellular:
28,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 203
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate
international facilities
domestic: automatic exchange facilities
international: country code - 350; radiotelephone; microwave radio
relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast media:
Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) provides television and
radio broadcasting services via 1 television station and 4 radio
stations; British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) operates 1
radio station; broadcasts from Spanish radio and TV stations are
accessible (2008)
Internet country code:
.gi
Internet hosts:
2,053 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 154
Internet users:
20,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 192
Transportation ::Gibraltar
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 222
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 29 km
country comparison to the world: 218
paved: 29 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 265
country comparison to the world: 32
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 139, chemical tanker 65, container
35, liquefied gas 2, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off 4,
vehicle carrier 8
foreign-owned: 250 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 1, Denmark 6, Finland 2,
Germany 125, Greece 7, Iceland 1, Italy 4, Jersey 1, Morocco 4,
Netherlands 33, Norway 42, Singapore 1, Sweden 12, UAE 5, UK 4)
registered in other countries: 6 (Liberia 5, Panama 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Gibraltar
Military ::Gibraltar
Military branches:
Royal Gibraltar Regiment (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,949 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,955
females age 16-49: 5,687 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 250
female: 233 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK; the Royal Gibraltar
Regiment replaced the last British regular infantry forces in 1992
Transnational Issues ::Gibraltar
Disputes - international:
in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to
reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the government of
Gibraltar insists on equal participation in talks between the UK and
Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar even greater
autonomy
page last updated on January 26, 2011
======================================================================
@Greece (Europe)
Introduction ::Greece
Background:
Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During
the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th
century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories,
most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was
first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany
(1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between
supporters of the king and other anti-Communists and Communist
rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in
1952. In 1967, a group of military officers seized power,
establishing a military dictatorship that suspended many political
liberties and forced the king to flee the country. In 1974,
democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary
republic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981, Greece joined the EC
(now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and
Monetary Union in 2001. In 2010, the prospect of a Greek default on
its euro-denominated debt created severe strains within the EMU and
raised the question of whether a member country might voluntarily
leave the common currency or be removed.
Geography ::Greece
Location:
Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the
Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
39 00 N, 22 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 131,957 sq km
country comparison to the world: 96
land: 130,647 sq km
water: 1,310 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries:
total: 1,228 km
border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km,
Macedonia 246 km
Coastline:
13,676 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:
mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or
chains of islands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m
Natural resources:
lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel,
magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential
Land use:
arable land: 20.45%
permanent crops: 8.59%
other: 70.96% (2005)
Irrigated land:
14,530 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
72 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 8.7 cu km/yr (16%/3%/81%)
per capita: 782 cu m/yr (1997)
Natural hazards:
severe earthquakes
volcanism: Santorini (elev. 367 m, 1,204 ft) has been deemed a
"Decade Volcano" by the International Association of Volcanology and
Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its
explosive history and close proximity to human populations; although
there have been very few eruptions in recent centuries, Methana and
Nisyros in the Aegean are classified as historically active
Environment - current issues:
air pollution; water pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 94, 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, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
Geography - note:
strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach
to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago
of about 2,000 islands
People ::Greece
Population:
10,749,943 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.3% (male 788,722/female 742,270)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 3,568,660/female 3,578,344)
65 years and over: 19.2% (male 902,617/female 1,156,815) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 42.2 years
male: 41.1 years
female: 43.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.106% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Birth rate:
9.34 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Death rate:
10.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Net migration rate:
2.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Urbanization:
urban population: 61% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.064 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.08 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 185
male: 5.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.8 years
country comparison to the world: 29
male: 77.24 years
female: 82.52 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.37 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
11,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Nationality:
noun: Greek(s)
adjective: Greek
Ethnic groups:
population: Greek 93%, other (foreign citizens) 7% (2001 census)
note: percents represent citizenship, since Greece does not collect
data on ethnicity
Religions:
Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Languages:
Greek 99% (official), other 1% (includes English and French)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97.8%
female: 94.2% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
4% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 105
Government ::Greece
Country name:
conventional long form: Hellenic Republic
conventional short form: Greece
local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia
local short form: Ellas or Ellada
former: Kingdom of Greece
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
name: Athens
geographic coordinates: 37 59 N, 23 44 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:
51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos) and 1 autonomous region*;
Achaia, Agion Oros* (Mount Athos), Aitolia kai Akarnania, Argolis,
Arkadia, Arta, Attiki, Chalkidiki, Chania, Chios, Dodekanisos,
Drama, Evros, Evrytania, Evvoia, Florina, Fokidos, Fthiotis,
Grevena, Ileia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Karditsa, Kastoria,
Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Kyklades,
Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lefkada, Lesvos, Magnisia, Messinia,
Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethymnis, Rodopi, Samos, Serres,
Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakynthos
Independence:
1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 March (1821)
Constitution:
11 June 1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001
Legal system:
based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal,
and administrative courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Karolos PAPOULIAS (since 12 March 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Georgios Andreas PAPANDREOU
(since 6 October 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by parliament for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 February 2010
(next to be held by February 2015); president appoints leader of the
party securing plurality of vote in election to become prime
minister and form a government
election results: Karolos PAPOULIAS reelected president; number of
parliamentary votes, 266 out of 300
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members
elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 4 October 2009 (next to be held by 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - PASOK 43.9%, ND 33.5%,
KKE 7.5%, LAOS 5.6%, SYRIZA 4.6%, other 4.9%; seats by party - PASOK
160, ND 91, KKE 21, LAOS 15, SYRIZA 13; note - seats by party as of
15 December 2010 - PASOK 156, ND 86, KKE 21 LAOS 15, SYRIZA 9, DISY
5, Democratic Left 4, independents 4 (DISY and Democratic Left
entered parliament as members of ND and SYRIZA, respectively, and
the independents entered parliament as members of PASOK); only
parties supassing a 3% threshold are entitled to parliamentary
seats; parties need 10 seats to become formal parliamentary groups,
but can retain that status if the party participated in the last
election and received the minimum 3% threshold
Judicial branch:
Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judges are
appointed for life by the president after consultation with a
judicial council
Political parties and leaders:
Anticapitalist Left Cooperation for the Overthrow or ANTARSYA
[Petros KONSTANTINOU]; Coalition of the Radical Left or SYRIZA
[Alexis TSIPRAS]; Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA];
Democratic Left [Fotis KOUVELIS]; Democratic Alliance or DISY
[Theodora BAKOGIANNI]; Ecologist Greens [Nikos CHRYSOGELOS]; Golden
Dawn [Nikolaos MICHALOLIAKOS]; New Democracy or ND [Antonis
SAMARAS]; Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Georgios
PAPANDREOU]; Popular Orthodox Rally or LAOS [Georgios KARATZAFERIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Civil Servants Confederation or ADEDY [Spyros PAPASPYROS];
Federation of Greek Industries or SEV [Dimitris DASKALOPOULOS];
General Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [Ioannis PANAGOPOULOS]
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU,
FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Vassilis KASKARELIS
chancery: 2217 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300
FAX: [1] (202) 939-1324
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco, Tampa
consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel Bennett SMITH
embassy: 91 Vasilisis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens
mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108
telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951
FAX: [30] (210) 645-6282
consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki
Flag description:
nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; a blue
square bearing a white cross appears in the upper hoist-side corner;
the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of
the country; there is no agreed upon meaning for the nine stripes or
for the colors; the exact shade of blue has never been set by law
and has varied from a light to a dark blue over time
National anthem:
name: "Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Liberty)
lyrics/music: Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS
note: adopted 1864; the anthem is based on a 158 verse poem by the
same name, which was inspired by the Greek Revolution of 1821
against the Ottomans; Cyprus also uses "Hymn to Liberty" as its
anthem
Economy ::Greece
Economy - overview:
Greece has a capitalist economy with the public sector accounting
for about 40% of GDP and with per capita GDP about two-thirds that
of the leading euro-zone economies. Tourism provides 15% of GDP.
Immigrants make up nearly one-fifth of the work force, mainly in
agricultural and unskilled jobs. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU
aid, equal to about 3.3% of annual GDP. The Greek economy grew by
nearly 4.0% per year between 2003 and 2007, due partly to
infrastructural spending related to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games,
and in part to an increased availability of credit, which has
sustained record levels of consumer spending. But the economy went
into recession in 2009 as a result of the world financial crisis,
tightening credit conditions, and Athens' failure to address a
growing budget deficit, which was triggered by falling state
revenues, and increased government expenditures. The economy
contracted by 2% in 2009, and 4.8% in 2010. Greece violated the EU's
Growth and Stability Pact budget deficit criterion of no more than
3% of GDP from 2001 to 2006, but finally met that criterion in
2007-08, before exceeding it again in 2009, with the deficit
reaching 15.4% of GDP. Austerity measures reduced the deficit to
9.4% of GDP in 2010. Public debt, inflation, and unemployment are
above the euro-zone average while per capita income is below;
unemployment rose to 12% in 2010. Eroding public finances, a
credibility gap stemming from inaccurate and misreported statistics,
and consistent underperformance on following through with reforms
prompted major credit rating agencies in late 2009 to downgrade
Greece's international debt rating, and has led the country into a
financial crisis. Under intense pressure by the EU and international
market participants, the government has adopted a medium-term
austerity program that includes cutting government spending,
reducing the size of the public sector, decreasing tax evasion,
reforming the health care and pension systems, and improving
competitiveness through structural reforms to the labor and product
markets. Athens, however, faces long-term challenges to push through
unpopular reforms in the face of often vocal opposition from the
country's powerful labor unions and the general public. Greek labor
unions are striking over new austerity measures, but the strikes so
far have had a limited impact on the government's will to adopt
reforms. An uptick in widespread unrest, however, could challenge
the government's ability to implement reforms and meet budget
targets, and could also lead to rioting or violence. In April 2010 a
leading credit agency assigned Greek debt its lowest possible credit
rating; in May, the International Monetary Fund and Eurozone
governments provided Greece emergency short- and medium-term loans
worth $147 billion so that the country could make debt repayments to
creditors. In exchange for the largest bailout ever assembled, the
government announced combined spending cuts and tax increases
totaling $40 billion over three years, on top of the tough austerity
measures already taken. Greece, however, struggled to boost revenues
and cut spending to meet 2010 targets set by the EU and the IMF,
especially after Eurostat - the EU's statistical office - revised
upward Greece's deficit and debt numbers for 2009 and 2010. Greece's
lenders are calling on Athens to step up efforts in 2011 to increase
tax collection, shore up public enterprises, and rein in health
spending, and are planning to give Greece more time to repay its
EU-IMF loan. Greece responded by introducing major structural
reforms, but investors still question whether Greece can sustain
fiscal efforts in the face of a bleak economic outlook and public
discontent.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$321.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$337.9 billion (2009 est.)
$344.8 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$302 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-4.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
-2% (2009 est.)
2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$30,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$31,500 (2009 est.)
$32,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 17.6%
services: 78.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
5.05 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 12.4%
industry: 22.4%
services: 65.1% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
9.4% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
20% (2009 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 26% (2000 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 96
35.4 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
14.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Public debt:
144% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
126.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
1.2% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 117
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.59% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
8.65% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$152.8 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 22
$172.8 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro
area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating
within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$335.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
$368.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$419.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$394.6 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$54.72 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 37
$90.4 billion (31 December 2008)
$264.9 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco,
potatoes; beef, dairy products
Industries:
tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal
products; mining, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate:
3.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Electricity - production:
58.79 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Electricity - consumption:
58.28 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Electricity - exports:
1.962 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
7.575 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
6,779 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Oil - consumption:
414,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Oil - exports:
153,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Oil - imports:
520,900 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Oil - proved reserves:
10 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Natural gas - production:
9 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Natural gas - consumption:
3.528 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Natural gas - imports:
3.556 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Natural gas - proved reserves:
991.1 million cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Current account balance:
-$17.1 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
-$34.43 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$21.14 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$21.34 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products,
chemicals, textiles
Exports - partners:
Germany 11.11%, Italy 11.05%, Cyprus 7.28%, Bulgaria 6.74%, US
4.95%, UK 4.4%, Turkey 4.23% (2009)
Imports:
$44.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$64.2 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Germany 13.73%, Italy 12.71%, China 7.08%, France 6.1%, Netherlands
6.02%, South Korea 5.68%, Belgium 4.34%, Spain 4.08% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$5.546 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$532.9 billion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 19
$504.6 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$48.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$44.93 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$38.66 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$40.45 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Greece
Telephones - main lines in use:
5.93 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 29
Telephones - mobile cellular:
13.295 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 54
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate, modern networks reach all areas; good
mobile telephone and international service
domestic: microwave radio relay trunk system; extensive open-wire
connections; submarine cable to offshore islands
international: country code - 30; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to
Europe, Middle East, and Asia; a number of smaller submarine cables
provide connectivity to various parts of Europe, the Middle East,
and Cyprus; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 4 (2
Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1
Inmarsat - Indian Ocean region)
Broadcast media:
broadcast media dominated by the private sector; roughly 150 private
TV channels, about a dozen of the private channels broadcast at the
national or regional level; 3 publicly-owned terrestrial TV channels
with national coverage, 1 publicly-owned satellite channel, and 3
stations designed for digital terrestrial transmissions;
multi-channel satellite and cable TV services obtainable; upwards of
1,500 radio stations broadcasting, nearly all of them
privately-owned; state-run broadcaster has 7 national stations, 2
international stations, and 19 regional stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.gr
Internet hosts:
2.574 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 31
Internet users:
4.971 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 46
Transportation ::Greece
Airports:
81 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 68
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 67
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 14
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 9 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 12 (2010)
Heliports:
9 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 1,197 km; oil 75 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,548 km
country comparison to the world: 66
standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (764 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 117,533 km
country comparison to the world: 38
paved: 107,895 km (includes 880 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,638 km (2005)
Waterways:
6 km
country comparison to the world: 108
note: Corinth Canal (6 km) crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; shortens
sea voyage by 325 km (2010)
Merchant marine:
total: 886
country comparison to the world: 12
by type: bulk carrier 263, cargo 53, carrier 1, chemical tanker 72,
container 34, liquefied gas 13, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 116,
petroleum tanker 312, roll on/roll off 13, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 62 (Belgium 16, Bermuda 3, Cyprus 4, Italy 5, UK 27,
US 7)
registered in other countries: 2,391 (Antigua and Barbuda 5, Bahamas
209, Barbados 14, Belize 2, Bermuda 2, Brazil 1, Cambodia 2, Cayman
Islands 11, Comoros 3, Cyprus 216, Denmark 1, Dominica 9, Egypt 8,
Georgia 3, Germany 1, Gibraltar 7, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 22,
Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 57, Italy 8, Jamaica 8, Liberia 454, Malta
458, Marshall Islands 358, Mexico 1, Moldova 4, Panama 402,
Philippines 4, Portugal 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 63, Sao
Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 4, Singapore 19, Slovakia 1, Togo
1, UAE 3, UK 1, Uruguay 1, Vanuatu 4, Venezuela 4, unknown 8) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Agioi Theodoroi, Aspropyrgos, Pachi, Piraeus, Thessaloniki
Military ::Greece
Military branches:
Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES), Hellenic Navy (Ellinikos
Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki Polimiki
Aeroporia, EPA) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
19-45 years of age for compulsory military service; during wartime
the law allows for recruitment beginning January of the year of
inductee's 18th birthday, thus including 17 year olds; 17 years of
age for volunteers; conscript service obligation - 1 year for all
services; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,502,268
females age 16-49: 2,486,171 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,050,018
females age 16-49: 2,033,450 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 53,222
female: 49,828 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Transnational Issues ::Greece
Disputes - international:
Greece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their complex
maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea;
Cyprus question with Turkey; Greece rejects the use of the name
Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia; the mass migration of unemployed
Albanians still remains a problem for developed countries, chiefly
Greece and Italy
Illicit drugs:
a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroin
from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor
chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or is
consumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug trafficking and
organized crime
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Greenland (North America)
Introduction ::Greenland
Background:
Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 81% ice capped.
Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish
colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland was made an
integral part of Denmark in 1953. It joined the European Community
(now the EU) with Denmark in 1973 but withdrew in 1985 over a
dispute centered on stringent fishing quotas. Greenland was granted
self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament; the law went into
effect the following year. Greenland voted in favor of increased
self-rule in November 2008 and acquired greater responsibility for
internal affairs in June 2009. Denmark, however, continues to
exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs, security, and
financial policy in consultation with Greenland's Home Rule
Government.
Geography ::Greenland
Location:
Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the
North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
Geographic coordinates:
72 00 N, 40 00 W
Map references:
North America
Area:
total: 2,166,086 sq km
country comparison to the world: 13
land: 2,166,086 sq km (410,449 sq km ice-free, 1,755,637 sq km
ice-covered)
Area - comparative:
slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
44,087 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Climate:
arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Terrain:
flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow,
mountainous, barren, rocky coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunnbjorn Fjeld 3,700 m
Natural resources:
coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum,
niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower,
possible oil and gas
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
Environment - current issues:
protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit
traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting
Geography - note:
dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe;
sparse population confined to small settlements along coast; close
to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk; world's
second largest ice cap
People ::Greenland
Population:
57,637 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 6,727/female 6,533)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 21,696/female 18,669)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 2,000/female 1,975) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 33.5 years
male: 34.9 years
female: 31.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.064% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Birth rate:
14.68 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Death rate:
8.05 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Net migration rate:
-5.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Urbanization:
urban population: 84% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.053 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 10.26 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 151
male: 11.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.67 years
country comparison to the world: 141
male: 68.05 years
female: 73.43 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.16 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
100 (1999)
country comparison to the world: 164
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Greenlander(s)
adjective: Greenlandic
Ethnic groups:
Inuit 89%, Danish and other 11% (2009)
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran
Languages:
Greenlandic (East Inuit) (official), Danish, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2001 est.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Greenland
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Greenland
local long form: none
local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat
Dependency status:
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark since 1979
Government type:
parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Nuuk (Godthab)
geographic coordinates: 64 11 N, 51 45 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Greenland is divided into four time zones
Administrative divisions:
4 municipalities (kommuner, singular kommune); Kujalleq, Qaasuitsup,
Qeqqata, Sermersooq
note: the North and East Greenland National Park (Avannaarsuani
Tunumilu Nuna Allanngutsaaliugaq) and the Thule Air Base in Pituffik
(in northwest Greenland) are two unincorporated areas; the national
park's 972,000 sq km - about 46% of the island - make it the largest
national park in the world and also the most northerly
Independence:
none (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign
affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively
participates in international agreements relating to Greenland)
National holiday:
June 21 (longest day)
Constitution:
(November 2008) Act on Greenland Self Government
Legal system:
the laws of Denmark where applicable apply
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January
1972), represented by High Commissioner Soeren Hald MOELLER (since
April 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Kuupik KLEIST (since 12 June 2009)
cabinet: Home Rule Government elected by the Parliament (Landsting)
on the basis of the strength of parties
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed
by the monarch; prime minister elected by parliament (usually the
leader of the majority party)
election results: Kuupik KLEIST elected prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Landsting (31 seats; members elected by
popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held on 2 June 2009 (next to be held by 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - Inuit Ataqatigiit
43.7%, Siumut 26.5%, Demokratiit 12.7%, Atassut 10.9%;
Kattusseqatigiit 3.8%, other 2.4%; seats by party - IA 14, Siumut 9,
Demokraatiit 4, Atassut 3, Kattusseqatigiit 1
note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or
Folketing on 13 November 2007 (next to be held by November 2011);
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Siumut 1, Inuit
Ataqatigiit 1
Judicial branch:
High Court or Landsret (appeals can be made to the Ostre Landsret or
Eastern Division of the High Court or Supreme Court in Copenhagen)
Political parties and leaders:
Atassut Party (Solidarity) [Gerhardt PETERSEN] (a conservative party
favoring continuing close relations with Denmark); Demokratiit [Jens
B. FREDERIKSEN]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood)
[Kuupik KLEIST] (a leftist party favoring complete independence from
Denmark rather than home rule); Kattusseqatigiit (Candidate List)
[Anthon FREDERIKSEN] (an independent right-of-center party with no
official platform); Siumut (Forward Party) [Alega HAMMOND] (a social
democratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandic identity and
greater autonomy from Denmark)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: conservationists; environmentalists
International organization participation:
Arctic Council, NC, NIB, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk
slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is
red, the bottom half is white; the design represents the sun
reflecting off a field of ice; the colors are the same as those of
the Danish flag and symbolize Greenland's links to the Kingdom of
Denmark
National anthem:
name: "Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit" ("Our Country, Who's Become So
Old" also translated as "You Our Ancient Land")
lyrics/music: Henrik LUND/Jonathan PETERSEN
note: adopted 1916; the government also recognizes "Nuna asiilasooq"
as a secondary anthem
Economy ::Greenland
Economy - overview:
The economy remains critically dependent on exports of shrimp and
fish and on a substantial subsidy - about $650 million in 2009 -
from the Danish Government, which supplies nearly 60% of government
revenues. The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises
and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in Greenland's
economy. Greenland's GDP contracted about 2% in 2009 as a result of
the global economic slowdown. Budget surpluses turned to deficits
beginning in 2007 and unemployment has risen. During the last decade
the Greenland Home Rule Government (GHRG) pursued conservative
fiscal and monetary policies, but public pressure has increased for
better schools, health care and retirement systems. The Greenlandic
economy has benefited from increasing catches and exports of shrimp,
Greenland halibut and, more recently, crabs. Due to Greenland's
continued dependence on exports of fish - which account for 82% of
exports - the economy remains very sensitive to foreign
developments. International consortia are increasingly active in
exploring for hydrocarbon resources off Greenland's western coast,
and international studies indicate the potential for oil and gas
fields in northern and northeastern Greenland. In May 2007 a US
aluminum producer concluded a memorandum of understanding with the
Greenland Home Rule Government to build an aluminum smelter and a
power generation facility, which takes advantage of Greenland's
abundant hydropower potential. Within the area of mining, olivine
sand continues to be produced and gold production has resumed in
south Greenland. Tourism also offers another avenue of economic
growth for Greenland, with increasing numbers of cruise lines now
operating in Greenland's western and southern waters during the peak
summer tourism season.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.03 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.03 billion (2008)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
4% (2007 est.)
2.6% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$35,900 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.9%
industry: 31.9%
services: 63.2% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
28,240 (January 2009)
country comparison to the world: 205
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 4.9%
industry: 31.9%
services: 63.2% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
7.3% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:
9.2% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
1% (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
forage crops, garden and greenhouse vegetables; sheep, reindeer; fish
Industries:
fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut); gold,
niobium, tantalite, uranium, iron and diamond mining; handicrafts,
hides and skins, small shipyards
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
310.3 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Electricity - consumption:
285.6 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008)
Oil - production:
NA bbl/day (2009 est.)
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Oil - exports:
1,183 bbl/day (2008)
country comparison to the world: 121
Oil - imports:
5,172 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Oil - proved reserves:
NA bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 107
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 179
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 73
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 171
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Exports:
$485 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 167
$428 million (2007)
Exports - commodities:
fish and fish products 72%, metals 10% (2008)
Exports - partners:
Denmark 61.13%, Japan 13.69%, China 6.15%, Sweden 5.21% (2009)
Imports:
$867 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 174
$669 million (2007)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Denmark 74.93%, Sweden 11.73%, Norway 2.29% (2009)
Debt - external:
$58 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 187
$25 million (1999)
Exchange rates:
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.774 (2009), 5.0236 (2008),
5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006)
Communications ::Greenland
Telephones - main lines in use:
22,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 189
Telephones - mobile cellular:
53,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 195
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate domestic and international service
provided by satellite, cables and microwave radio relay; totally
digital since 1995
domestic: microwave radio relay and satellite
international: country code - 299; satellite earth stations - 15 (12
Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)) (2000)
Broadcast media:
the Greenland Broadcasting Company provides public radio and
television services throughout the island with a broadcast station
and a series of repeaters; a few private local television and radio
stations broadcast; Danish public radio rebroadcasts are available
(2007)
Internet country code:
.gl
Internet hosts:
15,668 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 116
Internet users:
36,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 178
Transportation ::Greenland
Airports:
15 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 145
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 6 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Roadways:
note: although there are short roads in towns, there are no roads
between towns; inter-urban transport takes place either by sea or
air (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 1
country comparison to the world: 159
by type: passenger 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Sisimiut
Military ::Greenland
Military branches:
no regular military forces
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 15,474 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 10,833
females age 16-49: 11,439 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 511
female: 484 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Denmark
Transnational Issues ::Greenland
Disputes - international:
managed dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the
Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Grenada (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Grenada
Background:
Carib Indians inhabited Grenada when COLUMBUS discovered the island
in 1498, but it remained uncolonized for more than a century. The
French settled Grenada in the 17th century, established sugar
estates, and imported large numbers of African slaves. Britain took
the island in 1762 and vigorously expanded sugar production. In the
19th century, cacao eventually surpassed sugar as the main export
crop; in the 20th century, nutmeg became the leading export. In
1967, Britain gave Grenada autonomy over its internal affairs. Full
independence was attained in 1974 making Grenada one of the smallest
independent countries in the Western Hemisphere. Grenada was seized
by a Marxist military council on 19 October 1983. Six days later the
island was invaded by US forces and those of six other Caribbean
nations, which quickly captured the ringleaders and their hundreds
of Cuban advisers. Free elections were reinstituted the following
year and have continued since that time. Hurricane Ivan struck
Grenada in September of 2004 causing severe damage.
Geography ::Grenada
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean,
north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
12 07 N, 61 40 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 344 sq km
country comparison to the world: 206
land: 344 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
121 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
Terrain:
volcanic in origin with central mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m
Natural resources:
timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors
Land use:
arable land: 5.88%
permanent crops: 29.41%
other: 64.71% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
NA
Natural hazards:
lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to
November
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided
between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
People ::Grenada
Population:
107,818 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 14,608/female 14,410)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 31,278/female 27,873)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 1,268/female 1,302) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.2 years
male: 28.2 years
female: 28.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.563% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Birth rate:
17.2 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Death rate:
7.9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Net migration rate:
-3.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Urbanization:
urban population: 31% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.097 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.76 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 144
male: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.79 years
country comparison to the world: 120
male: 70.27 years
female: 75.55 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.21 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Grenadian(s)
adjective: Grenadian
Ethnic groups:
black 82%, mixed black and European 13%, European and East Indian
5%, and trace of Arawak/Carib Amerindian
Religions:
Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2%
Languages:
English (official), French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: NA
female: NA (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
5.2% of GDP (2003)
country comparison to the world: 58
Government ::Grenada
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Grenada
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Saint George's
geographic coordinates: 12 03 N, 61 45 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petite Martinique*,
Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark,
Saint Patrick
Independence:
7 February 1974 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
Constitution:
19 December 1973
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Carlyle Arnold GLEAN (since 27
November 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Tillman THOMAS (since 9 July 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy 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
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (13 seats, 10 members
appointed by the government and 3 by the leader of the opposition)
and the House of Representatives (15 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 8 July 2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - NDC 11, NNP 4
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of a court of Appeal and
a High Court of Justice (two High Court judges are assigned to and
reside in Grenada); Itinerant Court of Appeal three judges; member
of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)
Political parties and leaders:
Grenada United Labor Party or GULP [Gloria Payne BANFIELD]; National
Democratic Congress or NDC [Tillman THOMAS]; New National Party or
NNP [Keith MITCHELL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Committee for Human Rights in Grenada or CHRG; New Jewel Movement
Support Group; The British Grenada Friendship Society; The New Jewel
19 Committee
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA,
NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gillian M.S. BRISTOL
chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561
FAX: [1] (202) 265-2468
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to
Grenada
embassy: Lance-aux-Epines Stretch, Saint George's
mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's
telephone: [1] (473) 444-1173 through 1177
FAX: [1] (473) 444-4820
Flag description:
a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and
bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side), with a red
border around the flag; there are seven yellow, five-pointed stars
with three centered in the top red border, three centered in the
bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center
of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side
triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg,
after Indonesia); the seven stars stand for the seven administrative
divisions, with the central star denoting the capital, St. George;
yellow represents the sun and the warmth of the people, green stands
for vegetation and agriculture, and red symbolizes harmony, unity,
and courage
National anthem:
name: "Hail Grenada"
lyrics/music: Irva Merle BAPTISTE/Louis Arnold MASANTO
note: adopted 1974
Economy ::Grenada
Economy - overview:
Grenada relies on tourism as its main source of foreign exchange
especially since the construction of an international airport in
1985. Hurricanes Ivan (2004) and Emily (2005) severely damaged the
agricultural sector - particularly nutmeg and cocoa cultivation -
which had been a key driver of economic growth. Grenada has
rebounded from the devastating effects of the hurricanes but is now
saddled with the debt burden from the rebuilding process. Public
debt-to-GDP is nearly 110%, leaving the THOMAS administration
limited room to engage in public investments and social spending.
Strong performances in construction and manufacturing, together with
the development of tourism and an offshore financial industry, have
also contributed to growth in national output; however, economic
growth was stagnant in 2010 after a sizeable contraction in 2009,
because of the global economic slowdown's effects on tourism and
remittances.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.127 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
$1.118 billion (2009 est.)
$1.211 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$645 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
-7.7% (2009 est.)
2.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$10,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
$10,400 (2009 est.)
$11,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.4%
industry: 18%
services: 76.6% (2003)
Labor force:
42,300 (1996)
country comparison to the world: 192
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 24%
industry: 14%
services: 62% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12.5% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 132
Population below poverty line:
32% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.7% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 68
6.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.06% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
9.53% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$123.1 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 178
$131.7 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$743.5 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 168
$719.5 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$658 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
$575.8 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops,
sugarcane, corn, vegetables
Industries:
food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism,
construction
Electricity - production:
178.7 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Electricity - consumption:
155.7 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Oil - consumption:
3,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Oil - imports:
1,923 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Current account balance:
-$138 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Exports:
$38 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 201
Exports - commodities:
bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace
Exports - partners:
Saint Lucia 19.73%, Antigua and Barbuda 13.41%, US 12.21%, Saint
Kitts and Nevis 12.03%, Dominica 12% (2009)
Imports:
$343 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 190
Imports - commodities:
food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel
Imports - partners:
Trinidad and Tobago 39.76%, US 18.11% (2009)
Debt - external:
$347 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 167
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006),
2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
Communications ::Grenada
Telephones - main lines in use:
28,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 180
Telephones - mobile cellular:
64,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 192
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic, island-wide telephone system
domestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links
international: country code - 1-473; landing point for the East
Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13
other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British
Virgin Islands to Trinidad; SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and
Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad
Broadcast media:
the Grenada Broadcasting Network, jointly owned by the government
and the Caribbean Communications Network of Trinidad and Tobago,
operates a television station and 2 radio stations; multi-channel
cable TV subscription service is available; a dozen private radio
stations also broadcast (2007)
Internet country code:
.gd
Internet hosts:
52 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 209
Internet users:
25,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 185
Transportation ::Grenada
Airports:
3 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 192
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 1,127 km
country comparison to the world: 182
paved: 687 km
unpaved: 440 km (2000)
Ports and terminals:
Saint George's
Military ::Grenada
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Grenada Police Force (includes
Coast Guard) (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 27,453 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 22,487
females age 16-49: 22,535 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 987
female: 1,026 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues ::Grenada
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point for
marijuana and cocaine to US
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Guam (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Guam
Background:
Guam was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898. Captured by the Japanese
in 1941, it was retaken by the US three years later. The military
installation on the island is one of the most strategically
important US bases in the Pacific.
Geography ::Guam
Location:
Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of
the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates:
13 28 N, 144 47 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 544 sq km
land: 544 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
125.5 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast
trade winds; dry season (January to June), rainy season (July to
December); little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat
coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with steep
coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low hills in
center, mountains in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m
Natural resources:
aquatic wildlife (supporting tourism), fishing (largely undeveloped)
Land use:
arable land: 3.64%
permanent crops: 18.18%
other: 78.18% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare but
potentially destructive typhoons (June - December)
Environment - current issues:
extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of
the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species
Geography - note:
largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago;
strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
People ::Guam
Population:
180,865 (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.8% (male 25,651/female 23,904)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 59,304/female 56,995)
65 years and over: 7% (male 5,786/female 6,790) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.3 years
male: 28.9 years
female: 29.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.346% (2010 est.)
Birth rate:
18.1 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
Death rate:
4.64 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
Urbanization:
urban population: 93% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.93 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.18 years
male: 75.14 years
female: 81.41 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.52 children born/woman (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Guamanian(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Guamanian
Ethnic groups:
Chamorro 37.1%, Filipino 26.3%, other Pacific islander 11.3%, white
6.9%, other Asian 6.3%, other ethnic origin or race 2.3%, mixed 9.8%
(2000 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)
Languages:
English 38.3%, Chamorro 22.2%, Philippine languages 22.2%, other
Pacific island languages 6.8%, Asian languages 7%, other languages
3.5% (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1990 est.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Guam
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Guam
conventional short form: Guam
local long form: Guahan
local short form: Guahan
Dependency status:
organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations
between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of
Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Hagatna (Agana)
geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 44 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US)
Independence:
none (territory of the US)
National holiday:
Discovery Day, first Monday in March (1521)
Constitution:
Organic Act of Guam, 1 August 1950
Legal system:
modeled on US; US federal laws apply
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; US citizens but do not vote in US
presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009);
Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
head of government: Governor Eddie CALVO (since 3 January 2011);
Lieutenant Governor Ray TENORIO (since 3 January 2011)
cabinet: heads of executive departments; appointed by the governor
with the consent of the Guam legislature
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as Guam, do not vote in elections for US president
and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and
Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant
governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year
term (can serve two consecutive terms, then must wait a full term
before running again); election last held on 2 November 2010 (next
to be held in November 2014)
election results: Eddie CALVO elected governor; percent of vote -
50.6%; Ray TENORIO elected lieutenant governor
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve two-year terms)
elections: last held on 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November
2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Democratic Party 9, Republican Party 6
note: Guam elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House of
Representatives; election last held on 2 November 2010 (next to be
held in November 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - Democratic Party 1
Judicial branch:
Federal District Court (judge is appointed by the president);
Territorial Superior Court (judges appointed for eight-year terms by
the governor)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [Michael PHILLIPS]; Republican Party [Philip J.
FLORES] (controls the legislature)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Guam Federation of Teachers' Union; Guam Waterworks Authority Workers
other: activists; indigenous groups
International organization participation:
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:
territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all four
sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse
containing a beach scene, a proa or outrigger canoe with sail, and a
palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; the
proa is sailing in Agana Bay with the promontory of Punta Dos
Amantes, near the capital, in the background; blue represents the
sea and red the blood shed in the struggle against oppression
note: the US flag is the national flag
National anthem:
name: "Fanohge Chamoru" (Stand Ye Guamanians)
lyrics/music: Ramon Manalisay SABLAN [English], Lagrimas UNTALAN
[Chamoru]/Ramon Manalisay SABLAN
note: adopted 1919; the local anthem is also known as "Guam Hymn";
as a territory of the United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner,"
which generally follows the playing of "Stand Ye Guamanians," is
official (see United States)
Economy ::Guam
Economy - overview:
The economy depends largely on US military spending and tourism.
Total US grants, wage payments, and procurement outlays amounted to
$1.3 billion in 2004. Over the past 30 years, the tourist industry
has grown to become the largest income source following national
defense. The Guam economy continues to experience expansion in both
its tourism and military sectors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.5 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.773 billion (2001)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
82,950 (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 10%
services: 64% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
11.4% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
23% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef
Industries:
US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete
products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.767 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
1.644 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Oil - consumption:
10,620 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - imports:
14,230 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
Exports:
$45 million (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction
materials, fish, food and beverage products
Imports:
$701 million (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications ::Guam
Telephones - main lines in use:
65,500 (2009)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
98,000 (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system, integrated with US facilities for
direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbers
domestic: digital system, including mobile-cellular service and
local access to the Internet
international: country code - 1-671; major landing point for
submarine cables between Asia and the US (Guam is a trans-Pacific
communications hub for major carriers linking the US and Asia);
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast media:
about a dozen TV broadcast channels, including digital channels;
multi-channel cable TV services are available; roughly 20 radio
stations broadcasting (2009)
Internet country code:
.gu
Internet hosts:
24 (2010)
Internet users:
90,000 (2009)
Transportation ::Guam
Airports:
5; note - 2 serviceable (2010)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 1,045 km (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Apra Harbor
Military ::Guam
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 37,983
females age 16-49: 36,469 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,687
female: 1,597 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues ::Guam
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 3, 2011
======================================================================
@Guatemala (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Guatemala
Background:
The Mayan civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding
regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three
centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in
1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a
variety of military and civilian governments, as well as a 36-year
guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement
formally ending the conflict, which had left more than 100,000
people dead and had created, by some estimates, some 1 million
refugees.
Geography ::Guatemala
Location:
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El
Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean
Sea) between Honduras and Belize
Geographic coordinates:
15 30 N, 90 15 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 108,889 sq km
country comparison to the world: 106
land: 107,159 sq km
water: 1,730 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total: 1,687 km
border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256
km, Mexico 962 km
Coastline:
400 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain:
mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone
plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 13.22%
permanent crops: 5.6%
other: 81.18% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,300 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
111.3 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.01 cu km/yr (6%/13%/80%)
per capita: 160 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent
earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and
other tropical storms
volcanism: Guatemala experiences significant volcanic activity in
the Sierra Madre range; Santa Maria (elev. 3,772 m, 12,375 ft) has
been deemed a "Decade Volcano" by the International Association of
Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study
due to its explosive history and close proximity to human
populations; Pacaya (elev. 2,552 m, 8,373 ft), which erupted in May
2010 causing an ashfall on Guatemala City and prompting evacuations,
is one of the country's most active volcanoes; the volcano has
frequently been in eruption since 1965; other historically active
volcanoes include Acatenango, Almolonga, Atitlan, Fuego, and Tacana
Environment - current issues:
deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: 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:
no natural harbors on west coast
People ::Guatemala
Population:
13,550,440 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.4% (male 2,664,058/female 2,573,006)
15-64 years: 56.8% (male 3,655,184/female 3,884,331)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 231,652/female 268,286) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.7 years
male: 19.1 years
female: 20.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.019% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Birth rate:
27.4 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Death rate:
5.04 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Net migration rate:
-2.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Urbanization:
urban population: 49% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 26.91 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 80
male: 29.22 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.59 years
country comparison to the world: 142
male: 68.76 years
female: 72.51 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.36 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
59,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,900 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Guatemalan(s)
adjective: Guatemalan
Ethnic groups:
Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino)
and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam 7.9%, Q'eqchi
6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-Mayan 0.2%, other 0.1% (2001
census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
Languages:
Spanish (official) 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially
recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel,
Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.1%
male: 75.4%
female: 63.3% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
3.2% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 143
Government ::Guatemala
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala
conventional short form: Guatemala
local long form: Republica de Guatemala
local short form: Guatemala
Government type:
constitutional democratic republic
Capital:
name: Guatemala City
geographic coordinates: 14 37 N, 90 31 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in April; ends last
Friday in September; note - there is no DST planned for 2010
Administrative divisions:
22 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alta
Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso,
Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten,
Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa
Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; suspended 25 May 1993;
reinstated 5 June 1993; amended November 1993
Legal system:
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; note - active duty members of the armed
forces may not vote and are restricted to their barracks on election
day
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Alvaro COLOM Caballeros (since 14 January
2008); Vice President Jose Rafael ESPADA (since 14 January 2008);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Alvaro COLOM Caballeros (since 14
January 2008); Vice President Jose Rafael ESPADA (since 14 January
2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(may not serve consecutive terms); election last held on 9 September
2007; runoff held on 4 November 2007 (next to be held in September
2011)
election results: Alvaro COLOM Caballeros elected president; percent
of vote - Alvaro COLOM Caballeros 52.8%, Otto PEREZ Molina 47.2%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (158
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 9 September 2007 (next to be held in
September 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - UNE 30.4%, GANA 23.4%,
PP 18.9%, FRG 9.5%, PU 5.1%, other 12.7%; seats by party - UNE 48,
GANA 37, PP 30, FRG 15, PU 8, CASA 5, EG 4, PAN 4, UCN 4, URNG 2, UD
1
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitucionalidad is Guatemala's
highest court (five judges are elected by Congress for concurrent
five-year terms); Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de
Justicia (13 members are elected by Congress to serve concurrent
five-year terms and elect a president of the Court each year from
among their number; the president of the Supreme Court of Justice
also supervises trial judges around the country, who are named to
five-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:
Center of Social Action or CASA [Feliz Adolfo RUANO de Leon];
Democracy Front or FRENTE [Alfonso CABRERA]; Democratic Union or UD
[Edwin Armando MARTINEZ Herrera]; Encounter for Guatemala or EG
[Nineth MONTENGRO]; Grand National Alliance or GANA [Jaime Antonio
MARTINEZ Lohayza]; Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG
[Hector Alfredo NUILA Ericastilla]; Guatemalan Republican Front or
FRG [Luis Fernando PEREZ]; Independent Bloc Guatemala or BG [Macario
Efrain OLIVA Muralles]; Independent Democratic Freedom Renewed or
LIDER [Manuel BALDIZON]; National Advancement Party or PAN [Juan
GUTIERREZ]; National Unity for Hope or UNE [Roberto KESTLER
Velasquez]; Nationalist Change Union or UCN [Mario ESTRADA]; Patriot
Party or PP [Ingrid Roxana BALDETTI Elias]; Unionista Party or PU
[Alvaro ARZU Irigoyen]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Agrarian Owners Group or UNAGRO; Alliance Against Impunity or AAI;
Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC; Coordinating Committee of
Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations or
CACIF; International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala or
CICIG; Mutual Support Group or GAM
International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA,
MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, PetroCaribe, RG,
SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNITAR,
UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco VILLAGRAN de Leon
chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952
FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix, Providence, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen G. MCFARLAND
embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
mailing address: APO AA 34024
telephone: [502] 2326-4000
FAX: [502] 2326-4654
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and
light blue, with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the
coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national bird)
representing liberty and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD
15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from
Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles signifying
Guatemala's willingness to defend itself and a pair of crossed
swords representing honor and framed by a laurel wreath symbolizing
victory; the blue bands stand for the Pacific Ocean and the
Caribbean Sea and the sea and sky; the white band denotes peace and
purity
National anthem:
name: "Himno Nacional de Guatemala" (National Anthem of Guatemala)
lyrics/music: Jose Joaquin PALMA/Rafael Alvarez OVALLE
note: adopted 1897, modified lyrics adopted 1934; Cuban poet Jose
Joaquin PALMA anonymously submitted lyrics to a public contest
calling for a national anthem; his authorship was not discovered
until 1911
Economy ::Guatemala
Economy - overview:
Guatemala is the most populous of the Central American countries
with a GDP per capita roughly one-half that of the average for Latin
America and the Caribbean. The agricultural sector accounts for
nearly 15% of GDP and half of the labor force; key agricultural
exports include coffee, sugar, and bananas. The 1996 peace accords,
which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to
foreign investment, and since then Guatemala has pursued important
reforms and macroeconomic stabilization. The Central American Free
Trade Agreement (CAFTA) entered into force in July 2006 spurring
increased investment and diversification of exports, with the
largest increases in ethanol and non-traditional agricultural
exports. While CAFTA has helped improve the investment climate,
concerns over security, the lack of skilled workers and poor
infrastructure continue to hamper foreign direct investment. The
distribution of income remains highly unequal with the richest
decile comprising over 40% of Guatemala's overall consumption. More
than half of the population is below the national poverty line and
15% lives in extreme poverty. Poverty among indigenous groups, which
make up 38% of the population, averages 76% and extreme poverty
rises to 28%. 43% of children under five are chronically
malnourished, one of the highest malnutrition rates in the world.
President COLOM entered into office with the promise to increase
education, healthcare, and rural development, and in April 2008 he
inaugurated a conditional cash transfer program, modeled after
programs in Brazil and Mexico, that provide financial incentives for
poor families to keep their children in school and get regular
health check-ups. Given Guatemala's large expatriate community in
the United States, it is the top remittance recipient in Central
America, with inflows serving as a primary source of foreign income
equivalent to nearly two-thirds of exports. Economic growth fell in
2009 as export demand from US and other Central American markets
fell and foreign investment slowed amid the global recession, but
the economy recovered gradually in 2010 and will likely return to
more normal growth rates by 2012. President COLOM, in his last year
in office, will likely face opposition to economic reform,
particularly over a long-delayed tax reform and an IMF-recommended
reform to strengthen the banking sector. Larger budget deficits and
increased debt can be expected in 2011.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$70.31 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$68.8 billion (2009 est.)
$68.39 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$40.77 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
0.6% (2009 est.)
3.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
$5,200 (2009 est.)
$5,300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 13.3%
industry: 24.4%
services: 62.3% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
4.26 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 50%
industry: 15%
services: 35% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.2% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Population below poverty line:
56.2% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 42.4% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
55.1 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 13
55.8 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
13.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Public debt:
29.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
27.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
1.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
NA% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13.85% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
13.39% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$6.6 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 79
$6.13 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$25.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$22.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$15.58 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
$14.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep,
pigs, chickens
Industries:
sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum,
metals, rubber, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
2.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Electricity - production:
8.425 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Electricity - consumption:
7.115 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Electricity - exports:
131.9 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
8.11 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
13,530 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Oil - consumption:
79,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Oil - exports:
21,850 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Oil - imports:
72,440 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Oil - proved reserves:
83.07 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.96 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Current account balance:
-$1.345 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
-$267.4 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$8.47 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
$7.214 billion (2009)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, sugar, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables,
cardamom
Exports - partners:
US 40.41%, El Salvador 11.2%, Honduras 8.48%, Mexico 5.86% (2009)
Imports:
$12.65 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
$11.52 billion (2009)
Imports - commodities:
fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials,
grain, fertilizers, electricity
Imports - partners:
US 36.46%, Mexico 10.49%, China 5.88%, El Salvador 5.14% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$5.709 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$4.973 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$17.47 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$16.04 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
quetzales (GTQ) per US dollar - 8.0798 (2010), 8.1616 (2009), 7.5895
(2008), 7.6833 (2007), 7.6026 (2006)
Communications ::Guatemala
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.413 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 67
Telephones - mobile cellular:
17.308 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 43
Telephone system:
general assessment: fairly modern network centered in the city of
Guatemala
domestic: state-owned telecommunications company privatized in the
late 1990s opening the way for competition; fixed-line teledensity
roughly 10 per 100 persons; fixed-line investments are being
concentrated on improving rural connectivity; mobile-cellular
teledensity exceeds 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 502; landing point for both the
Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the SAM-1 fiber
optic submarine cable system that together provide connectivity to
South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US;
connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:
4 privately-owned national terrestrial TV channels dominate TV
broadcasting; multi-channel satellite and cable services are
available; 1 government-owned radio station and hundreds of
privately-owned radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.gt
Internet hosts:
196,870 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 65
Internet users:
2.279 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 72
Transportation ::Guatemala
Airports:
372 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 21
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 359
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 84
under 914 m: 271 (2010)
Pipelines:
oil 480 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 332 km
country comparison to the world: 119
narrow gauge: 332 km 0.914-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 14,095 km
country comparison to the world: 124
paved: 4,863 km (includes 75 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,232 km (2000)
Waterways:
990 km (260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable
during high-water season) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 66
Ports and terminals:
Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla
Military ::Guatemala
Military branches:
National Army of Guatemala (Ejercito Nacional de Guatemala, ENG),
Guatemalan Navy (Marina Nacional, includes Marines), Guatemalan Air
Force (Fuerza Aerea Guatemalteca, FAG) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are liable for
military service; conscript service obligation varies from 12 to 24
months; women can serve as officers (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,062,027
females age 16-49: 3,266,655 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,494,903
females age 16-49: 2,827,208 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 168,959
female: 166,414 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.4% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 166
Transnational Issues ::Guatemala
Disputes - international:
annual ministerial meetings under the OAS-initiated Agreement on the
Framework for Negotiations and Confidence Building Measures continue
to address Guatemalan land and maritime claims in Belize and the
Caribbean Sea; the Line of Adjacency created under the 2002
Differendum serves in lieu of the contiguous international boundary
to control squatting in the sparsely inhabited rain forests of
Belize's border region; Mexico must deal with thousands of
impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the
porous border looking for work in Mexico and the United States
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: undetermined (the UN does not estimate there are any IDPs,
although some NGOs estimate over 200,000 IDPs as a result of over
three decades of internal conflict that ended in 1996) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Guatemala is a source, transit, and destination
country for Guatemalans and Central Americans trafficked for the
purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; human
trafficking is a significant and growing problem in the country;
Guatemalan women and children are trafficked within the country for
commercial sexual exploitation, primarily to Mexico and the United
States; Guatemalan men, women, and children are also trafficked
within the country, and to Mexico and the United States, for forced
labor
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year,
Guatemala is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide
evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons,
particularly with respect to ensuring that trafficking offenders are
appropriately prosecuted for their crimes; while prosecutors
initiated trafficking prosecutions, they continued to face problems
in court with application of Guatemala's comprehensive
anti-trafficking law; the government made modest improvements to its
protection efforts, but assistance remained inadequate overall in
2007 (2008)
Illicit drugs:
major transit country for cocaine and heroin; in 2005, cultivated
100 hectares of opium poppy after reemerging as a potential source
of opium in 2004; potential production of less than 1 metric ton of
pure heroin; marijuana cultivation for mostly domestic consumption;
proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs
(particularly for cocaine); money laundering is a serious problem;
corruption is a major problem
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Guernsey (Europe)
Introduction ::Guernsey
Background:
Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants
of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy, which held sway in both France
and England. The islands were the only British soil occupied by
German troops in World War II. Guernsey is a British crown
dependency but is not part of the UK or of the European Union.
However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its
defense and international representation.
Geography ::Guernsey
Location:
Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates:
49 28 N, 2 35 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 78 sq km
country comparison to the world: 227
land: 78 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other
smaller islands
Area - comparative:
about one-half the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
50 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate:
temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are
overcast
Terrain:
mostly level with low hills in southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation on Sark 114 m
Natural resources:
cropland
Land use:
arable land: NA
permanent crops: NA
other: NA
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
People ::Guernsey
Population:
64,775 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.5% (male 4,799/female 4,673)
15-64 years: 67.9% (male 22,056/female 22,410)
65 years and over: 17.6% (male 5,009/female 6,537) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 41.9 years
male: 40.9 years
female: 42.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.466% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Birth rate:
10.25 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Death rate:
8.35 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Net migration rate:
2.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Urbanization:
urban population: 31% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.049 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.58 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 210
male: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 82.08 years
country comparison to the world: 6
male: 79.43 years
female: 84.87 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.53 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic groups:
British and Norman-French descent with small percentages from other
European countries
Religions:
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational,
Methodist
Languages:
English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Literacy:
NA
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Guernsey
Country name:
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey
conventional short form: Guernsey
Dependency status:
British crown dependency
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Saint Peter Port
geographic coordinates: 49 27 N, 2 32 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 10 parishes including Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, Saint
Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, Saint
Saviour, Torteval, Vale
Independence:
none (British crown dependency)
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution:
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system:
the laws of the UK where applicable apply; justice is administered
by the Royal Court
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Fabian MALBON (since 28
October 2005)
head of government: Chief Minister Lyndon TROTT (since 1 May 2008);
Bailiff Sir Geoffrey ROWLAND (since June 2005)
cabinet: Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed
by the monarch; chief minister elected by States of Deliberation
election results: Lyndon TROTT elected chief minister, percent of
vote of the States of Deliberation NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms); note - Alderney and Sark
have parliaments
elections: last held on 23 April 2008 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
Judicial branch:
Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)
Political parties and leaders:
none; all independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Stop Traffic Endangering Pedestrian Safety or STEPS; No More Masts
[Colin FALLAIZE]
International organization participation:
UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (British crown dependency)
Flag description:
white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England)
extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed cross of
William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross; the
red cross represents the old ties with England and the fact that
Guernsey is a British Crown dependency; the gold cross is a replica
of the one used by Duke William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings
National anthem:
name: "Sarnia Cherie" (Guernsey Dear)
lyrics/music: George DEIGHTON/Domencio SANTANGELO
note: adopted 1911; serves as a local anthem; as a British crown
dependency, "God Save the Queen" remains official (see United
Kingdom)
Economy ::Guernsey
Economy - overview:
Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance - account
for about 23% of employment and about 55% of total income in this
tiny, prosperous Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and
horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining.
Financial services, construction, retail, and the public sector have
been growing. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax
haven. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is
changing the environment under which Guernsey operates.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.742 billion (2005)
country comparison to the world: 178
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.742 billion (2005)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$44,600 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 13
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 10%
services: 87% (2000)
Labor force:
31,470 (March 2006)
country comparison to the world: 203
Unemployment rate:
0.9% (March 2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (June 2006)
country comparison to the world: 102
Agriculture - products:
tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit;
Guernsey cattle
Industries:
tourism, banking
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other
vegetables
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Guernsey pound 0.6504 (2009), 0.5302 (2008), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418
(2006)
note: the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound
Communications ::Guernsey
Telephones - main lines in use:
45,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 164
Telephones - mobile cellular:
43,800 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 198
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available;
combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 100 per 100
persons
international: country code - 44; 1 submarine cable
Broadcast media:
multiple UK terrestrial television broadcasts - received via a
transmitter in Jersey with relays in Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney
- will begin switching from analog to digital broadcasts in November
2010; satellite packages are available; BBC Radio Guernsey and 1
other radio station operating (2009)
Internet country code:
.gg
Internet hosts:
197 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 195
Internet users:
48,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 174
Transportation ::Guernsey
Airports:
2 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 209
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Braye Bay, Saint Peter Port
Military ::Guernsey
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 12,404
females age 16-49: 12,510 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 347
female: 350 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Guernsey
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Guinea (Africa)
Introduction ::Guinea
Background:
Guinea has had a history of authoritarian rule since gaining its
independence from France in 1958. Lansana CONTE came to power in
1984 when the military seized the government after the death of the
first president, Sekou TOURE. Guinea did not hold democratic
elections until 1993 when Gen. CONTE (head of the military
government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was
reelected in 1998 and again in 2003, though all the polls were
marred by irregularities. History repeated itself in December 2008
when following President CONTE's death, Capt. Moussa Dadis CAMARA
led a military coup, seizing power and suspending the constitution.
His unwillingness to yield to domestic and international pressure to
step down led to heightened political tensions that culminated in
September 2009 when presidential guards opened fire on an opposition
rally killing more than 150 people, and in early December 2009 when
CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and evacuated to
Morocco and subsequently to Burkina Faso. A transitional government
led by General Sekouba KONATE held democratic elections in 2010 and
Alpha CONDE was elected president in the country's first free and
fair elections since independence.
Geography ::Guinea
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates:
11 00 N, 10 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 245,857 sq km
country comparison to the world: 78
land: 245,717 sq km
water: 140 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 3,399 km
border countries: Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km,
Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km
Coastline:
320 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to
November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May)
with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain:
generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Natural resources:
bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt
Land use:
arable land: 4.47%
permanent crops: 2.64%
other: 92.89% (2005)
Irrigated land:
950 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
226 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.51 cu km/yr (8%/2%/90%)
per capita: 161 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry
season
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water;
desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing,
overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to
environmental damage
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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the Niger and its important tributary the Milo have their sources in
the Guinean highlands
People ::Guinea
Population:
10,324,025 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.8% (male 2,175,852/female 2,128,518)
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 2,701,184/female 2,704,161)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 153,053/female 195,207) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.5 years
male: 18.3 years
female: 18.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.649% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Birth rate:
37.21 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Death rate:
10.72 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Urbanization:
urban population: 34% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 63.09 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 31
male: 66.46 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 59.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 57.6 years
country comparison to the world: 192
male: 56.13 years
female: 59.12 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.15 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
87,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean
Ethnic groups:
Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10%
Religions:
Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
Languages:
French (official); note - each ethnic group has its own language
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 29.5%
male: 42.6%
female: 18.1% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 7 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
1.7% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 175
Government ::Guinea
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Guinea
conventional short form: Guinea
local long form: Republique de Guinee
local short form: Guinee
former: French Guinea
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Conakry
geographic coordinates: 9 33 N, 13 42 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
33 prefectures and 1 special zone (zone special)*; Beyla, Boffa,
Boke, Conakry*, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, Dubreka, Faranah,
Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane, Kindia,
Kissidougou, Koubia, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Lelouma, Lola,
Macenta, Mali, Mamou, Mandiana, Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri, Telimele,
Tougue, Yomou
Independence:
2 October 1958 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 2 October (1958)
Constitution:
23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)
Legal system:
based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Alpha Conde (since 21 December 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed Said FOFANA (since 24
December 2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(no term limits); candidate must receive a majority of the votes
cast to be elected president; election last held on 27 June 2010
with a runoff election held on 7 November 2010
election results: Alpha CONDE elected president in a runoff
election; percent of vote Alpha CONDE 52.5%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO
47.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale
Populaire (114 seats; members elected by a mixed system of direct
popular vote and proportional party lists)
elections: last held on 30 June 2002 (legislative elections first
due in 2007 have been rescheduled multiple times and are currently
unscheduled)
election results: percent of vote by party - PUP 61.6%, UPR 26.6%,
other 11.8%; seats by party - PUP 85, UPR 20, other 9
Judicial branch:
Court of First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of
Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Union of Guinea or UDG [Mamadou SYLLA]; Guinean Union for
Democracy or UGD; New Democratic Forces or NDF [Muoctar DIALLO];
Party for Unity and Progress or PUP [Sekouba KONATE]; Rally for the
Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE]; Union for Progress and Renewal
or UPR [Ousmane BAH]; Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG
[Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general]; Union of Democratic Forces of
Guinea or UFDG [Cellou Dalein DIALLO]; Union of Republican Forces or
UFR [Sidya TOURE]; United Front for Democracy and Change or FUDEC
[Francois FALL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
National Confederation of Guinean Workers-Labor Union of Guinean
Workers or CNTG-USTG Alliance (includes National Confederation of
Guinean Workers or CNTG [Rabiatou Sarah DIALLO] and Labor Union of
Guinean Workers or USTG [Dr. Ibrahima FOFANA]); Syndicate of Guinean
Teachers and Researchers or SLECG [Dr. Louis M'Bemba SOUMAH]
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), ECOWAS (suspended), FAO, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mory Karamoko KABA
chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300
FAX: [1] (202) 483-8688
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia Newton MOLLER
embassy: Koloma, Conakry, east of Hamdallaye Circle
mailing address: B. P. 603, Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif
de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry
telephone: [224] 65-10-40-00
FAX: [224] 65-10-42-97
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green;
red represents the people's sacrifice for liberation and work;
yellow stands for the sun, for the riches of the earth, and for
justice; green symbolizes the country's vegetation and unity
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors
from left to right are the reverse of those on the flags of
neighboring Mali and Senegal
National anthem:
name: "Liberte" (Liberty)
lyrics/music: unknown/Fodeba KEITA
note: adopted 1958
Economy ::Guinea
Economy - overview:
Guinea is a poor country that possesses major mineral, hydropower,
and agricultural resources. The country has almost half of the
world's bauxite reserves. The mining sector accounts for more than
70% of exports. Long-run improvements in the management of the
economy, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country
is to move out of poverty. Investor confidence has been sapped by
rampant corruption, a lack of electricity and other infrastructure,
a lack of skilled workers, and the political uncertainty resulting
from the death of President Lansana CONTE in December 2008.
International donors, including the G-8, the IMF, and the World
Bank, cut their development programming significantly in response to
the coup, and international partners have said that a resumption of
aid will be contingent on a successful democratic transition with a
democratically elected president and a functioning National
Assembly. Growth rose slightly in 2006-08, primarily due to
increases in global demand and commodity prices on world markets,
but bauxite and alumina exports were negatively affected by the
global economic downturn and the economy in 2009 contracted.
International investors expressed renewed interest in Guinea's iron
ore mines in 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$10.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
$10.3 billion (2009 est.)
$10.67 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.344 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
-3.5% (2009 est.)
4.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
$1,000 (2009 est.)
$1,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 25.8%
industry: 45.7%
services: 28.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
4.392 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 76%
industry and services: 24% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA% est.)
Population below poverty line:
47% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 41% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
38.1 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 73
40.3 (1994)
Investment (gross fixed):
14.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 7
22.25% (31 December 2005)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2008)
Stock of narrow money:
$496.2 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 158
$459.7 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$830 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
$761.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$734.4 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
$674.2 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas,
sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber
Industries:
bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron; alumina refining; light
manufacturing, and agricultural processing
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Electricity - production:
850 million kWh
country comparison to the world: 148
note: excludes electricity generated at interior mining sites (2007
est.)
Electricity - consumption:
790.5 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Oil - consumption:
9,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Oil - imports:
8,674 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Current account balance:
-$434 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
-$538 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.468 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
$1.18 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products
Exports - partners:
India 19.68%, Spain 13.18%, Russia 7.24%, Germany 6.86%, Ireland
5.87%, US 5.71%, Ukraine 5.6% (2009)
Imports:
$1.551 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
$1.236 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment,
textiles, grain and other foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
China 8.67%, Netherlands 6.67%, France 4.33%, UK 4.22% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$51 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.072 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
$3.222 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar - 6,100 (2010), 5,500 (2009),
5,500 (2008), 4,122.8 (2007), 5,350 (2006)
Communications ::Guinea
Telephones - main lines in use:
22,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 190
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.607 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 90
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate system of open-wire lines, small
radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay
system
domestic: Conakry reasonably well served; coverage elsewhere remains
inadequate and large companies tend to rely on their own systems for
nationwide links; fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100
persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is expanding and exceeded 50
per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 224; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast media:
government maintains control over broadcast media; single state-run
TV station; state-run radio broadcast station also operates several
stations in rural areas; about 20 privately-owned radio stations,
nearly all in Conakry, and about a dozen community radio stations;
foreign television programming available via satellite and cable
subscription services (2008)
Internet country code:
.gn
Internet hosts:
14 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 220
Internet users:
95,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 161
Transportation ::Guinea
Airports:
16 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 142
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Railways:
total: 1,185 km
country comparison to the world: 87
standard gauge: 238 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 947 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 44,348 km
country comparison to the world: 84
paved: 4,342 km
unpaved: 40,006 km (2003)
Waterways:
1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 57
Ports and terminals:
Conakry, Kamsar
Military ::Guinea
Military branches:
National Armed Forces: Army, Navy (Armee de Mer or Marine Guineenne,
includes Marines), Guinean Air Force (Force Aerienne de Guinee)
(2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service;
18-month conscript service obligation (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,292,338
females age 16-49: 2,264,589 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,443,655
females age 16-49: 1,483,676 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 114,353
female: 111,873 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.1% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 127
Transnational Issues ::Guinea
Disputes - international:
conflicts among rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in
neighboring states have spilled over into Guinea resulting in
domestic instability; Sierra Leone considers Guinea's definition of
the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the
Makona and Moa rivers excessive and protests Guinea's continued
occupation of these lands, including the hamlet of Yenga, occupied
since 1998
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 21,856 (Liberia); 5,259 (Sierra
Leone); 3,900 (Cote d'Ivoire)
IDPs: 19,000 (cross-border incursions from Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia,
Sierra Leone) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Guinea is a source, transit, and destination
country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of
forced labor and sexual exploitation; the majority of victims are
children, and internal trafficking is more prevalent than
transnational trafficking; within the country, girls are trafficked
primarily for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation, while boys
are trafficked for forced agricultural labor, and as forced beggars,
street vendors, shoe shiners, and laborers in gold and diamond
mines; some Guinean men are also trafficked for agricultural labor
within Guinea; transnationally, girls are trafficked into Guinea for
domestic servitude and likely also for sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Guinea is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
eliminate trafficking over 2006; Guinea demonstrated minimal law
enforcement efforts for a second year in a row, while protection
efforts diminished over efforts in 2006; the government did not
report any trafficking convictions in 2007; due to a lack of
resources, the government does not provide shelter services for
trafficking victims; the government took no measures to reduce the
demand for commercial sexual exploitation (2008)
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Guinea-Bissau (Africa)
Introduction ::Guinea-Bissau
Background:
Since independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has
experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a
military coup established authoritarian dictator Joao Bernardo
'Nino' VIEIRA as president. Despite setting a path to a market
economy and multiparty system, VIEIRA's regime was characterized by
the suppression of political opposition and the purging of political
rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s
failed to unseat him. In 1994 VIEIRA was elected president in the
country's first free elections. A military mutiny and resulting
civil war in 1998 eventually led to VIEIRA's ouster in May 1999. In
February 2000, a transitional government turned over power to
opposition leader Kumba YALA after he was elected president in
transparent polling. In September 2003, after only three years in
office, YALA was ousted by the military in a bloodless coup, and
businessman Henrique ROSA was sworn in as interim president. In
2005, former President VIEIRA was re-elected president pledging to
pursue economic development and national reconciliation; he was
assassinated in March 2009. Malam Bacai SANHA was elected in an
emergency election held in June 2009.
Geography ::Guinea-Bissau
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea
and Senegal
Geographic coordinates:
12 00 N, 15 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 36,125 sq km
country comparison to the world: 137
land: 28,120 sq km
water: 8,005 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 724 km
border countries: Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km
Coastline:
350 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June
to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May)
with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain:
mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation in the eastern part of the country
300 m
Natural resources:
fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone,
unexploited deposits of petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 8.31%
permanent crops: 6.92%
other: 84.77% (2005)
Irrigated land:
250 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
31 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.18 cu km/yr (13%/5%/82%)
per capita: 113 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry
season; brush fires
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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:
this small country is swampy along its western coast and low-lying
inland
People ::Guinea-Bissau
Population:
1,565,126 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40.8% (male 312,253/female 313,609)
15-64 years: 56.1% (male 414,924/female 445,639)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 19,191/female 28,348) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.4 years
male: 18.8 years
female: 19.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.004% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Birth rate:
35.56 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Death rate:
15.52 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Urbanization:
urban population: 30% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 98.05 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 8
male: 108.03 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 87.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 48.3 years
country comparison to the world: 216
male: 46.44 years
female: 50.22 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.58 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
16,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean
Ethnic groups:
African 99% (includes Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga
13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%
Religions:
Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 10%
Languages:
Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.4%
male: 58.1%
female: 27.4% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 8 years
female: 5 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
5.2% of GDP (1999)
country comparison to the world: 59
Government ::Guinea-Bissau
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau
conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau
local long form: Republica da Guine-Bissau
local short form: Guine-Bissau
former: Portuguese Guinea
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Bissau
geographic coordinates: 11 51 N, 15 35 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau,
Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali; note - Bolama may have
been renamed Bolama/Bijagos
Independence:
24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 24 September (1973)
Constitution:
16 May 1984; amended 4 May 1991, 4 December 1991, 26 February 1993,
9 June 1993, and in 1996
Legal system:
based on French civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Malam Bacai SANHA (since 8 September 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Carlos GOMES Junior (since 25
December 2008)
cabinet: NA
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held on 28 June 2009 with a runoff
between the two leading candidates held on 26 July 2009 (next to be
held by 2014); prime minister appointed by the president after
consultation with party leaders in the legislature
election results: Malam Bacai SANHA elected president; percent of
vote, second ballot - Malam Bacai SANHA 63.5%, Kumba YALA 36.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular
(100 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 16 November 2008 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAIGC 49.8%, PRS 25.3%,
PRID 7.5%, PND 2.4%, AD 1.4%, other parties 13.6%; seats by party -
PAIGC 67, PRS 28, PRID 3, PND 1, AD 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal da Justica (consists of nine
justices appointed by the president and serve at his pleasure; final
court of appeals in criminal and civil cases); Regional Courts (one
in each of nine regions; first court of appeals for Sectoral Court
decisions; hear all felony cases and civil cases valued at more than
$1,000); 24 Sectoral Courts (judges are not necessarily trained
lawyers; they hear civil cases valued at less than $1,000 and
misdemeanor criminal cases)
Political parties and leaders:
African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde
or PAIGC [Carlos GOMES Junior]; Democratic Alliance or AD [Victor
MANDINGA]; Democratic Social Front or FDS [Rafael BARBOSA];
Electoral Union or UE [Joaquim BALDE]; Guinea-Bissau Civic
Forum/Social Democracy or FCGSD [Antonieta Rosa GOMES];
Guinea-Bissau Democratic Party or PDG; Guinea-Bissau Socialist
Democratic Party or PDSG [Serifo BALDE]; Labor and Solidarity Party
or PST [Lancuba INDJAI]; New Democracy Party or PND; Party for
Democratic Convergence or PCD [Victor MANDINGA]; Party for Renewal
and Progress or PRP; Party for Social Renewal or PRS [Kumba YALA];
Progress Party or PP; Republican Party for Independence and
Development or PRID [Aristides GOMES]; Union of Guinean Patriots or
UPG [Francisca VAZ]; Union for Change or UM [Amine SAAD]; United
Platform or UP (coalition formed by PCD, FDS, FLING, and RGB-MB);
United Popular Alliance or APU; United Social Democratic Party or
PUSD [Frnacisco FADUL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: none; note - Guinea-Bissau does not have official
representation in Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US Embassy suspended operations on 14 June 1998 in the midst of
violent conflict between forces loyal to then President VIEIRA and
military-led junta; the US Ambassador to Senegal is accredited to
Guinea-Bissau
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical
red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star
centered in the red band; yellow symbolizes the sun; green denotes
hope; red represents blood shed during the struggle for
independence; the black star stands for African unity
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the flag
design was heavily influenced by the Ghanian flag
National anthem:
name: "Esta e a Nossa Patria Bem Amada" (This Is Our Beloved Country)
lyrics/music: Amilcar Lopes CABRAL/XIAO He
note: adopted 1974; a delegation from Portuguese Guinea visited
China in 1963 and heard music by XIAO He; Amilcar Lopes CABRA, the
leader of Guinea-Bissa"s independence movement, asked the composer
to create a piece that would inspire his people to struggle for
independence
Economy ::Guinea-Bissau
Economy - overview:
One of the poorest countries in the world, Guinea-Bissau's legal
economy depends mainly on farming and fishing, but trafficking
narcotics is probably the most lucrative trade. Cashew crops have
increased remarkably in recent years. Guinea-Bissau exports fish and
seafood along with small amounts of peanuts, palm kernels, and
timber. Rice is the major crop and staple food. However,
intermittent fighting between Senegalese-backed government troops
and a military junta destroyed much of the country's infrastructure
and caused widespread damage to the economy in 1998; the civil war
led to a 28% drop in GDP that year, with partial recovery in
1999-2002. In December 2003, the World Bank, IMF, and UNDP were
forced to step in to provide emergency budgetary support in the
amount of $107 million for 2004, representing over 80% of the total
national budget. The combination of limited economic prospects, a
weak and faction-ridden government, and favorable geography have
made this West African country a way station for drugs bound for
Europe.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.769 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
$1.738 billion (2009 est.)
$1.687 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$825 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
3% (2009 est.)
2.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
$1,100 (2009 est.)
$1,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 62%
industry: 12%
services: 26% (1999 est.)
Labor force:
632,700 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 152
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 82%
industry and services: 18% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 28% (2002)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 98
4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA%
Stock of narrow money:
$192.1 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 175
$171.2 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$209.3 million (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
$189.2 million (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$42.56 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 181
$58.87 million (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
rice, corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm
kernels, cotton; timber; fish
Industries:
agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks
Industrial production growth rate:
4.7% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Electricity - production:
65 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Electricity - consumption:
60.45 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Oil - consumption:
3,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Oil - imports:
2,545 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Current account balance:
-$6 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Exports:
$133 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 185
Exports - commodities:
fish, shrimp; cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber
Exports - partners:
India 62.21%, Nigeria 31.28%, Portugal 1.48% (2009)
Imports:
$200 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 201
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Portugal 17.33%, Senegal 13.66%, Netherlands 9.27%, India 9.11%,
Thailand 5.2%, Brazil 4.49% (2009)
Debt - external:
$941.5 million (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 506.04
(2009), 447.81 (2008), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006)
note: since 1 January 1999, the West African CFA franc (XOF) has
been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro;
West African CFA franc (XOF) coins and banknotes are not accepted in
countries using Central African CFA francs (XAF), and vice versa,
even though the two currencies trade at par
Communications ::Guinea-Bissau
Telephones - main lines in use:
4,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 212
Telephones - mobile cellular:
560,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 158
Telephone system:
general assessment: small system including a combination of
microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and
mobile-cellular communications
domestic: fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular teledensity reached 35 per 100 in 2009
international: country code - 245 (2008)
Broadcast media:
1 state-owned TV station and a second station, RTP Africa, is
operated by Portuguese public broadcaster RTP; 1 state-owned radio
station, several private radio stations, and some community radio
stations; multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.gw
Internet hosts:
82 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 206
Internet users:
37,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 176
Transportation ::Guinea-Bissau
Airports:
9 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 158
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 3,455 km
country comparison to the world: 161
paved: 965 km
unpaved: 2,490 km (2002)
Waterways:
rivers are navigable for some distance; many inlets and creeks give
shallow-water access to much of interior (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim
Military ::Guinea-Bissau
Military branches:
People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP): Army, Navy, Air Force;
paramilitary force
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for selective compulsory military service (Air
Force service is voluntary); 16 years of age or younger with
parental consent, for voluntary service (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 361,785
females age 16-49: 363,488 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 199,771
females age 16-49: 206,240 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 17,300
female: 17,523 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Transnational Issues ::Guinea-Bissau
Disputes - international:
in 2006, political instability within Senegal's Casamance region
resulted in thousands of Senegalese refugees, cross-border raids,
and arms smuggling into Guinea-Bissau
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 7,454 (Senegal) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Guinea-Bissau is a source country for children
trafficked primarily for forced begging and forced agricultural
labor to other West African countries
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for the second year in a row,
Guinea-Bissau is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to combat
severe forms of trafficking in persons, as evidenced by the
continued failure to pass an anti-trafficking law and inadequate
efforts to investigate or prosecute trafficking crimes or convict
and punish trafficking offenders (2008)
Illicit drugs:
increasingly important transit country for South American cocaine
enroute to Europe; enabling environment for trafficker operations
thanks to pervasive corruption; archipelago-like geography around
the capital facilitates drug smuggling
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Guyana (South America)
Introduction ::Guyana
Background:
Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had
become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to black
settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servants
from India to work the sugar plantations. This ethnocultural divide
has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved
independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled
mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was
elected president in what is considered the country's first free and
fair election since independence. After his death five years later,
his wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to
poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001
and again in 2006.
Geography ::Guyana
Location:
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Suriname and Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:
5 00 N, 59 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 214,969 sq km
country comparison to the world: 84
land: 196,849 sq km
water: 18,120 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Idaho
Land boundaries:
total: 2,949 km
border countries: Brazil 1,606 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km
Coastline:
459 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental
margin
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy
seasons (May to August, November to January)
Terrain:
mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m
Natural resources:
bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
Land use:
arable land: 2.23%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 97.63% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,500 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
241 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.64 cu km/yr (2%/1%/98%)
per capita: 2,187 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons
Environment - current issues:
water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial
chemicals; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, 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:
the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname and
Uruguay; substantial portions of its western and eastern territories
are claimed by Venezuela and Suriname respectively
People ::Guyana
Population:
748,486
country comparison to the world: 161
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.3% (male 127,818/female 123,261)
15-64 years: 62.1% (male 233,270/female 234,025)
65 years and over: 4.6% (male 14,481/female 20,085) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.6 years
male: 22.9 years
female: 24.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.547% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224
Birth rate:
17.61 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Death rate:
7.24 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Net migration rate:
-15.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
Urbanization:
urban population: 28% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 37.89 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 70
male: 42.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 33.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.74 years
country comparison to the world: 157
male: 62.93 years
female: 70.74 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.4 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
13,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Guyanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Guyanese
Ethnic groups:
East Indian 43.5%, black (African) 30.2%, mixed 16.7%, Amerindian
9.1%, other 0.5% (2002 census)
Religions:
Hindu 28.4%, Pentecostal 16.9%, Roman Catholic 8.1%, Anglican 6.9%,
Seventh Day Adventist 5%, Methodist 1.7%, Jehovah Witness 1.1%,
other Christian 17.7%, Muslim 7.2%, other 4.3%, none 4.3% (2002
census)
Languages:
English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Caribbean Hindustani (a
dialect of Hindi), Urdu
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 91.8%
male: 92%
female: 91.6% (2002 Census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
6.1% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 37
Government ::Guyana
Country name:
conventional long form: Cooperative Republic of Guyana
conventional short form: Guyana
former: British Guiana
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Georgetown
geographic coordinates: 6 48 N, 58 10 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, East
Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice,
Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Upper
Takutu-Upper Essequibo
Independence:
26 May 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
Constitution:
6 October 1980
Legal system:
based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch
law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Bharrat JAGDEO (since 11 August 1999);
note - assumed presidency after resignation of President Janet JAGAN
and was reelected in 2001, and again in 2006
head of government: Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since October 1992,
except for a period as chief of state after the death of President
Cheddi JAGAN on 6 March 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president,
responsible to the legislature
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote as leader of a party
list in parliamentary elections, which must be held at least every
five years (no term limits); elections last held on 28 August 2006
(next to be held by August 2011); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: President Bharrat JAGDEO reelected; percent of
vote 54.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (65 seats; members elected by popular
vote, also not more than 4 non-elected non-voting ministers and 2
non-elected non-voting parliamentary secretaries appointed by the
president; members to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 28 August 2006 (next to be held by August
2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PPP/C 54.6%, PNC/R 34%,
AFC 8.1%, other 3.3%; seats by party - PPP/C 36, PNC/R 22, AFC 5,
other 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Judicature, consisting of the High Court and the
Court of Appeal, with right of final appeal to the Caribbean Court
of Justice (CCJ)
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Change or AFC [Raphael TROTMAN and Khemraj RAMJATTAN];
Guyana Action Party or GAP [Paul HARDY]; Justice for All Party [C.N.
SHARMA]; People's National Congress/Reform or PNC/R [Robert Herman
Orlando CORBIN]; People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C [Bharrat
JAGDEO]; Rise, Organize, and Rebuild or ROAR [Ravi DEV]; The United
Force or TUF [Manzoor NADIR]; The Unity Party [Joey JAGAN]; Vision
Guyana [Peter RAMSAROOP]; Working People's Alliance or WPA [Rupert
ROOPNARAINE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Amerindian People's Association; Guyana Bar Association; Guyana
Citizens Initiative; Guyana Human Rights Association; Guyana Public
Service Union or GPSU; Private Sector Commission; Trades Union
Congress
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC,
OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, PetroCaribe, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bayney KARRAN
chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900
FAX: [1] (202) 232-1297
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Karen L.
WILLIAMS
embassy: US Embassy, 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown; US Embassy, 3170
Georgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3170
telephone: [592] 225-4900 through 4909
FAX: [592] 225-8497
Flag description:
green, with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side)
superimposed on a long, yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow, black
border between the red and yellow, and a narrow, white border
between the yellow and the green; green represents forest and
foliage; yellow stands for mineral resources and a bright future;
white symbolizes Guyana's rivers; red signifies zeal and the
sacrifice of the people; black indicates perseverance
National anthem:
name: "Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains"
lyrics/music: Archibald Leonard LUKERL/Robert Cyril Gladstone POTTER
note: adopted 1966
Economy ::Guyana
Economy - overview:
The Guyanese economy exhibited moderate economic growth in recent
years and is based largely on agriculture and extractive industries.
The economy is heavily dependent upon the export of six commodities
- sugar, gold, bauxite, shrimp, timber, and rice - which represent
nearly 60% of the country's GDP and are highly susceptible to
adverse weather conditions and fluctuations in commodity prices.
Guyana's entrance into the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME)
in January 2006 has broadened the country's export market, primarily
in the raw materials sector. Economic recovery since a 2005
flood-related contraction was buoyed by increases in remittances and
foreign direct investment in the sugar and rice industries as well
as the mining sector. Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled
labor and a deficient infrastructure. The government is juggling a
sizable external debt against the urgent need for expanded public
investment. In March 2007, the Inter-American Development Bank,
Guyana's principal donor, canceled Guyana's nearly $470 million
debt, equivalent to nearly 48% of GDP, which along with other Highly
Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) debt forgiveness brought the
debt-to-GDP ratio down from 183% in 2006 to 120% in 2007. Guyana
became heavily indebted as a result of the inward-looking, state-led
development model pursued in the 1970s and 1980s. Growth slowed in
2009-10 as a result of the world recession. The slowdown in the
domestic economy and lower import costs helped to narrow the
country's current account deficit, despite generally lower earnings
from exports.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.069 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
$4.946 billion (2009 est.)
$4.834 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.197 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
2.3% (2009 est.)
3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
$6,600 (2009 est.)
$6,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 24.3%
industry: 24.7%
services: 51% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
333,900 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
11% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 121
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 33.8% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
43.2 (1999)
country comparison to the world: 47
Investment (gross fixed):
34.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Public debt:
57% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
2.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 59
6.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.54% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
14.58% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$386.9 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 162
$252.9 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.303 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
$905.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$754 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
$524 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 107
$289.9 million (31 December 2008)
$262.4 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, rice, edible oils; shrimp, fish, beef, pork, poultry
Industries:
bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining
Industrial production growth rate:
2.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Electricity - production:
821 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Electricity - consumption:
667 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Oil - consumption:
10,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Oil - imports:
10,550 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Current account balance:
-$311 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
-$265 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$814 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
$763 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
sugar, gold, bauxite, alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum, timber
Exports - partners:
Canada 27.52%, US 16.93%, UK 10.84%, Ukraine 5.54%, Netherlands 5%,
Trinidad and Tobago 4.33%, Jamaica 4.12% (2009)
Imports:
$1.366 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
$1.161 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food
Imports - partners:
US 25.23%, Trinidad and Tobago 23.23%, Cuba 6.41%, China 6.05% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$506 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
$631.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$804.3 million (30 September 2008)
country comparison to the world: 154
$1.2 billion (2002)
Exchange rates:
Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar - 204.07 (2010), 204.02 (2009),
203.86 (2008), 201.89 (2007), 200.28 (2006)
Communications ::Guyana
Telephones - main lines in use:
130,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 138
Telephones - mobile cellular:
281,400 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 170
Telephone system:
general assessment: fair system for long-distance service; microwave
radio relay network for trunk lines; many areas still lack
fixed-line telephone services
domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 15 per 100 persons; ;
mobile-cellular teledensity about 35 per 100 persons in 2005
international: country code - 592; tropospheric scatter to Trinidad;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast media:
government-dominated broadcast media; the National Communications
Network (NCN) TV is state-owned; a few private TV stations relay
satellite services; the state owns and operates 2 radio stations
broadcasting on multiple frequencies capable of reaching the entire
country; government limits on licensing of new private radio
stations continue to constrain competition in broadcast media (2007)
Internet country code:
.gy
Internet hosts:
8,840 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 132
Internet users:
189,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 142
Transportation ::Guyana
Airports:
96 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 63
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 7 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 86
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 73 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 7,970 km
country comparison to the world: 142
paved: 590 km
unpaved: 7,380 km (2000)
Waterways:
330 km
country comparison to the world: 92
note: Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo rivers are navigable by
oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km respectively (2010)
Merchant marine:
total: 8
country comparison to the world: 121
by type: cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1
registered in other countries: 3 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
2, unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Georgetown
Military ::Guyana
Military branches:
Guyana Defense Force: Army (includes Coast Guard, Air Corps) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 189,456 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 132,188
females age 16-49: 147,296 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 8,842
female: 8,452 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 82
Transnational Issues ::Guyana
Disputes - international:
all of the area west of the Essequibo River is claimed by Venezuela
preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has
expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before
UNCLOS that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela
extends into their waters; Suriname claims a triangle of land
between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic dispute over
the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks arbitration under
provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to
resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of the
territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Guyana is a source, transit, and destination
country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of
commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; most trafficking
appears to take place in remote mining camps in the country's
interior; some women and girls are trafficked from northern Brazil;
reporting from other nations suggests Guyanese women and girls are
trafficked for sexual exploitation to neighboring countries and
Guyanese men and boys are subject to labor exploitation in
construction and agriculture; trafficking victims from Suriname,
Brazil, and Venezuela transit Guyana en route to Caribbean
destinations
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year,
Guyana is on the Tier 2 Watch List for failing to provide evidence
of increasing efforts to combat trafficking, particularly in the
area of law enforcement actions against trafficking offenders; the
government has yet to produce an anti-trafficking conviction under
the comprehensive Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, which
became law in 2005; the government operates no shelters for
trafficking victims, but did include limited funding for
anti-trafficking NGOs in its 2008 budget; the government did not
make any effort to reduce demand for commercial sex acts during 2007
(2008)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for narcotics from South America - primarily
Venezuela - to Europe and the US; producer of cannabis; rising money
laundering related to drug trafficking and human smuggling
page last updated on January 13, 2011
======================================================================
@Haiti (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Haiti
Background:
The native Taino Amerindians - who inhabited the island of
Hispaniola when it was discovered by COLUMBUS in 1492 - were
virtually annihilated by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In the
early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola.
In 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the island,
which later became Haiti. The French colony, based on forestry and
sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiest in the
Caribbean but only through the heavy importation of African slaves
and considerable environmental degradation. In the late 18th
century, Haiti's nearly half million slaves revolted under Toussaint
L'OUVERTURE. After a prolonged struggle, Haiti became the first
black republic to declare independence in 1804. The poorest country
in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has been plagued by political
violence for most of its history. After an armed rebellion led to
the forced resignation and exile of President Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE
in February 2004, an interim government took office to organize new
elections under the auspices of the United Nations Stabilization
Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Continued violence and technical delays
prompted repeated postponements, but Haiti finally did inaugurate a
democratically elected president and parliament in May of 2006. A
massive magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti in January 2010 with
an epicenter about 15 km southwest of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
An estimated 2 million people live within the zone of heavy to
moderate structural damage. The earthquake is assessed as the worst
in this region over the last 200 years and massive international
assistance will be required to help the country recover.
Geography ::Haiti
Location:
Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between
the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the
Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates:
19 00 N, 72 25 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 27,750 sq km
country comparison to the world: 147
land: 27,560 sq km
water: 190 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 360 km
border countries: Dominican Republic 360 km
Coastline:
1,771 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
Climate:
tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds
Terrain:
mostly rough and mountainous
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m
Natural resources:
bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 28.11%
permanent crops: 11.53%
other: 60.36% (2005)
Irrigated land:
920 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
14 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.99 cu km/yr (5%/1%/94%)
per capita: 116 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe
storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes;
periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is
being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion;
inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes
Geography - note:
shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western
one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)
People ::Haiti
Population:
9,719,932
country comparison to the world: 87
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (2011
est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.1% (male 1,735,917/female 1,704,383)
15-64 years: 58.5% (male 2,621,059/female 2,665,447)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 120,040/female 188,690) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.1 years
male: 20.9 years
female: 21.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.787%
country comparison to the world: 139
note: the preliminary 2011 numbers differ significantly from those
of 2010, which were strongly influenced by the demographic effect of
the January 2010 earthquake; the latest figures more closely
correspond to those of 2009 (2011 est.)
Birth rate:
24.4 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Death rate:
8.21 deaths/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 98
note: the preliminary 2011 numbers differ significantly from those
of 2010, which were strongly influenced by the demographic effect of
the January 2010 earthquake; the latest figures more closely
correspond to those of 2009 (2011 est.)
Net migration rate:
-8.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Urbanization:
urban population: 47% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.011 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 54.02 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 43
male: 58.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 49.83 deaths/1,000 live births
note: the preliminary 2011 numbers differ significantly from those
of 2010, which were strongly influenced by the demographic effect of
the January 2010 earthquake; the latest figures more closely
correspond to those of 2009 (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.17 years
country comparison to the world: 179
male: 60.84 years
female: 63.53 years
note: the preliminary 2011 numbers differ significantly from those
of 2010, which were strongly influenced by the demographic effect of
the January 2010 earthquake; the latest figures more closely
correspond to those of 2009 (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.07 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
120,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
7,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Haitian(s)
adjective: Haitian
Ethnic groups:
black 95%, mulatto and white 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%,
Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3%
note: roughly half of the population practices voodoo
Languages:
French (official), Creole (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 52.9%
male: 54.8%
female: 51.2% (2003 est.)
Education expenditures:
1.4% of GDP (1991)
country comparison to the world: 177
Government ::Haiti
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Haiti
conventional short form: Haiti
local long form: Republique d'Haiti/Repiblik d' Ayiti
local short form: Haiti/Ayiti
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Port-au-Prince
geographic coordinates: 18 32 N, 72 20 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:
10 departments (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite,
Centre, Grand'Anse, Nippes, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud,
Sud-Est
Independence:
1 January 1804 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 January (1804)
Constitution:
approved March 1987
note: suspended June 1988 with most articles reinstated March 1989;
constitutional government ousted in a military coup in September
1991, although in October 1991 military government claimed to be
observing the constitution; returned to constitutional rule in
October 1994; constitution, while technically in force between
2004-2006, was not enforced; returned to constitutional rule in May
2006
Legal system:
based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Rene PREVAL (since 14 May 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Max BELLERIVE (since 7
November 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with
the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(may not serve consecutive terms); election last held on 28 November
2010; runoff scheduled for 16 January 2011 (next to be held in
2015); prime minister appointed by the president, ratified by the
National Assembly
election results: 2010 results not final, initial results are under
OAS review; Mirlande MANIGAT 31.37%, Jude CELESTIN 22.48%, Michel
MARTELLY 21.84%, all others less than 10% each
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale consists of the
Senate (30 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year
terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of
Deputies (99 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms); note - in reestablishing the Senate in 2006, the
candidate in each department receiving the most votes in the last
election serves six years, the candidate with the second most votes
serves four years, and the candidate with the third most votes
serves two years
elections: Senate - last held on 28 November 2010 with run-off
elections scheduled for 16 January 2011 (next regular election, for
one third of seats, to be held in 2012); Chamber of Deputies - last
held on 28 November 2010 with run-off elections schedule for 16
January 2011 (next regular election to be held in 2014)
election results: 2010 election results are not final; 2006 Senate -
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - L'ESPWA 11, FUSION
5, OPL 4, FL 3, LAAA 2, UNCRH 2, PONT 2, ALYANS 1; 2006 Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - L'ESPWA
23, FUSION 17, FRN 12, OPL 10, ALYANS 10, LAAA 5, MPH 3, MOCHRENA 3,
other 10; results for six other seats contested on 3 December 2006
remain unknown
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour de Cassation
Political parties and leaders:
Artibonite in Action or LAAA [Youri LATORTUE]; Assembly of
Progressive National Democrats or RDNP [Leslie MANIGAT]; Convention
for Democratic Unity or KID [Evans PAUL]; Cooperative Action to
Build Haiti or KONBA [Evans LESCOUFALIR]; Democratic Alliance or
ALYANS [Evans PAUL] (coalition composed of KID and PPRH); Effort and
Solidarity to Create an Alternative for the People or ESKAMP [Joseph
JASME]; Fanmi Lavalas or FL [Rudy HERIVEAUX]; For Us All or PONT
[Jean-Marie CHERESTAL]; Front for Hope or L'ESPWA [Rene PREVAL]
(alliance of ESKAMP, PLB, and grass-roots organizations Grand-Anse
Resistance Committee, the Central Plateau Peasants' Group, and
Kombit Sudest); Haitian Christian Democratic Party or PDCH [Osner
FEVRY and Marie-Denise CLAUDE]; Haitian Democratic and Reform
Movement or MODEREH [Dany TOUSSAINT and Pierre Soncon PRINCE]; Heads
Together or Tet-Ansanm [Dr. Gerard BLOT]; Independent Movement for
National Reconciliation or MIRN [Luc FLEURINORD]; Justice for Peace
and National Development or JPDN [Rigaud DUPLAN]; Liberal Party of
Haiti or PLH [Gehy MICHEL]; Merging of Haitian Social Democratic
Parties or FUSION or FPSDH [Serge GILLES] (coalition of Ayiti
Capable, Haitian National Revolutionary Party, and National Congress
of Democratic Movements); Mobilization for Haiti's Development or
MPH [Samir MOURRA]; Mobilization for National Development or MDN
[Hubert de RONCERAY]; Movement for National Reconstruction or MRN
[Jean Henold BUTEAU]; Movement for the Installation of Democracy in
Haiti or MIDH [Marc BAZIN]; National Christian Union for the
Reconstruction of Haiti or UNCRH [Marie Claude GERMAIN]; National
Front for the Reconstruction of Haiti or FRN [Guy PHILIPPE]; New
Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MOCHRENA [Luc MESADIEU]; Open
the Gate Party or PLB [Anes LUBIN]; Popular Party for the Renewal of
Haiti or PPRH [Claude ROMAIN]; Struggling People's Organization or
OPL [Edgard LEBLANC]; Union of Nationalist and Progressive Haitians
or UNITE [Edouard FRANCISQUE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Autonomous Organizations of Haitian Workers or CATH [Fignole
ST-CYR]; Confederation of Haitian Workers or CTH; Federation of
Workers Trade Unions or FOS; General Organization of Independent
Haitian Workers [Patrick NUMAS]; Grand-Anse Resistance Committee, or
KOREGA; National Popular Assembly or APN; Papaye Peasants Movement
or MPP [Chavannes JEAN-BAPTISTE]; Popular Organizations Gathering
Power or PROP; Protestant Federation of Haiti; Roman Catholic Church
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, PetroCaribe, RG,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Louis Harold JOSEPH
chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090
FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, San Juan
(Puerto Rico)
consulate(s): Orlando (Florida)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth H. MERTEN
embassy: Tabarre 41, Route de Tabarre, Port-au-Prince
mailing address: use mailing address
telephone: [509] 229-8000
FAX: [509] 229-8028
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered
white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree
flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto
L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength); the colors are taken
from the French Tricolor and represent the union of blacks and
mulattoes
National anthem:
name: "La Dessalinienne" (The Dessalines Song)
lyrics/music: Justin LHERISSON/Nicolas GEFFRARD
note: adopted 1904; the anthem is named for Jean-Jacques DESSALINES,
a leader in the Haitian Revolution and first ruler of an independent
Haiti
Economy ::Haiti
Economy - overview:
Haiti's economy suffered a severe setback when a 7.1 magnitude
earthquake damaged its capital city, Port-au-Prince, in January
2010. Already the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with 80%
of the population living under the poverty line and 54% in abject
poverty, the damage to Port-au-Prince caused the country's GDP to
contract an estimated 8% in 2010. Two-thirds of all Haitians depend
on the agricultural sector, mainly small-scale subsistence farming,
and remain vulnerable to damage from frequent natural disasters,
exacerbated by the country's widespread deforestation. US economic
engagement under the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through
Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act, passed in December 2006, has
boosted apparel exports and investment by providing tariff-free
access to the US. Congress voted in 2010 to extend the legislation
until 2020 under the Haitian Economic Lift Act (HELP); the apparel
sector accounts for three-quarters of Haitian exports and nearly
one-tenth of GDP. Remittances are the primary source of foreign
exchange, equaling nearly a quarter of GDP and more than twice the
earnings from exports. Haiti suffers from a lack of investment
because of insecurity and limited infrastructure, and a severe trade
deficit. In 2005, Haiti paid its arrears to the World Bank, paving
the way for reengagement with the Bank. Haiti received debt
forgiveness for over $1 billion of its debt through the
Highly-Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative in 2009. The
remainder of its outstanding external debt was cancelled by donor
countries in early 2010 but has since climbed back to about $500
million. The government relies on formal international economic
assistance for fiscal sustainability.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$11.18 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
$12.15 billion (2009 est.)
$11.81 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$6.495 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
2.9% (2009 est.)
0.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
$1,200 (2009 est.)
$1,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 23%
industry: 20%
services: 57% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
3.643 million
country comparison to the world: 95
note: shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (2007)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 66%
industry: 9%
services: 25% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
NA% est.)
note: widespread unemployment and underemployment; more than
two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs
Population below poverty line:
80% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 47.7% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
59.2 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 7
Investment (gross fixed):
28.9% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
2% (2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
17.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
17.81% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$787.2 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 144
$800 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$3.137 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 131
$2.958 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.632 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
$1.698 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum; wood
Industries:
textiles, sugar refining, flour milling, cement, light assembly
based on imported parts
Industrial production growth rate:
-8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Electricity - production:
665 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Electricity - consumption:
273 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Oil - consumption:
12,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Oil - imports:
12,280 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Current account balance:
-$781 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
-$627 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$559 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
$551 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
apparel, manufactures, oils, cocoa, mangoes, coffee
Exports - partners:
US 79.76%, Dominican Republic 7.24%, Canada 2.96% (2009)
Imports:
$2.446 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
$2.032 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, fuels,
raw materials
Imports - partners:
US 33.11%, Dominican Republic 23.53%, Netherlands Antilles 10.75%,
China 5.36% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.021 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$790 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$494 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
$1.362 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
gourdes (HTG) per US dollar - 41.198 (2010), 41.195 (2009), 39.216
(2008), 37.138 (2007), 40.232 (2006)
Communications ::Haiti
Telephones - main lines in use:
108,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 142
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.648 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 108
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications infrastructure is among the
least developed in Latin America and the Caribbean; domestic
facilities barely adequate; international facilities slightly better
domestic: mobile-cellular telephone services are expanding rapidly
due, in part, to the introduction of low-cost GSM phones;
mobile-cellular teledensity reached 40 per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 509; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast media:
several television stations, including 1 government-owned; cable TV
subscription service is available; government-owned radio network;
more than 250 private and community radio stations operating with
about 50 FM stations in Port-au-Prince alone (2007)
Internet country code:
.ht
Internet hosts:
273 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 185
Internet users:
1 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 99
Transportation ::Haiti
Airports:
14 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 148
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 4,160 km
country comparison to the world: 155
paved: 1,011 km
unpaved: 3,149 km (2000)
Ports and terminals:
Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Port-au-Prince
Military ::Haiti
Military branches:
no regular military forces - small Coast Guard; the regular Haitian
Armed Forces (FAdH) - Army, Navy, and Air Force - have been
demobilized but still exist on paper until or unless they are
constitutionally abolished (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,283,915
females age 16-49: 2,250,220 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,573,371
females age 16-49: 1,591,942 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 110,514
female: 108,208 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.4% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 167
Transnational Issues ::Haiti
Disputes - international:
since 2004, about 8,000 peacekeepers from the UN Stabilization
Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) maintain civil order in Haiti; despite
efforts to control illegal migration, Haitians cross into the
Dominican Republic and sail to neighboring countries; Haiti claims
US-administered Navassa Island
Illicit drugs:
Caribbean transshipment point for cocaine en route to the US and
Europe; substantial bulk cash smuggling activity; Colombian
narcotics traffickers favor Haiti for illicit financial
transactions; pervasive corruption; significant consumer of cannabis
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Heard Island and McDonald Islands (Antarctica)
Introduction ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Background:
These uninhabited, barren, sub-Antarctic islands were transferred
from the UK to Australia in 1947. Populated by large numbers of seal
and bird species, the islands have been designated a nature preserve.
Geography ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Location:
islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from
Madagascar to Antarctica
Geographic coordinates:
53 06 S, 72 31 E
Map references:
Antarctic Region
Area:
total: 412 sq km
country comparison to the world: 201
land: 412 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
101.9 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
antarctic
Terrain:
Heard Island - 80% ice-covered, bleak and mountainous, dominated by
a large massif (Big Ben) and an active volcano (Mawson Peak);
McDonald Islands - small and rocky
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mawson Peak on Big Ben volcano 2,745 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
Mawson Peak on Heard Island is the highest Australian mountain (at
2,745 meters, it is taller than Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia proper),
and one of only two active volcanoes located in Australian
territory, the other being McDonald Island; in 1992, McDonald Island
broke its dormancy and began erupting; it has erupted several times
since, the most recent being in 2005
People ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Population:
uninhabited
Government ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald
Islands
conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands
abbreviation: HIMI
Dependency status:
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian
Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environment, Water,
Heritage and the Arts
Legal system:
the laws 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 ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Economy - overview:
The islands have no indigenous economic activity, but the Australian
Government allows limited fishing in the surrounding waters.
Communications ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Internet country code:
.hm
Transportation ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts
fisheries patrols
Transnational Issues ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@Holy See (Vatican City) (Europe)
Introduction ::Holy See (Vatican City)
Background:
Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula
for more than a thousand years until the mid 19th century, when many
of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of
Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when
Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between a series of "prisoner"
popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties,
which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted
Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat
between the Holy See and Italy modified certain of the earlier
treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the
Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include
religious freedom, international development, the environment, the
Middle East, China, the decline of religion in Europe, terrorism,
interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of
church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About
one billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.
Geography ::Holy See (Vatican City)
Location:
Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Geographic coordinates:
41 54 N, 12 27 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 0.44 sq km
country comparison to the world: 250
land: 0.44 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.7 times the size of The National Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 3.2 km
border countries: Italy 3.2 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry
summers (May to September)
Terrain:
urban; low hill
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: unnamed location 19 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 75 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
landlocked; enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; beyond
the territorial boundary of Vatican City, the Lateran Treaty of 1929
grants the Holy See extraterritorial authority over 23 sites in Rome
and five outside of Rome, including the Pontifical Palace at Castel
Gandolfo (the Pope's summer residence)
People ::Holy See (Vatican City)
Population:
829 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 236
Population growth rate:
0.004% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Urbanization:
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: none
adjective: none
Ethnic groups:
Italians, Swiss, other
Religions:
Roman Catholic
Languages:
Italian, Latin, French, various other languages
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
Government ::Holy See (Vatican City)
Country name:
conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)
local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
Government type:
ecclesiastical
Capital:
name: Vatican City
geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 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:
none
Independence:
11 February 1929 (from Italy); note - the three treaties signed with
Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full
sovereignty of the Vatican and established its territorial extent;
however, the origin of the Papal States, which over the years have
varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to the 8th century
National holiday:
Election Day of Pope BENEDICT XVI, 19 April (2005)
Constitution:
Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope JOHN PAUL II on 26 November
2000, effective 22 February 2001 (replaced the first Fundamental Law
of 1929)
Legal system:
based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to it; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branch:
chief of state: Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19 April 2005)
head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio BERTONE
(since 15 September 2006)
cabinet: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City
appointed by the pope
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals;
election last held on 19 April 2005 (next to be held after the death
of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope
election results: Joseph RATZINGER elected Pope BENEDICT XVI
Legislative branch:
unicameral Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State
Judicial branch:
there are three tribunals responsible for civil and criminal matters
within Vatican City; three other tribunals rule on issues pertaining
to the Holy See
note: judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio, papal
directive, of Pope PIUS XII on 1 May 1946
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
International organization participation:
IAEA, Interpol, IOM (observer), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, OAS (observer),
OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN (observer),
UNCTAD, UNHCR, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO (observer), UPU, WIPO,
WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pietro SAMBI
chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121
FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Miguel Humberto DIAZ
embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome
mailing address: PSC 833, Box 66, APO AE 09624
telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428
FAX: [39] (06) 575-3411
Flag description:
two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the arms of
the Holy See, consisting of the crossed keys of Saint Peter
surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara, centered in the white
band; the yellow color represents the pope's spiritual power, the
white his worldly power
National anthem:
name: "Inno e Marcia Pontificale" (Hymn and Pontifical March)
lyrics/music: Raffaello LAVAGNA/Charles-Francois GOUNOD
note: adopted 1950; although used as such, "Inno e Marcia
Pontificale" is not officially a national anthem but rather a hymn
meant to appeal to Roman Catholics throughout the world
Economy ::Holy See (Vatican City)
Economy - overview:
The Holy See is supported financially by a variety of sources,
including investments, real estate income, and donations from
Catholic individuals, dioceses, and institutions; these help fund
the Roman Curia (Vatican bureaucracy), diplomatic missions, and
media outlets. The separate Vatican City State budget includes the
Vatican museums and post office and is supported financially by the
sale of stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos; by fees for
admission to museums; and by publications sales. Moreover, an annual
collection taken up in dioceses and direct donations go to a
non-budgetary fund known as Peter's Pence, which is used directly by
the Pope for charity, disaster relief, and aid to churches in
developing nations. The incomes and living standards of lay workers
are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$NA
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
note: essentially services with a small amount of industry; nearly
all dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and the approximately 3,000
lay workers live outside the Vatican
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Industries:
printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; mosaics and
staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - imports:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy; a small portion of
electricity is self-produced from solar panels
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Holy See (Vatican City)
Telephones - main lines in use:
5,120 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 211
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic digital exchange
domestic: connected via fiber optic cable to Telecom Italia network
international: country code - 39; uses Italian system
Broadcast media:
the Vatican Television Center (CTV) transmits live broadcasts of the
Pope's Sunday and Wednesday audiences, as well as the Pope's public
celebrations; CTV also produces documentaries; Vatican Radio is the
Holy See's official broadcasting service broadcasting via shortwave,
AM and FM frequencies, and via satellite and Internet connections
(2008)
Internet country code:
.va
Internet hosts:
68 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 208
Military ::Holy See (Vatican City)
Military branches:
Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera
Pontificia) (2010)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited
security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard
Transnational Issues ::Holy See (Vatican City)
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Honduras (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Honduras
Background:
Once part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras became
an independent nation in 1821. After two and a half decades of
mostly military rule, a freely elected civilian government came to
power in 1982. During the 1980s, Honduras proved a haven for
anti-Sandinista contras fighting the Marxist Nicaraguan Government
and an ally to Salvadoran Government forces fighting leftist
guerrillas. The country was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998,
which killed about 5,600 people and caused approximately $2 billion
in damage. Since then, the economy has slowly rebounded.
Geography ::Honduras
Location:
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and
Nicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean),
between El Salvador and Nicaragua
Geographic coordinates:
15 00 N, 86 30 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 112,090 sq km
country comparison to the world: 102
land: 111,890 sq km
water: 200 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total: 1,520 km
border countries: Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua
922 km
Coastline:
820 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm
Climate:
subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Terrain:
mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m
Natural resources:
timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal,
fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 9.53%
permanent crops: 3.21%
other: 87.26% (2005)
Irrigated land:
800 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
95.9 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.86 cu km/yr (8%/12%/80%)
per capita: 119 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely susceptible to
damaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean coast
Environment - current issues:
urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and
the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land
degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development
and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands;
mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest
source of fresh water), as well as several rivers and streams, with
heavy metals
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: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean shoreline,
including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast
People ::Honduras
Population:
7,989,415
country comparison to the world: 93
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38% (male 1,521,006/female 1,457,790)
15-64 years: 58.4% (male 2,290,300/female 2,280,848)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 127,187/female 156,565) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.7 years
male: 20.3 years
female: 21.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.935% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Birth rate:
25.61 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Death rate:
4.99 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Net migration rate:
-1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Urbanization:
urban population: 48% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 21.04 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 97
male: 23.82 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.51 years
country comparison to the world: 143
male: 68.82 years
female: 72.28 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.17 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.7% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
28,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,900 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Honduran(s)
adjective: Honduran
Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black
2%, white 1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%
Languages:
Spanish (official), Amerindian dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 80%
male: 79.8%
female: 80.2% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (1991)
country comparison to the world: 119
Government ::Honduras
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Honduras
conventional short form: Honduras
local long form: Republica de Honduras
local short form: Honduras
Government type:
democratic constitutional republic
Capital:
name: Tegucigalpa
geographic coordinates: 14 06 N, 87 13 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November
Administrative divisions:
18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Atlantida,
Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco
Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz,
Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982; amended many times
Legal system:
rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law with increasing influence of
English common law; recent judicial reforms include abandoning
Napoleonic legal codes in favor of the oral adversarial system;
accepts ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Porfirio LOBO Sosa (since 27 January
2010); Vice President Maria Antonieta Guillen de BOGRAN (since 27
January 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Porfirio LOBO Sosa (since 27 January
2010); Vice President Maria Antonieta Guillen de BOGRAN (since 27
January 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held on 29 November 2009 (next to be held in November
2013)
election results: Porfirio "Pepe" LOBO Sosa elected president;
percent of vote - Porfirio "Pepe" LOBO Sosa 56.3%, Elvin SANTOS
Lozano 38.1%, other 5.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128 seats;
members elected proportionally by department to serve four-year
terms)
elections: last held on 29 November 2009 (next to be held in
November 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PNH 71, PL 45, PDC 5, PUD 4, PINU 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (15 judges are
elected for seven-year terms by the National Congress)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Felicito AVILA Ordonez];
Democratic Unification Party or PUD [Cesar HAM]; Liberal Party or PL
[Roberto MICHELETTI Bain]; National Party or PN [Antonio ALVAREZ
Arias]; Social Democratic Innovation and Unity Party or PINU [Jorge
Rafael AGUILAR Paredes]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Beverage and Related Industries Syndicate or STIBYS; Committee for
the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras or CODEH; Confederation of
Honduran Workers or CTH; Coordinating Committee of Popular
Organizations or CCOP; General Workers Confederation or CGT;
Honduran Council of Private Enterprise or COHEP; National
Association of Honduran Campesinos or ANACH; National Union of
Campesinos or UNC; Popular Bloc or BP; United Confederation of
Honduran Workers or CUTH
International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC (suspended),
IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA,
MINURSO, NAM, OAS (suspended), OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, PetroCaribe, RG
(suspended), SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO (suspended), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jorge Ramon HERNANDEZ Alcerro
chancery: Suite 4-M, 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-2604
FAX: [1] (202) 966-9751
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco
honorary consulate(s): Jacksonville
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hugo LLORENS
embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa
mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa
telephone: [504] 236-9320, 238-5114
FAX: [504] 238-4357
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue, with
five blue, five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in
the white band; the stars represent the members of the former
Federal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; the blue bands symbolize the
Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea; the white band represents the
land between the two bodies of water and the peace and prosperity of
its people
note: similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round
emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA
CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of
Nicaragua, which features a triangle encircled by the words
REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom,
centered in the white band
National anthem:
name: "Himno Nacional de Honduras" (National Anthem of Honduras)
lyrics/music: Augusto Constancio COELLO/Carlos HARTLING
note: adopted 1915; the anthem's seven verses chronicle Honduran
history; on official occasions, only the chorus and last verse are
sung
Economy ::Honduras
Economy - overview:
Honduras, the second poorest country in Central America, suffers
from extraordinarily unequal distribution of income, as well as high
underemployment. While historically dependent on the export of
bananas and coffee, Honduras has diversified its export base to
include apparel and automobile wire harnessing. Nearly half of
Honduras's economic activity is directly tied to the US, with
exports to the US equivalent to 30% of GDP and remittances for
another 20%. The US-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)
came into force in 2006 and has helped foster foriegn direct
investment, but physical and political insecurity may deter
potential investors; about 70% of FDI is from US firms. The economy
registered marginally positive economic growth in 2010, insufficient
to improve living standards for the nearly 60% of the population in
poverty. The LOBO administration inherited a difficult fiscal
position with off-budget debts accrued in previous administrations
and government salaries nearly equivalent to tax collections. His
government has displayed a commitment to improving tax collection
and cutting expenditures. This enabled Tegucigalpa to secure an IMF
Precautionary Stand-By agreement in October 2010. The IMF agreement
has helped renew multilateral and bilateral donor confidence in
Honduras following the ZELAYA administration's economic
mismanagement and the political coup.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$33.77 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
$32.94 billion (2009 est.)
$33.65 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$15.34 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
-2.1% (2009 est.)
4.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
$4,200 (2009 est.)
$4,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.4%
industry: 26.9%
services: 60.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
3.394 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 39.2%
industry: 20.9%
services: 39.8% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
3.2% (2009 est.)
note: about 36% are unemployed or underemployed
Population below poverty line:
65% (2010)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 42.2% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
53.8 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 15
56.3 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
23.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Public debt:
26.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
23.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
5.5% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
NA% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
19.16% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
17.94% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.296 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 129
$1.564 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$7.618 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
$7.064 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$7.581 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
$7.029 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coffee, citrus, corn, African palm; beef; timber; shrimp,
tilapia, lobster
Industries:
sugar, coffee, woven and knit apparel, wood products, cigars
Industrial production growth rate:
2.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Electricity - production:
6.58 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Electricity - consumption:
6.54 billion kWh
country comparison to the world: 102
note: approximately 1.5 billion kWh in transmission and distribution
losses (2009 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
11.8 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Oil - consumption:
56,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Oil - imports:
46,130 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Current account balance:
-$1.048 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
-$1.327 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$5.879 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
$5.09 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
apparel, coffee, shrimp, wire harnessing, cigars, bananas, gold,
palm oil, fruit, lobster, lumber
Exports - partners:
US 59.6%, El Salvador 5.61%, Guatemala 5.28%, Mexico 4.19%, Germany
4.04% (2009)
Imports:
$8.878 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
$5.924 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials,
chemical products, fuels, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
US 46.81%, Guatemala 8.92%, El Salvador 7.13%, Mexico 5.54%, Costa
Rica 4.91% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.302 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
$2.127 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.54 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
$3.311 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
lempiras (HNL) per US dollar - 18.9 (2010), 18.895 (2009), 18.983
(2008), 18.9 (2007), 18.895 (2006)
Communications ::Honduras
Telephones - main lines in use:
830,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 84
Telephones - mobile cellular:
7.714 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 75
Telephone system:
general assessment: the number of fixed-line connections are
increasing but still limited; competition among multiple providers
of mobile-cellular services is contributing to a sharp increase in
the number of subscribers
domestic: beginning in 2003, private sub-operators allowed to
provide fixed-lines in order to expand telephone coverage
contributing to an increase in fixed-line teledensity to roughly 10
per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership reached 100 per 100
persons in 2009
international: country code - 504; landing point for both the
Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the MAYA-1 fiber
optic submarine cable system that together provide connectivity to
South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to
Central American Microwave System
Broadcast media:
multiple privately-owned terrestrial television networks,
supplemented by multiple cable TV networks; Radio Honduras is the
lone government-owned radio network; roughly 300 privately-owned
radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.hn
Internet hosts:
16,075 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 115
Internet users:
731,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 108
Transportation ::Honduras
Airports:
104 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 56
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 92
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 74 (2010)
Railways:
total: 75 km
country comparison to the world: 128
narrow gauge: 75 km 1.067-m gauge (2009)
Roadways:
total: 14,239 km
country comparison to the world: 123
paved: 3,159 km
unpaved: 11,080 km (1,420 km summer only) (2009)
Waterways:
465 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 86
Merchant marine:
total: 104
country comparison to the world: 49
by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 50, carrier 2, chemical tanker 7,
container 1, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 22,
refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 49 (Bahrain 5, Canada 1, China 2, Egypt 2, Greece 4,
Hong Kong 1, Israel 1, Japan 4, Lebanon 2, Mexico 1, Montenegro 2,
Panama 1, Singapore 12, South Korea 6, Taiwan 2, Tanzania 1, UK 1,
Vietnam 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
La Ceiba, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela
Military ::Honduras
Military branches:
Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Honduran Air Force (Fuerza
Aerea Hondurena, FAH) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary 2 to 3-year military service (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,989,556
females age 16-49: 1,939,462 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,483,292
females age 16-49: 1,502,788 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 94,501
female: 90,757 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Transnational Issues ::Honduras
Disputes - international:
International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of
"bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras border in
1992 with final settlement by the parties in 2006 after an
Organization of American States (OAS) survey and a further ICJ
ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution
to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca with consideration of
Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny
Conejo Island, not mentioned in the ICJ ruling, off Honduras in the
Gulf of Fonseca; Honduras claims the Belizean-administered Sapodilla
Cays off the coast of Belize in its constitution, but agreed to a
joint ecological park around the cays should Guatemala consent to a
maritime corridor in the Caribbean under the OAS-sponsored 2002
Belize-Guatemala Differendum; memorials and countermemorials were
filed by the parties in Nicaragua's 1999 and 2001 proceedings
against Honduras and Colombia at the ICJ over the maritime boundary
and territorial claims in the western Caribbean Sea - final public
hearings are scheduled for 2007
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for drugs and narcotics; illicit producer of
cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for local
consumption; corruption is a major problem; some money-laundering
activity
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Hong Kong (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Hong Kong
Background:
Occupied by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded by China
the following year; various adjacent lands were added later in the
19th century. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and the UK on
19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China on 1
July 1997. In this agreement, China promised that, under its "one
country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system
would not be imposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong would enjoy a
high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense
affairs for the next 50 years.
Geography ::Hong Kong
Location:
Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates:
22 15 N, 114 10 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 1,104 sq km
country comparison to the world: 183
land: 1,054 sq km
water: 50 sq km
Area - comparative:
six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 30 km
regional border: China 30 km
Coastline:
733 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate:
subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from
spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
Terrain:
hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m
Natural resources:
outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Land use:
arable land: 5.05%
permanent crops: 1.01%
other: 93.94% (2001)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons
Environment - current issues:
air and water pollution from rapid urbanization
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution
(associate member)
Geography - note:
more than 200 islands
People ::Hong Kong
Population:
7,089,705 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Age structure:
0-14 years: 12.2% (male 450,833/female 411,997)
15-64 years: 74.6% (male 2,551,256/female 2,713,532)
65 years and over: 13.1% (male 434,090/female 493,363) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 42.8 years
male: 42.4 years
female: 43.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.476% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Birth rate:
7.45 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
Death rate:
6.91 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Net migration rate:
4.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Urbanization:
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.076 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 2.91 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 218
male: 3.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 81.96 years
country comparison to the world: 8
male: 79.24 years
female: 84.88 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.04 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,600 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Nationality:
noun: Chinese/Hong Konger
adjective: Chinese/Hong Kong
Ethnic groups:
Chinese 95%, Filipino 1.6%, Indonesian 1.3%, other 2.1% (2006 census)
Religions:
eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
Languages:
Cantonese 90.8% (official), English 2.8% (official), Putonghua
(Mandarin) 0.9%, other Chinese dialects 4.4%, other 1.1% (2006
census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 93.5%
male: 96.9%
female: 89.6% (2002)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 13 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3.3% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 137
Government ::Hong Kong
Country name:
conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
conventional short form: Hong Kong
local long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu
local short form: Xianggang
abbreviation: HK
Dependency status:
special administrative region of China
Government type:
limited democracy
Administrative divisions:
none (special administrative region of China)
Independence:
none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday:
National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic
of China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July 1997 is celebrated as
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Constitution:
Basic Law, approved in March 1990 by China's National People's
Congress, is Hong Kong's charter
Legal system:
based on English common law
Suffrage:
direct election - 18 years of age for half the legislature and a
majority of seats in 18 district councils; universal for permanent
residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven
years
indirect election - limited to about 220,000 members of functional
constituencies for the other half of the legislature and an
800-member election committee for the chief executive drawn from
broad sectoral groupings, central government bodies, and municipal
organizations
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)
head of government: Chief Executive Donald TSANG Yam-kuen (since 24
June 2005)
cabinet: Executive Council or ExCo consists of 15 official members
and 14 non-official members
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: chief executive elected for five-year term by 800-member
electoral committee; election last held on 25 March 2007 (next to be
held in 2012)
note: the LegCo voted in June 2010 to expand the electoral committee
to 1,200 seats for the next election
election results: Donald TSANG elected chief executive receiving
84.1% of the vote of the election committee; Alan LEONG Kah-kit
received 15.9%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council or LegCo (60 seats; 30 members
indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 30 elected by
popular vote; members serve four-year terms)
note: the LegCo voted in June 2010 to expand to 70 seats for the
next election; the measure was approved by the National People's
Congress Standing Committee in August 2010; the 10 new seats will be
chosen by popular vote
elections: last held on 7 September 2008 (next to be held in
September 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - pro-democracy 57%;
pro-Beijing 40%, independent 3%; seats by parties - (pro-Beijing 35)
DAB 13, Liberal Party 7, FTU 1, others 14; (pro-democracy 23)
Democratic Party 8, Civic Party 5, CTU 3, League of Social Democrats
3, ADPL 2, The Frontier 1, NWSC 1; others 11; independents and
non-voting LegCo president 2
Judicial branch:
Court of Final Appeal in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders:
parties: Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood or ADPL
[LIU Sung Lee]; Civic Party [Audrey EU Yuet-mee]; Democratic
Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong or DAB [TAM
Yiu Cheng]; Democratic Party [Albert HO Chun-yan]; League of Social
Democrats [Raymond WONG Yuk-man]; Liberal Party [Miriam LAU
Kin-yee]; The Frontier (disbanded)
others: Confederation of Trade Unions or CTU; Federation of Trade
Unions or FTU; Neighborhood and Workers Service Center or NWSC
note: political blocs include: pro-democracy - ADPL, Civic Party,
Democratic Party, League of Social Democrats; pro-Beijing - DAB,
Liberal Party, The Professional Forum (an informal group of three
generally pro-government and pro-business LegCo members from
functional constituencies and one independent elected from a
geographic constituency); there is no political party ordinance, so
there are no registered political parties; politically active groups
register as societies or companies
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Chinese
Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Confederation of Trade
Unions or CTU (pro-democracy) [LAU Chin-shek, president; LEE
Cheuk-yan, general secretary]; Federation of Hong Kong Industries;
Federation of Trade Unions or FTU (pro-China) [CHENG Yiu-tong,
executive councilor]; Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic
Democratic Movement in China [Szeto WAH, chairman]; Hong Kong and
Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Hong Kong General Chamber
of Commerce; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union [CHEUNG
Man-kwong, president]; Neighborhood and Workers' Service Center or
NWSC [LEUNG Yiu-chung, LegCo member] (pro-democracy); Civic Act-up
[Cyd HO Sau-lan, LegCo member] (pro-democracy)
International organization participation:
ADB, APEC, BIS, FATF, ICC, IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol
(subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITUC, UNWTO (associate), UPU,
WCO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (special administrative region of China); Hong Kong Economic
and Trade Office carries out normal liaison and communication with
the US Government and other US entities
representative: Donald TONG
office: 1520 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] 202 331-8947
FAX: [1] 202 331-0318
NKETO offices: New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Stephen M. YOUNG
consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 1, FPO AP 96521-0006
telephone: [852] 2523-9011
FAX: [852] 2845-1598
Flag description:
red with a stylized, white, five-petal Bauhinia flower in the
center; each petal contains a small, red, five-pointed star in its
middle; the red color is the same as that on the Chinese flag and
represents the motherland; the fragrant Bauhinia - developed in Hong
Kong the late 19th century - has come to symbolize the region; the
five stars echo those on the flag of China
National anthem:
note: as a Special Administrative Region of China, "Yiyonggjun
Jinxingqu" is official (see China)
Economy ::Hong Kong
Economy - overview:
Hong Kong has a free market economy highly dependent on
international trade and finance - the value of goods and services
trade, including the sizable share of re-exports, is about four
times GDP. Hong Kong's open economy left it exposed to the global
economic slowdown, but its increasing integration with China,
through trade, tourism, and financial links, helped it recover more
quickly than many observers anticipated. The Hong Kong government is
promoting the Special Administrative Region (SAR) as the site for
Chinese renminbi (RMB) internationalization. Hong Kong residents are
allowed to establish RMB-denominated savings accounts;
RMB-denominated corporate and Chinese government bonds have been
issued in Hong Kong; and RMB trade settlement is allowed. The
territory far exceeded the RMB conversion quota set by Beijing for
trade settlements in 2010 due to the growth of earnings from exports
to the mainland. RMB deposits grew to roughly 3.6% of total system
deposits in Hong Kong by October 2010, an increase of over 250%
since the beginning of the year. The government is pursuing efforts
to introduce additional use of RMB in Hong Kong financial markets
and is seeking to expand the RMB quota for 2011. The mainland has
long been Hong Kong's largest trading partner, accounting for about
half of Hong Kong's exports by value. Hong Kong's natural resources
are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. As a
result of China's easing of travel restrictions, the number of
mainland tourists to the territory has surged from 4.5 million in
2001 to 17.7 million in 2009, outnumbering visitors from all other
countries combined. Hong Kong has also established itself as the
premier stock market for Chinese firms seeking to list abroad. In
2009 mainland Chinese companies constituted about 40% of the firms
listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and accounted for 60% of the
Exchange's market capitalization. During the past decade, as Hong
Kong's manufacturing industry moved to the mainland, its service
industry has grown rapidly and in 2009 accounted for more than 90%
of the territory's GDP. GDP growth averaged a strong 4% from 1989 to
2008. Hong Kong's GDP fell in 2009 as a result of the global
financial crisis, but a recovery began in third quarter 2009, and
the economy grew nearly 6% in 2010. The Hong Kong government adopted
several temporary fiscal policy support measures in response to the
crisis that it may discontinue if strong growth is sustained. Credit
expansion and tight housing supply conditions caused Hong Kong
property prices to rise rapidly in 2010, and some lower income
segments of the population are increasingly unable to afford
adequate housing. Hong Kong continues to link its currency closely
to the US dollar, maintaining an arrangement established in 1983.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$323.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$305.9 billion (2009 est.)
$314.7 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$226.5 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
-2.8% (2009 est.)
2.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$45,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$43,400 (2009 est.)
$44,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 7.6%
services: 92.3% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
3.7 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Labor force - by occupation:
manufacturing: 6.1%
construction: 1.9%
wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels: 42.9%
financing, insurance, and real estate: 21.4%
transport and communications: 7.9%
community and social services: 19.7%
note: above data exclude public sector (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
5.2% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
53.3 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 16
Investment (gross fixed):
22.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Public debt:
18.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
37.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
-0.5% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
0.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 138
0.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
5% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$84.88 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 34
$75.49 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$850.8 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 18
$808.8 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$374.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$351.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$2.292 trillion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 8
$1.32 trillion (31 December 2008)
$1.163 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
fresh vegetables; poultry, pork; fish
Industries:
textiles, clothing, tourism, banking, shipping, electronics,
plastics, toys, watches, clocks
Industrial production growth rate:
-0.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Electricity - production:
39.4 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Electricity - consumption:
42.1 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Electricity - exports:
3.926 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
11.7 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Oil - consumption:
359,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Oil - exports:
160,000 bbl/day (2009)
country comparison to the world: 53
Oil - imports:
440,000 bbl/day (2009)
country comparison to the world: 29
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Natural gas - consumption:
2.83 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Natural gas - imports:
2.83 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Current account balance:
$18.07 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
$18.28 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$382.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$321.8 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel, footwear,
watches and clocks, toys, plastics, precious stones, printed material
Exports - partners:
China 51.2%, US 11.6%, Japan 4.4% (2009 est.)
Imports:
$413 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$348.7 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials and semi-manufactures, consumer goods, capital goods,
foodstuffs, fuel (most is re-exported)
Imports - partners:
China 46.4%, Japan 8.8%, Taiwan 6.5%, Singapore 6.5%, US 5.3% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$262.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$255.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$69.86 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$655.1 billion (30 September 2009)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$962.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
$912.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$873.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$834.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Hong Kong dollars (HKD) per US dollar - 7.78 (2010), 7.7518 (2009),
7.751 (2008), 7.802 (2007), 7.7678 (2006)
Communications ::Hong Kong
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.188 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 35
Telephones - mobile cellular:
12.207 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 56
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern facilities provide excellent domestic and
international services
domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic
network
international: country code - 852; multiple international submarine
cables provide connections to Asia, US, Australia, the Middle East,
and Western Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific
Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China
Broadcast media:
2 commercial terrestrial television networks each with multiple
stations; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems are
available; 3 radio networks, one of which is government-funded,
operate about 15 radio stations (2008)
Internet country code:
.hk
Internet hosts:
817,701 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 45
Internet users:
4.873 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 47
Transportation ::Hong Kong
Airports:
2 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 206
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
9 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 2,050 km
country comparison to the world: 173
paved: 2,050 km (2009)
Merchant marine:
total: 1,429
country comparison to the world: 5
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 629, cargo 177, carrier 11,
chemical tanker 134, container 274, liquefied gas 37, passenger 4,
passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 139, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle
carrier 8
foreign-owned: 855 (Belgium 16, Bermuda 12, Canada 70, China 432,
Cyprus 3, Denmark 41, France 3, Germany 10, Greece 22, Indonesia 8,
Iran 1, Japan 84, Libya 1, Norway 49, Russia 1, Singapore 13, South
Korea 3, Taiwan 26, UAE 2, UK 27, US 31)
registered in other countries: 297 (Bahamas 2, Bermuda 5, Cambodia
11, China 15, Cyprus 2, Georgia 4, Honduras 1, India 1, Kiribati 1,
Liberia 47, Malaysia 8, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 3, former
Netherlands Antilles 1, NZ 1, Panama 125, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 4, Seychelles 1, Sierra Leone 4, Singapore 38, Thailand
1, Tuvalu 1, UK 8, unknown 11) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Hong Kong
Military ::Hong Kong
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison of China's
People's Liberation Army (PLA) includes elements of the PLA Ground
Forces, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are under the
direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and
under administrative control of the adjacent Guangzhou Military
Region (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,729,179
females age 16-49: 1,899,296 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,405,324
females age 16-49: 1,526,196 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 41,717
female: 38,240 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of China
Transnational Issues ::Hong Kong
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
despite strenuous law enforcement efforts, faces difficult
challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to
regional and world markets; modern banking system provides conduit
for money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs,
especially among young people
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Hungary (Europe)
Introduction ::Hungary
Background:
Hungary became a Christian kingdom in A.D. 1000 and for many
centuries served as a bulwark against Ottoman Turkish expansion in
Europe. The kingdom eventually became part of the polyglot
Austro-Hungarian Empire, which collapsed during World War I. The
country fell under Communist rule following World War II. In 1956, a
revolt and an announced withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact were met
with a massive military intervention by Moscow. Under the leadership
of Janos KADAR in 1968, Hungary began liberalizing its economy,
introducing so-called "Goulash Communism." Hungary held its first
multiparty elections in 1990 and initiated a free market economy. It
joined NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004.
Geography ::Hungary
Location:
Central Europe, northwest of Romania
Geographic coordinates:
47 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 93,028 sq km
country comparison to the world: 109
land: 89,608 sq km
water: 3,420 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 2,185 km
border countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km,
Serbia 166 km, Slovakia 676 km, Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the
Slovakian border
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Tisza River 78 m
highest point: Kekes 1,014 m
Natural resources:
bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 49.58%
permanent crops: 2.06%
other: 48.36% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,300 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
120 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 21.03 cu km/yr (9%/59%/32%)
per capita: 2,082 cu m/yr (2001)
Environment - current issues:
the upgrading of Hungary's standards in waste management, energy
efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution to meet EU
requirements will require large investments
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 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, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between
Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and
Mediterranean basin; the north-south flowing Duna (Danube) and Tisza
Rivers divide the country into three large regions
People ::Hungary
Population:
9,992,339 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15% (male 763,553/female 720,112)
15-64 years: 69.3% (male 3,384,961/female 3,475,135)
65 years and over: 15.8% (male 566,067/female 995,768) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 40 years
male: 37.8 years
female: 42.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.156% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Birth rate:
9.7 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Death rate:
12.67 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Net migration rate:
1.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Urbanization:
urban population: 68% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.057 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.38 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 183
male: 5.64 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.57 years
country comparison to the world: 92
male: 70.8 years
female: 78.55 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.39 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,300 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Hungarian(s)
adjective: Hungarian
Ethnic groups:
Hungarian 92.3%, Roma 1.9%, other or unknown 5.8% (2001 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 51.9%, Calvinist 15.9%, Lutheran 3%, Greek Catholic
2.6%, other Christian 1%, other or unspecified 11.1%, unaffiliated
14.5% (2001 census)
Languages:
Hungarian 93.6%, other or unspecified 6.4% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.5%
female: 99.3% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.4% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 48
Government ::Hungary
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Hungary
conventional short form: Hungary
local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag
local short form: Magyarorszag
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Budapest
geographic coordinates: 47 30 N, 19 05 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:
19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 23 urban counties (singular
- megyei varos), and 1 capital city (fovaros)
counties: Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen,
Csongrad, Fejer, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves,
Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Komarom-Esztergom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy,
Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala
urban counties: Bekescsaba, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Erd, Gyor,
Hodmezovasarhely, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa,
Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Salgotarjan, Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar,
Szekszard, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Veszprem, Zalaegerszeg
capital city: Budapest
Independence:
16 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 25
December 1000 (crowning of King STEPHEN I, traditional founding
date); 30 March 1867 (dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary created)
National holiday:
Saint Stephen's Day, 20 August
Constitution:
18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949; revised 19 April 1972; 18
October 1989; and 1997
note: 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals
and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister and
also established the principle of parliamentary oversight; 1997
amendment streamlined the judicial system
Legal system:
based on the German-Austrian legal system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Pal SCHMITT (since 6 August 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN (since 29 May 2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers prime minister elected by the National
Assembly on the recommendation of the president; other ministers
proposed by the prime minister and appointed and relieved of their
duties by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on
29 June 2010 (next to be held by June 2015); prime minister elected
by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president;
election last held 29 May 2010
election results: Pal SCHMITT elected president; National Assembly
vote - Pal SCHMITT 263, Andras BALOGH 58; Viktor ORBAN was elected
prime minister; National Assembly vote - 261 to 107
note: to be elected, the president must win two-thirds of
legislative vote in the first two rounds or a simple majority in the
third round
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (386 seats; members
elected by popular vote under a system of proportional and direct
representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 11 and 25 April 2010 (next to be held in
April 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party (5% or more of the vote
required for parliamentary representation in the first round) -
Fidesz 52.7%, MSzP 19.3%, Jobbik 16.7%, LMP 7.5%; seats by party -
Fidesz 263, MSzP 59, Jobbik 47, LMP 16, independent 1
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court (judges are elected by the National Assembly
for nine-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of Free Democrats or SzDSz [5 administrators]; Christian
Democratic People's Party or KDNP [Semjen ZSOLT]; Hungarian Civic
Alliance or Fidesz [Viktor ORBAN, chairman]; Hungarian Democratic
Forum or MDF [Ibolya DAVID]; Hungarian Socialist Party or MSzP
[Atilla MESTERHAZY]; Movement for a Better Hungary or Jobbik [Gabor
VONA]; Politics Can Be Different or LMP [13-member leadership]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Air Work Group (works to reduce air pollution in towns and cities);
Company For Freedom Rights (Tarsasag a Szabadsagjogokert) or TASZ
(personal data protection); Danube Circle (protests the building of
the Gabchikovo-Nagymaros dam); Green Future (protests the impact of
lead contamination of local factory on health of the people);
environmentalists: Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation
Society (Magyar Madartani Egyesulet)or MME; Green Alternative (Zold
Alternativa)
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA
(cooperating state), EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen
Convention, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bela SZOMBATI
chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730
FAX: [1] (202) 966-8135
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tsakopoulos KOUNALAKIS
embassy: Szabadsag ter 12, H-1054 Budapest
mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Budapest, 5270 Budapest
Place, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270
telephone: [36] (1) 475-4400
FAX: [36] (1) 475-4764
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green; the
flag dates to the national movement of the 18th and 19th centuries,
and fuses the medieval colors of the Hungarian coat of arms with the
revolutionary tricolor form of the French flag; folklore attributes
virtues to the colors: red for strength, white for faithfulness, and
green for hope; alternatively, the red is seen as being for the
blood spilled in defense of the land, white for freedom, and green
for the pasturelands that make up so much of the country
National anthem:
name: "Himnusz" (Hymn)
lyrics/music: Ferenc KOLCSEY/Ferenc ERKEL
note: adopted 1844; the anthem is also known as "Isten, aldd meg a
magyart" (God, Bless the Hungarians)
Economy ::Hungary
Economy - overview:
Hungary has made the transition from a centrally planned to a market
economy, with a per capita income nearly two-thirds that of the
EU-25 average. The private sector accounts for more than 80% of GDP.
Foreign ownership of and investment in Hungarian firms are
widespread, with cumulative foreign direct investment worth more
than $70 billion. The government's austerity measures, imposed since
late 2006, have reduced the budget deficit from over 9% of GDP in
2006 to 3.8% in 2010. Hungary's impending inability to service its
short-term debt - brought on by the global financial crisis in late
2008 - led Budapest to obtain an IMF-arranged financial assistance
package worth over $25 billion. The global economic downturn,
declining exports, and low domestic consumption and fixed asset
accumulation, dampened by government austerity measures, resulted in
an economic contraction of 6.3% in 2009. The economy rebounded in
2010 with a big boost from exports, and growth of more than 2.5% is
expected in 2011. Unemployment remained high, at more than 11%.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$190 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$188.5 billion (2009 est.)
$201.2 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$132.3 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
-6.3% (2009 est.)
0.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$19,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$18,800 (2009 est.)
$20,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.8%
industry: 35.7%
services: 61.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
4.17 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 4.5%
industry: 32.1%
services: 63.4% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
11.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
10% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
12% (2010 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.5%
highest 10%: 24.1% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
28 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 122
24.4 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Public debt:
72.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
78% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
4.2% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 46
10% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.04% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
10.18% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$28.67 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 58
$30.25 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$67.94 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$70.99 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$99.06 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$103 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$28.29 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 62
$18.58 billion (31 December 2008)
$47.65 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar beets; pigs, cattle,
poultry, dairy products
Industries:
mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods,
textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate:
5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Electricity - production:
40.03 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Electricity - consumption:
37.4 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Electricity - exports:
9.446 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
13.35 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
35,580 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Oil - consumption:
158,200 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Oil - exports:
69,650 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Oil - imports:
181,800 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Oil - proved reserves:
26.57 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Natural gas - production:
2.603 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Natural gas - consumption:
11.32 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Natural gas - exports:
85 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Natural gas - imports:
9.708 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Natural gas - proved reserves:
8.098 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Current account balance:
-$631 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
$441 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$93.74 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$82.1 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment 61.1%, other manufactures 28.7%, food
products 6.5%, raw materials 2%, fuels and electricity 1.6% (2009
est.)
Exports - partners:
Germany 25.54%, Italy 5.67%, UK 5.41%, France 5.37%, Romania 5.28%,
Slovakia 4.97%, Austria 4.52% (2009)
Imports:
$87.44 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
$76.42 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment 50%, fuels and electricity 11%, food
products, raw materials
Imports - partners:
Germany 25.05%, China 8.56%, Russia 7.3%, Austria 6.08%, Netherlands
4.73%, France 4.51%, Slovakia 4.14%, Italy 4.13%, Poland 4.07% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$45.73 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$44.18 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$134.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$147.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$72.61 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$70.41 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$20.48 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$19.41 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
forints (HUF) per US dollar - 213.69 (2010), 202.34 (2009), 171.8
(2008), 183.83 (2007), 210.39 (2006)
Communications ::Hungary
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.069 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 49
Telephones - mobile cellular:
11.793 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 58
Telephone system:
general assessment: the telephone system has been modernized; the
system is digital and highly automated; trunk services are carried
by fiber-optic cable and digital microwave radio relay; a program
for fiber-optic subscriber connections was initiated in 1996
domestic: competition among mobile-cellular service providers has
led to a sharp increase in the use of mobile-cellular phones since
2000 and a decrease in the number of fixed-line connections
international: country code - 36; Hungary has fiber-optic cable
connections with all neighboring countries; the international switch
is in Budapest; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Inmarsat, 1 very small aperture
terminal (VSAT) system of ground terminals
Broadcast media:
mixed system of state-supported public service broadcast media and
private broadcasters; the 3 publicly-owned TV channels and the 2
main privately-owned TV stations are the major national
broadcasters; a large number of special interest channels have
emerged; highly developed market for satellite and cable TV services
with about two-thirds of viewers utilizing multi-channel services; 3
state-supported public-service radio networks and 2 major national
commercial stations; a large number of local stations including
commercial, public service, nonprofit, and community radio stations
(2007)
Internet country code:
.hu
Internet hosts:
2.655 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 30
Internet users:
6.176 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 41
Transportation ::Hungary
Airports:
43 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 100
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 21
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 11 (2010)
Heliports:
5 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 4,407 km; oil 987 km; refined products 335 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 8,057 km
country comparison to the world: 27
broad gauge: 36 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 7,802 km 1.435-m gauge (2,628 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 219 km 0.760-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 160,057 km
country comparison to the world: 33
paved: 70,539 km (31,363 km of interurban roads including 858 km of
expressways)
unpaved: 89,518 km (2008)
Waterways:
1,622 km (most on Danube River) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 49
Ports and terminals:
Budapest, Dunaujvaros, Gyor-Gonyu, Csepel, Baja, Mohacs
Military ::Hungary
Military branches:
Land Forces, Hungarian Air Force (Magyar Legiero, ML) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription;
6-month service obligation (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,380,381
females age 16-49: 2,319,142 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,884,232
females age 16-49: 1,923,902 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 58,894
female: 55,922 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.75% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Transnational Issues ::Hungary
Disputes - international:
bilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group
negotiations continue in 2006 with Slovakia over Hungary's failure
to complete its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam
project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the
EU's external border, Hungary has implemented the strict Schengen
border rules
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and for
South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited producer
of precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamine and
methamphetamine; efforts to counter money laundering, related to
organized crime and drug trafficking are improving but remain
vulnerable; significant consumer of ecstasy
page last updated on January 13, 2011
======================================================================
@Iceland (Europe)
Introduction ::Iceland
Background:
Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants
during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the
world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing,
established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was
subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja
volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused
widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the
island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Limited
home rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independence
attained in 1944. The second half of the 20th century saw
substantial economic growth driven primarily by the fishing
industry. The economy diversified greatly after the country joined
the European Economic Area in 1994, but Iceland was especially hard
hit by the global financial crisis in the years following 2008.
Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are first rate by world
standards.
Geography ::Iceland
Location:
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the United Kingdom
Geographic coordinates:
65 00 N, 18 00 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 103,000 sq km
country comparison to the world: 107
land: 100,250 sq km
water: 2,750 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
4,970 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters;
damp, cool summers
Terrain:
mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast
deeply indented by bays and fiords
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,110 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)
Natural resources:
fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use:
arable land: 0.07%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.93% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
170 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.17 cu km/yr (34%/66%/0%)
per capita: 567 cu m/yr (2003)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes and volcanic activity
volcanism: Iceland, situated on top of a hotspot, experiences severe
volcanic activity; Eyjafjallajokull (elev. 1,666 m, 5,466 ft)
erupted in 2010, sending ash high into the atmosphere and seriously
disrupting European air traffic; scientists continue to monitor
nearby Katla (elev. 1,512 m, 4,961 ft), which has a high probability
of eruption in the very near future, potentially disrupting air
traffic; Grimsvotn and Hekla are Iceland's most frequently active
volcanoes; other historically active volcanoes include Askja,
Bardarbunga, Brennisteinsfjoll, Esjufjoll, Hengill, Krafla,
Krisuvik, Kverkfjoll, Oraefajokull, Reykjanes, Torfajokull, and
Vestmannaeyjar
Environment - current issues:
water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater
treatment
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life
Conservation
Geography - note:
strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost
European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in
the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental
Europe
People ::Iceland
Population:
308,910 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.7% (male 32,268/female 31,308)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 104,158/female 101,584)
65 years and over: 12.2% (male 16,952/female 20,424) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 35.4 years
male: 34.9 years
female: 35.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.699% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Birth rate:
13.36 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Death rate:
6.9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Net migration rate:
0.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Urbanization:
urban population: 92% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.21 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 216
male: 3.36 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.79 years
country comparison to the world: 17
male: 78.63 years
female: 83.04 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.9 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
220 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Nationality:
noun: Icelander(s)
adjective: Icelandic
Ethnic groups:
homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%,
population of foreign origin 6%
Religions:
Lutheran Church of Iceland 80.7%, Roman Catholic Church 2.5%,
Reykjavik Free Church 2.4%, Hafnarfjorour Free Church 1.6%, other
religions 3.6%, unaffiliated 3%, other or unspecified 6.2% (2006
est.)
Languages:
Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 18 years
male: 17 years
female: 20 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
7.5% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 15
Government ::Iceland
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Iceland
conventional short form: Iceland
local long form: Lydveldid Island
local short form: Island
Government type:
constitutional republic
Capital:
name: Reykjavik
geographic coordinates: 64 09 N, 21 57 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland Eystra,
Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir, Vesturland
Independence:
1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown);
17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
Constitution:
16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944; amended many times
Legal system:
civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August
1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Johanna SIGURDARDOTTIR (since 1
February 2009);
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president, a largely ceremonial post, elected by popular
vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held on 28
June 2004 (next to be held in June 2012); following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually the prime minister
note: the presidential election of 28 June 2008 was not held because
Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON had no challengers; he was sworn in on 1
August 2008
2004 election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON elected president;
percent of vote - Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON 85.6%, Baldur AGUSTSSON
12.5%, Astthor MAGNUSSON 1.9%;
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 25 April 2009 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democratic
Alliance 29.8%, Independence Party 23.7%, Left-Green Movement 21.7%,
Progressive Party 14.8%, Citizens' Movement 7.2%, other 2.8%; seats
by party - Social Democratic Alliance 20, Independence Party 16,
Left-Green Alliance 14, Progressive Party 9, Citizens' Movement 4
note: the Citizens' Movement disintegrated in September 2009; three
of its former MPs are now represented under the banner of The
Movement and the fourth former MP is an independent
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed for life by
the Minister of Justice); eight district courts (justices are
appointed for life by the Minister of Justice)
Political parties and leaders:
Independence Party or IP [Bjarni BENEDIKTSSON]; Left-Green Movement
or LGM [Steingrimur SIGFUSSON]; Progressive Party or PP [Sigmundur
David GUNNLAUGSSON]; Social Democratic Alliance or SDA [Johanna
SIGURDARDOTTIR]; The Movement [Birgitta JONSDOTTIR]
International organization participation:
Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA,
FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE,
PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hjalmar W. HANNESSON
chancery: House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW #509, Washington, DC
20007
telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653
FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Luis E. ARREAGA
embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik
mailing address: US Department of State, 5640 Reykjavik Place,
Washington, D.C. 20521-5640
telephone: [354] 562-9100
FAX: [354] 562-9118
Flag description:
blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of
the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist
side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the colors
represent three of the elements that make up the island: red is for
the island's volcanic fires, white recalls the snow and ice fields
of the island, and blue is for the surrounding ocean
National anthem:
name: "Lofsongur" (Song of Praise)
lyrics/music: Matthias JOCHUMSSON/Sveinbjorn SVEINBJORNSSON
note: adopted 1944; the anthem, also known as "O, Guo vors Lands"
(O, God of Our Land), was originally written and performed in 1874
Economy ::Iceland
Economy - overview:
Iceland's Scandinavian-type social-market economy combines a
capitalist structure and free-market principles with an extensive
welfare system. Prior to the 2008 crisis, Iceland had achieved high
growth, low unemployment, and a remarkably even distribution of
income. The economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which
provides 40% of export earnings, more than 12% of GDP, and employs
7% of the work force. It remains sensitive to declining fish stocks
as well as to fluctuations in world prices for its main exports:
fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. Iceland's
economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service
industries in the last decade, particularly within the fields of
software production, biotechnology, and tourism. Abundant geothermal
and hydropower sources have attracted substantial foreign investment
in the aluminum sector and boosted economic growth, although the
financial crisis has put several investment projects on hold. Much
of Iceland's economic growth in recent years came as the result of a
boom in domestic demand following the rapid expansion of the
country's financial sector. Domestic banks expanded aggressively in
foreign markets, and consumers and businesses borrowed heavily in
foreign currencies, following the privatization of the banking
sector in the early 2000s. Worsening global financial conditions
throughout 2008 resulted in a sharp depreciation of the krona
vis-a-vis other major currencies. The foreign exposure of Icelandic
banks, whose loans and other assets totaled more than 10 times the
country's GDP, became unsustainable. Iceland's three largest banks
collapsed in late 2008. The country secured over $10 billion in
loans from the IMF and other countries to stabilize its currency and
financial sector, and to back government guarantees for foreign
deposits in Icelandic banks. GDP fell 6.8% in 2009, and unemployment
peaked at 9.4% in February 2009. GDP fell 3.4% in 2010. Since the
collapse of Iceland's financial sector, government economic
priorities have included: stabilizing the krona, reducing Iceland's
high budget deficit, containing inflation, restructuring the
financial sector, and diversifying the economy. Three new banks were
established to take over the domestic assets of the collapsed banks.
Two of them have foreign majority ownership, while the State holds a
majority of the shares of the third. British and Dutch authorities
have pressed claims totaling over $5 billion against Iceland to
compensate their citizens for losses suffered on deposits held in
the failed Icelandic bank, Landsbanki Islands. Iceland agreed to new
terms with the UK and the Netherlands to compensate British and
Dutch depositors, but the agreement must first be approved by the
Icelandic President. Iceland began EU accession negotiations with
the EU in July 2010, however, public support has dropped
substantially because of concern about losing control over fishing
resources and in reaction to measures taken by Brussels during the
ongoing Eurozone crisis.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$11.86 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
$12.28 billion (2009 est.)
$13.17 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$12.77 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-3.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
-6.8% (2009 est.)
1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$38,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
$40,000 (2009 est.)
$43,300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.5%
industry: 24.7%
services: 69.9% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
188,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 4.8%
industry: 22.2%
services: 73% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
8.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
8% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
28 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 123
25 (2005)
Investment (gross fixed):
12.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Public debt:
123.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
113.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
12% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
14.55% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 8
22% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
18.99% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
19.29% (31 December 2007)
Stock of narrow money:
$4.413 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 95
$4.438 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$19.97 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$24.28 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$46.03 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$54.65 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.128 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 77
$5.557 billion (31 December 2008)
$40.56 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, green vegetables; mutton, chicken, pork, beef, dairy
products; fish
Industries:
fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production;
geothermal power, hydropower, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
-1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Electricity - production:
16.84 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Electricity - consumption:
16.48 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Oil - consumption:
18,900 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Oil - exports:
1,915 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Oil - imports:
16,390 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Current account balance:
-$42 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
-$440 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$4.619 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
$4.05 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish and fish products 40%, aluminum, animal products, ferrosilicon,
diatomite
Exports - partners:
Netherlands 30.71%, UK 12.73%, Germany 11.21%, Norway 5.75%, Spain
4.82% (2009)
Imports:
$3.677 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
$3.318 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:
Norway 12.97%, Netherlands 8.62%, Germany 8.3%, Sweden 8.03%,
Denmark 7.27%, US 6.94%, China 4.98%, UK 4.55%, Brazil 4.09% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$4.206 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$3.883 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.073 billion (2002)
country comparison to the world: 127
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA (31 December 2010)
$9.2 billion (#REF!)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
$8.8 billion (31 December 2008)
Exchange rates:
Icelandic kronur (ISK) per US dollar - 139.319 (2010), 123.638
(2009), 85.619 (2008), 63.391 (2007), 70.195 (2006)
Communications ::Iceland
Telephones - main lines in use:
185,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 126
Telephones - mobile cellular:
349,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 167
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications infrastructure is modern and
fully digitized, with satellite-earth stations, fiber-optic cables,
and an extensive broadband network
domestic: liberalization of the telecommunications sector beginning
in the late 1990s has led to increased competition especially in the
mobile services segment of the market
international: country code - 354; the CANTAT-3 and FARICE-1
submarine cable systems provide connectivity to Canada, the Faroe
Islands, UK, Denmark, and Germany; a planned new section of the
Hibernia-Atlantic submarine cable will provide additional
connectivity to Canada, US, and Ireland; satellite earth stations -
2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean
regions); note - Iceland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the
other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden)
Broadcast media:
state-owned public television broadcaster operates 1 TV channel
nationally; several privately-owned TV stations broadcast nationally
and roughly another half-dozen operate locally; about half the
households utilize multi-channel cable or satellite TV services;
state-owned public radio broadcaster operates 2 national networks
and 4 regional stations; 2 privately-owned radio stations operate
nationally and another 15 provide more limited coverage (2007)
Internet country code:
.is
Internet hosts:
344,748 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 55
Internet users:
301,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 129
Transportation ::Iceland
Airports:
99 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 59
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 93
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 63 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 12,869 km
country comparison to the world: 128
paved/oiled gravel: 4,438 km (does not include urban roads)
unpaved: 8,431 km (2009)
Merchant marine:
total: 2
country comparison to the world: 146
by type: passenger/cargo 2
registered in other countries: 19 (Antigua and Barbuda 9, Belize 2,
Denmark 3, Finland 1, Gibraltar 1, Norway 3) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Grundartangi, Hafnarfjordur, Reykjavik
Military ::Iceland
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Icelandic National Police (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 75,259 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 62,705
females age 16-49: 61,392 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,318
female: 2,263 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Military - note:
Iceland has no standing military force; under a 1951 bilateral
agreement - still valid - its defense was provided by the US-manned
Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik; however,
all US military forces in Iceland were withdrawn as of October 2006;
although wartime defense of Iceland remains a NATO commitment, in
April 2007, Iceland and Norway signed a bilateral agreement
providing for Norwegian aerial surveillance and defense of Icelandic
airspace (2008)
Transnational Issues ::Iceland
Disputes - international:
Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe
Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@India (South Asia)
Introduction ::India
Background:
The Indus Valley civilization, one of the world's oldest, flourished
during the 3rd and 2nd millennia B.C. and extended into northwestern
India. Aryan tribes from the northwest infiltrated onto the Indian
subcontinent about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier
Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. The
Maurya Empire of the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C. - which reached its
zenith under ASHOKA - united much of South Asia. The Golden Age
ushered in by the Gupta dynasty (4th to 6th centuries A.D.) saw a
flowering of Indian science, art, and culture. Islam spread across
the subcontinent over a period of 700 years. In the 10th and 11th
centuries, Turks and Afghans invaded India and established the Delhi
Sultanate. In the early 16th century, the Emperor BABUR established
the Mughal Dynasty which ruled India for more than three centuries.
European explorers began establishing footholds in India during the
16th century. By the 19th century, Great Britain had become the
dominant political power on the subcontinent. The British Indian
Army played a vital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent resistance
to British rule, led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU,
eventually brought about independence in 1947. Communal violence led
to the subcontinent's bloody partition, which resulted in the
creation of two separate states, India and Pakistan. The two
countries have fought three wars since independence, the last of
which in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation
of Bangladesh. India's nuclear weapons tests in 1998 caused Pakistan
to conduct its own tests that same year. In November 2008,
terrorists allegedly originating from Pakistan conducted a series of
coordinated attacks in Mumbai, India's financial capital. Despite
pressing problems such as significant overpopulation, environmental
degradation, extensive poverty, and widespread corruption, rapid
economic development is fueling India's rise on the world stage. In
January 2011, India assumed a nonpermanent seat in the UN Security
Council for the 2011-12 term.
Geography ::India
Location:
Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal,
between Burma and Pakistan
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 N, 77 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 3,287,263 sq km
country comparison to the world: 7
land: 2,973,193 sq km
water: 314,070 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than one-third the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 14,103 km
border countries: Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463
km, China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km
Coastline:
7,000 km
Maritime claims:
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 tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north
Terrain:
upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along
the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m
Natural resources:
coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese,
mica, bauxite, rare earth elements, titanium ore, chromite, natural
gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 48.83%
permanent crops: 2.8%
other: 48.37% (2005)
Irrigated land:
558,080 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
1,907.8 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 645.84 cu km/yr (8%/5%/86%)
per capita: 585 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive
flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes
volcanism: Barren Island (elev. 354 m, 1,161 ft) in the Andaman Sea
has been active in recent years
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air
pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water
pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap
water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing
population is overstraining natural resources
Environment - international agreements:
party to: 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, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean
trade routes; Kanchenjunga, third tallest mountain in the world,
lies on the border with Nepal
People ::India
Population:
1,173,108,018 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.5% (male 187,197,389/female 165,285,592)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 384,131,994/female 359,795,835)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 28,816,115/female 31,670,841) (2010
est.)
Median age:
total: 25.9 years
male: 25.4 years
female: 26.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.376% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Birth rate:
21.34 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Death rate:
7.53 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Net migration rate:
-0.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Urbanization:
urban population: 29% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.12 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 49.13 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 53
male: 47.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 50.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.46 years
country comparison to the world: 159
male: 65.46 years
female: 67.57 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.65 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2.4 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
310,000 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E,
and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, dengue fever, Japanese
encephalitis, and malaria
animal contact disease: rabies
water contact disease: leptospirosis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Indian(s)
adjective: Indian
Ethnic groups:
Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3% (2000)
Religions:
Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other 1.8%,
unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
Languages:
Hindi 41%, Bengali 8.1%, Telugu 7.2%, Marathi 7%, Tamil 5.9%, Urdu
5%, Gujarati 4.5%, Kannada 3.7%, Malayalam 3.2%, Oriya 3.2%, Punjabi
2.8%, Assamese 1.3%, Maithili 1.2%, other 5.9%
note: English enjoys the status of subsidiary official language but
is the most important language for national, political, and
commercial communication; Hindi is the most widely spoken language
and primary tongue of 41% of the people; there are 14 other official
languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati,
Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and
Sanskrit; Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken
widely throughout northern India but is not an official language
(2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 61%
male: 73.4%
female: 47.8% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
3.2% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 142
Government ::India
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of India
conventional short form: India
local long form: Republic of India/Bharatiya Ganarajya
local short form: India/Bharat
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
name: New Delhi
geographic coordinates: 28 36 N, 77 12 E
time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
28 states and 7 union territories*; Andaman and Nicobar Islands*,
Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*,
Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli*, Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa,
Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand,
Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Puducherry*, Punjab,
Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
West Bengal
Independence:
15 August 1947 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 26 January (1950)
Constitution:
26 January 1950; amended many times
Legal system:
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; separate
personal law codes apply to Christians, Hindus, and Muslims
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Pratibha Devisingh PATIL (since 25 July
2007); Vice President Mohammad Hamid ANSARI (since 11 August 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Manmohan SINGH (since 22 May 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of
elected members of both houses of Parliament and the legislatures of
the states for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held
in July 2007 (next to be held in July 2012); vice president elected
by both houses of Parliament for a five-year term; election last
held in August 2007 (next to be held August 2012); prime minister
chosen by parliamentary members of the majority party following
legislative elections; election last held April - May 2009 (next to
be held no later than May 2014)
election results: Pratibha PATIL elected president; percent of vote
- Pratibha PATIL 65.8%, Bhairon Singh SHEKHAWAT - 34.2%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Sansad consists of the Council of States or
Rajya Sabha (a body consisting of not more than 250 members up to 12
of whom are appointed by the president, the remainder are chosen by
the elected members of the state and territorial assemblies; members
serve six-year terms) and the People's Assembly or Lok Sabha (545
seats; 543 members elected by popular vote, 2 appointed by the
president; members serve five-year terms)
elections: People's Assembly - last held in five phases on 16,
22-23, 30 April and 7, 13 May 2009 (next must be held by May 2014)
election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - INC 206, BJP 116, SP 23, BSP 21, JD (U) 20, AITC
19, DMK 18, CPI-M 16, BJD 14, SS 11, AIADMK 9, NCP 9, other 61,
vacant 2; note - seats by party as November 2009 - INC 207, BJP 116,
SP 22, BSP 21, JD (U) 20, AITC 19, DMK 18, CPI-M 16, BJD 14, SS 11,
AIADMK 9, NCP 9, other 61, vacant 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (one chief justice and 25 associate justices are
appointed by the president and remain in office until they reach the
age of 65 or are removed for "proved misbehavior")
Political parties and leaders:
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or AIADMK [J.
JAYALALITHAA]; All India Trinamool Congress or AITC [Mamata
BANERJEE]; Bahujan Samaj Party or BSP [MAYAWATI]; Bharatiya Janata
Party or BJP [Nitin GADKARI]; Biju Janata Dal or BJD [Naveen
PATNAIK]; Communist Party of India or CPI [B. BARDHAN]; Communist
Party of India-Marxist or CPI-M [Prakash KARAT]; Dravida Munnetra
Kazhagam or DMK [Kalaignar M.KARUNANIDHI]; Indian National Congress
or INC [Sonia GANDHI]; Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) [Sharad YADAV];
Left Front (an alliance of Indian leftist parties); Nationalist
Congress Party or NCP [Sharad PAWAR]; Rashtriya Lok Dal or RLD [Ajit
SINGH]; Samajwadi Party or SP [Mulayam Singh YADAV]; Shiromani Akali
Dal or SAD [Parkash Singh BADAL]; Shiv Sena or SS [Bal THACKERAY];
Telugu Desam Party or TDP [Chandrababu NAIDU]; note - India has
dozens of national and regional political parties; only parties or
coalitions with four or more seats in the People's Assembly are
listed
Political pressure groups and leaders:
All Parties Hurriyat Conference in the Kashmir Valley (separatist
group); Bajrang Dal (religious organization); National Socialist
Council of Nagaland in the northeast (separatist group); Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh [Mohan BHAGWAT] (religious organization); Vishwa
Hindu Parishad [Ashok SINGHAL] (religious organization)
other: numerous religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations;
various separatist groups seeking greater communal and/or regional
autonomy
International organization participation:
ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner),
BIMSTEC, BIS, C, CD, CERN (observer), CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, FATF,
G-15, G-20, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, LAS (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW,
PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC, SACEP, SCO (observer), UN, UN Security
Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNITAR, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Meera SHANKAR
chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; note -
Consular Wing located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-7000
FAX: [1] (202) 265-4351
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Timothy J. ROEMER
embassy: Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [91] (011) 2419-8000
FAX: [91] (11) 2419-0017
consulate(s) general: Chennai (Madras), Hyderabad; Kolkata
(Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay)
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange) (top),
white, and green, with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in
the white band; saffron represents courage, sacrifice, and the
spirit of renunciation; white signifies purity and truth; green
stands for faith and fertility; the blue chakra symbolizes the wheel
of life in movement and death in stagnation
note: similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small orange disk
centered in the white band
National anthem:
name: "Jana-Gana-Mana" (Thou Art the Ruler of the Minds of All
People)
lyrics/music: Rabindranath TAGORE
note: adopted 1950; Rabindranath TAGORE, a Nobel laureate, also
wrote Bangladesh's national anthem
Economy ::India
Economy - overview:
India is developing into an open-market economy, yet traces of its
past autarkic policies remain. Economic liberalization, including
industrial deregulation, privatization of state-owned enterprises,
and reduced controls on foreign trade and investment, began in the
early 1990s and has served to accelerate the country's growth, which
has averaged more than 7% per year since 1997. India's diverse
economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture,
handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of
services. Slightly more than half of the work force is in
agriculture, but services are the major source of economic growth,
accounting for more than half of India's output, with only one-third
of its labor force. India has capitalized on its large educated
English-speaking population to become a major exporter of
information technology services and software workers. In 2010, the
Indian economy rebounded robustly from the global financial crisis -
in large part because of strong domestic demand - and growth
exceeded 8% year-on-year in real terms. Merchandise exports, which
account for about 15% of GDP, returned to pre-financial crisis
levels. An industrial expansion and high food prices, resulting from
the combined effects of the weak 2009 monsoon and inefficiencies in
the government's food distribution system, fueled inflation which
peaked at about 11% in the first half fo 2010, but has gradually
decreased to single digits following a series of central bank
interest rate hikes. New Delhi in 2010 reduced subsidies in fuel and
fertilizers, sold a small percentage of its shares in some
state-owned enterprises and auctioned off rights to radio bandwidth
for 3G telecommunications in part to lower the government's deficit.
The Indian Government seeks to reduce its deficit to 5.5% of GDP in
FY 2010-11, down from 6.8% in the previous fiscal year. India's long
term challenges include widespread poverty, inadequate physical and
social infrastructure, limited non-agricultural employment
opportunities, insufficient access to quality basic and higher
education, and accommodiating rual-to-urban migration.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.046 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
$3.736 trillion (2009 est.)
$3.478 trillion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.43 trillion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
8.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
7.4% (2009 est.)
7.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
$3,200 (2009 est.)
$3,000 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 16.1%
industry: 28.6%
services: 55.3% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
478.3 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 52%
industry: 14%
services: 34% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
10.7% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
25% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 31.1% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.8 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 79
37.8 (1997)
Investment (gross fixed):
32% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Public debt:
55.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
57.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
10.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 74
6% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.19% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
13.31% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$328.4 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 15
$268.4 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.29 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$1.04 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.164 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$938.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.179 trillion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 14
$645.5 billion (31 December 2008)
$1.819 trillion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, lentils, onions,
potatoes; dairy products, sheep, goats, poultry; fish
Industries:
textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation
equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software,
pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:
9.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Electricity - production:
723.8 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Electricity - consumption:
568 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Electricity - exports:
810 million kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
5.27 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
878,700 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Oil - consumption:
2.98 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Oil - exports:
738,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Oil - imports:
2.9 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Oil - proved reserves:
5.8 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Natural gas - production:
38.65 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Natural gas - consumption:
51.27 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Natural gas - imports:
12.62 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.075 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Current account balance:
-$26.91 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
-$26.63 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$201 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$168.2 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum products, precious stones, machinery, iron and steel,
chemicals, vehicles, apparel
Exports - partners:
UAE 12.87%, US 12.59%, China 5.59% (2009)
Imports:
$327 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
$274.3 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
crude oil, precious stones, machinery, fertilizer, iron and steel,
chemicals
Imports - partners:
China 10.94%, US 7.16%, Saudi Arabia 5.36%, UAE 5.18%, Australia
5.02%, Germany 4.86%, Singapore 4.02% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$284.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$274.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$237.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$221.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$191.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$157.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$89.04 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
$76.62 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Indian rupees (INR) per US dollar - 46.163 (2010), 48.405 (2009),
43.319 (2008), 41.487 (2007), 45.3 (2006)
Communications ::India
Telephones - main lines in use:
35.77 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 8
Telephones - mobile cellular:
670 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 2
Telephone system:
general assessment: supported by recent deregulation and
liberalization of telecommunications laws and policies, India has
emerged as one of the fastest growing telecom markets in the world;
total telephone subscribership base reached 700 million, an overall
teledensity of 60%, and subscribership is currently growing more
than 15 million per month; urban teledensity has reached 100% and
rural teledensity is about 20% and steadily growing
domestic: mobile cellular service introduced in 1994 and organized
nationwide into four metropolitan areas and 19 telecom circles each
with multiple private service providers and one or more state-owned
service providers; in recent years significant trunk capacity added
in the form of fiber-optic cable and one of the world's largest
domestic satellite systems, the Indian National Satellite system
(INSAT), with 6 satellites supporting 33,000 very small aperture
terminals (VSAT)
international: country code - 91; a number of major international
submarine cable systems, including Sea-Me-We-3 with landing sites at
Cochin and Mumbai (Bombay), Sea-Me-We-4 with a landing site at
Chennai, Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) with a landing
site at Mumbai (Bombay), South Africa - Far East (SAFE) with a
landing site at Cochin, the i2i cable network linking to Singapore
with landing sites at Mumbai (Bombay) and Chennai (Madras), and Tata
Indicom linking Singapore and Chennai (Madras), provide a
significant increase in the bandwidth available for both voice and
data traffic; satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region); 9 gateway exchanges operating
from Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta), Chennai
(Madras), Jalandhar, Kanpur, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, and Ernakulam
(2010)
Broadcast media:
Doordarshan, India's public TV network, operates about 20 national,
regional, and local services; large number of privately-owned TV
stations are distributed by cable and satellite service providers;
government controls AM radio with All India Radio operating domestic
and external networks; news broadcasts via radio are limited to the
All India Radio Network; since 2000, privately-owned FM stations are
permitted but limited to broadcasting entertainment and educational
content (2007)
Internet country code:
.in
Internet hosts:
4.536 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 18
Internet users:
61.338 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 6
Transportation ::India
Airports:
352 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 23
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 249
over 3,047 m: 21
2,438 to 3,047 m: 57
1,524 to 2,437 m: 75
914 to 1,523 m: 81
under 914 m: 15 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 103
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 43
under 914 m: 48 (2010)
Heliports:
40 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate/gas 2 km; gas 7,542 km; liquid petroleum gas 2,163 km;
oil 7,659 km; refined products 7,201 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 64,015 km
country comparison to the world: 4
broad gauge: 52,808 km 1.676-m gauge (18,172 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 8,473 km 1.000-m gauge; 2,734 km 0.762-m gauge and
0.610-m gauge (2009)
Roadways:
total: 3,320,410 km (includes 200 km of expressways) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 3
Waterways:
14,500 km
country comparison to the world: 9
note: 5,200 km on major rivers and 485 km on canals suitable for
mechanized vessels (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 324
country comparison to the world: 29
by type: bulk carrier 94, cargo 78, chemical tanker 23, container
15, liquefied gas 11, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum
tanker 87
foreign-owned: 8 (China 1, Hong Kong 1, Jersey 1, Malaysia 1, UAE 4)
registered in other countries: 56 (Cyprus 2, Dominica 2, Liberia 1,
Malta 4, Marshall Islands 8, Nigeria 1, Panama 17, Singapore 19,
unknown 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Chennai, Jawaharal Nehru, Kandla, Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai
(Bombay), Sikka, Vishakhapatnam
Military ::India
Military branches:
Army, Navy (includes naval air arm), Air Force (Bharatiya Vayu
Sena), Coast Guard (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription; women may join as officers, but for noncombat roles
only (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 313,905,989
females age 16-49: 291,755,100 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 244,727,406
females age 16-49: 235,662,750 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 12,011,217
female: 10,639,158 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 62
Transnational Issues ::India
Disputes - international:
since China and India launched a security and foreign policy
dialogue in 2005, consolidated discussions related to the dispute
over most of their rugged, militarized boundary, regional nuclear
proliferation, Indian claims that China transferred missiles to
Pakistan, and other matters continue; various talks and
confidence-building measures have cautiously begun to defuse
tensions over Kashmir, particularly since the October 2005
earthquake in the region; Kashmir nevertheless remains the 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 and Pakistan have maintained the 2004 cease fire in
Kashmir and initiated discussions on defusing the armed stand-off in
the Siachen glacier region; Pakistan protests India's fencing the
highly militarized Line of Control and construction of the Baglihar
Dam on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, which is part of the
larger dispute on water sharing of the Indus River and its
tributaries; UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
(UNMOGIP) has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949;
India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to
China in 1964; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a
maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek technical resolution of
the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann
of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show its
Junagadh claim in Indian Gujarat State; discussions with Bangladesh
remain stalled to delimit a small section of river boundary, to
exchange territory for 51 Bangladeshi exclaves in India and 111
Indian exclaves in Bangladesh, to allocate divided villages, and to
stop illegal cross-border trade, migration, violence, and transit of
terrorists through the porous border; Bangladesh protests India's
attempts to fence off high-traffic sections of the border; India
seeks cooperation from Bhutan and Burma to keep Indian Nagaland and
Assam separatists from hiding in remote areas along the borders;
Joint Border Committee with Nepal continues to examine contested
boundary sections, including the 400 square kilometer dispute over
the source of the Kalapani River; India maintains a strict border
regime to keep out Maoist insurgents and control illegal
cross-border activities from Nepal
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 77,200 (Tibet/China); 69,609 (Sri
Lanka); 9,472 (Afghanistan)
IDPs: at least 600,000 (about half are Kashmiri Pandits from Jammu
and Kashmir) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: India is a source, destination, and transit
country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of
forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; internal forced
labor may constitute India's largest trafficking problem; men,
women, and children are held in debt bondage and face forced labor
working in brick kilns, rice mills, agriculture, and embroidery
factories; women and girls are trafficked within the country for the
purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced marriage;
children are subjected to forced labor as factory workers, domestic
servants, beggars, and agriculture workers, and have been used as
armed combatants by some terrorist and insurgent groups; India is
also a destination for women and girls from Nepal and Bangladesh
trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; Indian
women are trafficked to the Middle East for commercial sexual
exploitation; men and women from Bangladesh and Nepal are trafficked
through India for forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation in
the Middle East
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - India is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for a fifth consecutive year for its failure to provide evidence of
increasing efforts to combat human trafficking in 2007; despite the
reported extent of the trafficking crisis in India, government
authorities made uneven efforts to prosecute traffickers and protect
trafficking victims; government authorities continued to rescue
victims of commercial sexual exploitation and forced child labor and
child armed combatants, and began to show progress in law
enforcement against these forms of trafficking; a critical challenge
overall is the lack of punishment for traffickers, effectively
resulting in impunity for acts of human trafficking; India has not
ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)
Illicit drugs:
world's largest producer of licit opium for the pharmaceutical
trade, but an undetermined quantity of opium is diverted to illicit
international drug markets; transit point for illicit narcotics
produced in neighboring countries and throughout Southwest Asia;
illicit producer of methaqualone; vulnerable to narcotics money
laundering through the hawala system; licit ketamine and precursor
production
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Indian Ocean (Oceans)
Introduction ::Indian Ocean
Background:
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's five oceans
(after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, but larger than the
Southern Ocean and Arctic Ocean). Four critically important access
waterways are the Suez Canal (Egypt), Bab el Mandeb
(Djibouti-Yemen), Strait of Hormuz (Iran-Oman), and Strait of
Malacca (Indonesia-Malaysia). The decision by the International
Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth
ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Indian Ocean
south of 60 degrees south latitude.
Geography ::Indian Ocean
Location:
body of water between Africa, the Southern Ocean, Asia, and Australia
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 80 00 E
Map references:
Political Map of the World
Area:
total: 68.556 million sq km
note: includes Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Flores Sea,
Great Australian Bight, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Java Sea,
Mozambique Channel, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Savu Sea, Strait of
Malacca, Timor Sea, and other tributary water bodies
Area - comparative:
about 5.5 times the size of the US
Coastline:
66,526 km
Climate:
northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon (June to
October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June and
October/November in the northern Indian Ocean and January/February
in the southern Indian Ocean
Terrain:
surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad, circular system
of currents) in the southern Indian Ocean; unique reversal of
surface currents in the northern Indian Ocean; low atmospheric
pressure over southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer air results in
the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and currents,
while high pressure over northern Asia from cold, falling, winter
air results in the northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest
winds and currents; ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean
Ridge and subdivided by the Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge, Southwest
Indian Ocean Ridge, and Ninetyeast Ridge
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Java Trench -7,258 m
highest point: sea level 0 m
Natural resources:
oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and gravel aggregates, placer
deposits, polymetallic nodules
Natural hazards:
occasional icebergs pose navigational hazard in southern reaches
Environment - current issues:
endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and
whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea
Geography - note:
major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of
Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and the Lombok Strait
Economy ::Indian Ocean
Economy - overview:
The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes connecting the Middle
East, Africa, and East Asia with Europe and the Americas. It carries
a particularly heavy traffic of petroleum and petroleum products
from the oilfields of the Persian Gulf and Indonesia. Its fish are
of great and growing importance to the bordering countries for
domestic consumption and export. Fishing fleets from Russia, Japan,
South Korea, and Taiwan also exploit the Indian Ocean, mainly for
shrimp and tuna. Large reserves of hydrocarbons are being tapped in
the offshore areas of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and western
Australia. An estimated 40% of the world's offshore oil production
comes from the Indian Ocean. Beach sands rich in heavy minerals and
offshore placer deposits are actively exploited by bordering
countries, particularly India, South Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka,
and Thailand.
Transportation ::Indian Ocean
Ports and terminals:
Chennai (Madras; India), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Durban (South Africa),
Jakarta (Indonesia), Kolkata (Calcutta; India) Melbourne
(Australia), Mumbai (Bombay; India), Richards Bay (South Africa)
Transportation - note:
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of
littoral states and offshore waters as high risk for piracy and
armed robbery against ships, particularly in the Gulf of Aden, along
the east coast of Africa, the Bay of Bengal, and the Strait of
Malacca; numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and
pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and
while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargoes
stolen; crew and passengers are often held for ransom, murdered, or
cast adrift; the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf
of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship
operators have reduced the piracy incidents; in response local
pirates shifted operations farther south along the east coast of
Somalia and eastward along the coast of Oman
Transnational Issues ::Indian Ocean
Disputes - international:
some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@Indonesia (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Indonesia
Background:
The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia in the early 17th century;
Japan occupied the islands from 1942 to 1945. Indonesia declared its
independence after Japan's surrender, but it required four years of
intermittent negotiations, recurring hostilities, and UN mediation
before the Netherlands agreed to transfer sovereignty in 1949. Free
and fair legislative elections took place in 1999 after decades of
repressive rule. Indonesia is now the world's third most populous
democracy, the world's largest archipelagic state, and home to the
world's largest Muslim population. Current issues include:
alleviating poverty, improving education, preventing terrorism,
consolidating democracy after four decades of authoritarianism,
implementing economic and financial reforms, stemming corruption,
holding the military and police accountable for human rights
violations, addressing climate change, and controlling avian
influenza. In 2005, Indonesia reached a historic peace agreement
with armed separatists in Aceh, which led to democratic elections in
Aceh in December 2006. Indonesia continues to face low intensity
armed resistance by the separatist Free Papua Movement.
Geography ::Indonesia
Location:
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the
Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates:
5 00 S, 120 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 1,904,569 sq km
country comparison to the world: 16
land: 1,811,569 sq km
water: 93,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 2,830 km
border countries: Timor-Leste 228 km, Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New
Guinea 820 km
Coastline:
54,716 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain:
mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Puncak Jaya 5,030 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper,
fertile soils, coal, gold, silver
Land use:
arable land: 11.03%
permanent crops: 7.04%
other: 81.93% (2005)
Irrigated land:
45,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
2,838 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 82.78 cu km/yr (8%/1%/91%)
per capita: 372 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
occasional floods; severe droughts; tsunamis; earthquakes;
volcanoes; forest fires
volcanism: Indonesia contains the most volcanoes of any country in
the world - some 76 are historically active; significant volcanic
activity occurs on Java, western Sumatra, the Sunda Islands,
Halmahera Island, Sulawesi Island, Sangihe Island, and in the Banda
Sea; Merapi (elev. 2,968 m, 9,737 ft), Indonesia's most active
volcano and in eruption since 2010, has been deemed a "Decade
Volcano" by the International Association of Volcanology and
Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its
explosive history and close proximity to human populations; other
notable historically active volcanoes include Agung, Awu,
Karangetang, Krakatau (Krakatoa), Makian, Raung, and Tambora
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage; air
pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from forest fires
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber
83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
archipelago of 17,508 islands (6,000 inhabited); straddles equator;
strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from Indian
Ocean to Pacific Ocean
People ::Indonesia
Population:
242,968,342 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.1% (male 34,337,341/female 33,162,207)
15-64 years: 66% (male 79,549,569/female 78,918,321)
65 years and over: 6% (male 6,335,208/female 7,968,876) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.9 years
male: 27.4 years
female: 28.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.097% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Birth rate:
18.45 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Death rate:
6.25 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Net migration rate:
-1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Urbanization:
urban population: 52% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 28.94 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 74
male: 33.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.05 years
country comparison to the world: 135
male: 68.53 years
female: 73.69 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.28 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
270,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
8,700 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E,
and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, dengue fever, and malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Indonesian(s)
adjective: Indonesian
Ethnic groups:
Javanese 40.6%, Sundanese 15%, Madurese 3.3%, Minangkabau 2.7%,
Betawi 2.4%, Bugis 2.4%, Banten 2%, Banjar 1.7%, other or
unspecified 29.9% (2000 census)
Religions:
Muslim 86.1%, Protestant 5.7%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 1.8%, other
or unspecified 3.4% (2000 census)
Languages:
Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch,
local dialects (the most widely spoken of which is Javanese)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.4%
male: 94%
female: 86.8% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.5% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 134
Government ::Indonesia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Indonesia
conventional short form: Indonesia
local long form: Republik Indonesia
local short form: Indonesia
former: Netherlands East Indies, Dutch East Indies
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Jakarta
geographic coordinates: 6 10 S, 106 49 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Indonesia is divided into three time zones
Administrative divisions:
30 provinces (provinsi-provinsi, singular - provinsi), 2 special
regions* (daerah-daerah istimewa, singular - daerah istimewa), and 1
special capital city district** (daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*,
Bali, Banten, Bengkulu, Gorontalo, Jakarta Raya**, Jambi, Jawa Barat
(West Java), Jawa Tengah (Central Java), Jawa Timur (East Java),
Kalimantan Barat (West Kalimantan), Kalimantan Selatan (South
Kalimantan), Kalimantan Tengah (Central Kalimantan), Kalimantan
Timur (East Kalimantan), Kepulauan Bangka Belitung (Bangka Belitung
Islands), Kepulauan Riau (Riau Islands), Lampung, Maluku, Maluku
Utara (North Maluku), Nusa Tenggara Barat (West Nusa Tenggara), Nusa
Tenggara Timur (East Nusa Tenggara), Papua, Papua Barat (West
Papua), Riau, Sulawesi Barat (West Sulawesi), Sulawesi Selatan
(South Sulawesi), Sulawesi Tengah (Central Sulawesi), Sulawesi
Tenggara (Southeast Sulawesi), Sulawesi Utara (North Sulawesi),
Sumatera Barat (West Sumatra), Sumatera Selatan (South Sumatra),
Sumatera Utara (North Sumatra), Yogyakarta*
note: following the implementation of decentralization beginning on
1 January 2001, regencies and municipalities have become the key
administrative units responsible for providing most government
services
Independence:
17 August 1945 (declared); 27 December 1949 (by the Netherlands);
note - in August 2005 the Netherlands announced that it had
recognized de facto Indonesian independence on 17 August 1945
National holiday:
Independence Day, 17 August (1945)
Constitution:
August 1945; abrogated by Federal Constitution of 1949 and
Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959; series of
amendments concluded in 2002
Legal system:
based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by indigenous
concepts and by new criminal procedures and election codes; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO (since 20 October
2004); Vice President BOEDIONO (since 20 October 2009); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO (since 20
October 2004); Vice President BOEDIONO (since 20 October 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected for five-year terms
(eligible for a second term) by direct vote of the citizenry;
election last held on 8 July 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO elected president;
percent of vote - Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO 60.8%, MEGAWATI
Sukarnoputri 26.8%, Jusuf KALLA 12.4%
Legislative branch:
People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat or
MPR) is the upper house; it consists of members of the DPR and DPD
and has role in inaugurating and impeaching the president and in
amending the constitution but does not formulate national policy;
House of Representatives or Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) (560
seats, members elected to serve five-year terms), formulates and
passes legislation at the national level; House of Regional
Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Daerah or DPD), constitutionally
mandated role includes providing legislative input to DPR on issues
affecting regions (132 members, four from each of Indonesia's 30
provinces, two special regions, and one special capital city
district)
elections: last held on 9 April 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - PD 20.9%, GOLKAR 14.5%,
PDI-P 14.0%, PKS 7.9%, PAN 6.0%, PPP 5.3%, PKB 4.9%, GERINDRA 4.5%,
HANURA 3.8%, others 18.2%; seats by party - PD 148, GOLKAR 107,
PDI-P 94, PKS 57, PAN 46, PPP 37, PKB 28, GERINDRA 26, HANURA 17
note: 29 other parties received less than 2.5% of the vote so did
not obtain any seats; because of election rules, the number of seats
won does not always follow the percentage of votes received by
parties
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Mahkamah Agung is the final court of appeal but
does not have the power of judicial review (justices are appointed
by the president from a list of candidates selected by the
legislature); in March 2004 the Supreme Court assumed administrative
and financial responsibility for the lower court system from the
Ministry of Justice and Human Rights; Constitutional Court or
Mahkamah Konstitusi (invested by the president on 16 August 2003)
has the power of judicial review, jurisdiction over the results of a
general election, and reviews actions to dismiss a president from
office; Labor Court under supervision of Supreme Court began
functioning in January 2006; the Anti-Corruption Court has
jurisdiction over corruption cases brought by the independent
Corruption Eradication Commission
Political parties and leaders:
Democrat Party or PD [Anas URANINGRUM]; Functional Groups Party or
GOLKAR [Aburizal BAKRIE]; Great Indonesia Movement Party or GERINDRA
[SUHARDI]; Indonesia Democratic Party-Struggle or PDI-P [MEGAWATI
Sukarnoputri]; National Awakening Party or PKB [Muhaiman ISKANDAR];
National Mandate Party or PAN [Hatta RAJASA]; People's Conscience
Party or HANURA [WIRANTO]; Prosperous Justice Party or PKS [Luthfi
Hasan ISHAQ]; United Development Party or PPP [Suryadharma ALI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Commission for the "Disappeared" and Victims of Violence or KontraS;
Indonesia Corruption Watch or ICW; Indonesian Forum for the
Environment or WALHI; Islamic Defenders Front or FPI; People's
Democracy Fortress or Bendera
International organization participation:
ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, EAS, FAO,
G-11, G-15, G-20, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PIF
(partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dino Patti DJALAL
chancery: 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 775-5200
FAX: [1] (202) 775-5365
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Scot A. MARCIEL
embassy: Jalan 1 Medan Merdeka Selatan 4-5, Jakarta 10110
mailing address: Unit 8129, Box 1, FPO AP 96520
telephone: [62] (21) 3435-9000
FAX: [62] (21) 3435-9922
consulate(s) general: Surabaya
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; the colors derive
from the banner of the Majapahit Empire of the 13th-15th centuries;
red symbolizes courage, white represents purity
note: similar to the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar
to the flag of Poland, which is white (top) and red
National anthem:
name: "Indonesia Raya" (Great Indonesia)
lyrics/music: Wage Rudolf SOEPRATMAN
note: adopted 1945
Economy ::Indonesia
Economy - overview:
Indonesia, a vast polyglot nation, has weathered the global
financial crisis relatively smoothly because of its heavy reliance
on domestic consumption as the driver of economic growth. Although
the economy slowed significantly in 2009 from the 6%-plus growth
rate recorded in 2007 and 2008, by 2010 growth returned to a 6%
rate. During the recession, Indonesia outperformed its regional
neighbors and joined China and India as the only G20 members posting
growth. The government made economic advances under the first
administration of President YUDHOYONO, introducing significant
reforms in the financial sector, including tax and customs reforms,
the use of Treasury bills, and capital market development and
supervision. Indonesia's debt-to-GDP ratio in recent years has
declined steadily because of increasingly robust GDP growth and
sound fiscal stewardship. Indonesia still struggles with poverty and
unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, corruption, a complex
regulatory environment, and unequal resource distribution among
regions. YUDHOYONO's reelection, with respected economist BOEDIONO
as his vice president, suggests broad continuity of economic policy,
although the start of their term has been marred by corruption
scandals and the departure of an internationally respected finance
minister. The government in 2010 faces the ongoing challenge of
improving Indonesia's insufficient infrastructure to remove
impediments to economic growth, while addressing climate change
mitigation and adaptation needs, particularly with regard to
conserving Indonesia's forests and peatlands, the focus of a
potentially trailblazing $1 billion REDD+ pilot project.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.033 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
$974.6 billion (2009 est.)
$932.6 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$695.1 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
4.5% (2009 est.)
6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
$4,100 (2009 est.)
$3,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 14.9%
industry: 46.8%
services: 38.3% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
114.9 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 42.1%
industry: 18.6%
services: 39.3% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
8.1% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
13.3% (2010)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 32.3% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39.4 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 66
37 (2001)
Investment (gross fixed):
30.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Public debt:
26.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
27.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
4.8% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.46% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 40
10.83% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.5% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
13.6% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$65.47 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 42
$49.63 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$276.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$205.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$253.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$192.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$178.2 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 35
$98.76 billion (31 December 2008)
$211.7 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil,
copra; poultry, beef, pork, eggs
Industries:
petroleum and natural gas, textiles, apparel, footwear, mining,
cement, chemical fertilizers, plywood, rubber, food, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Electricity - production:
134.4 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Electricity - consumption:
119.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
1.023 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Oil - consumption:
1.115 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Oil - exports:
85,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Oil - imports:
671,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Oil - proved reserves:
4.05 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Natural gas - production:
70 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Natural gas - consumption:
36.5 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Natural gas - exports:
33.5 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Natural gas - proved reserves:
3.001 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Current account balance:
$8.532 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$10.75 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$146.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$119.5 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil and gas, electrical appliances, plywood, textiles, rubber
Exports - partners:
Japan 17.28%, Singapore 11.29%, US 10.81%, China 7.62%, South Korea
5.53%, India 4.35%, Taiwan 4.11%, Malaysia 4.07% (2009)
Imports:
$111.1 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$84.35 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Singapore 24.96%, China 12.52%, Japan 8.92%, Malaysia 5.88%, South
Korea 5.64%, US 4.88%, Thailand 4.45% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$83.58 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
$66.12 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$155.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$156.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$81.21 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$72.84 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$33.71 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$30.18 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Indonesian rupiah (IDR) per US dollar - 9,169.5 (2010), 10,389.9
(2009), 9,698.9 (2008), 9,143 (2007), 9,159.3 (2006)
Communications ::Indonesia
Telephones - main lines in use:
33.958 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 9
Telephones - mobile cellular:
159.248 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 6
Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic service includes an interisland
microwave system, an HF radio police net, and a domestic satellite
communications system; international service good
domestic: coverage provided by existing network has been expanded by
use of over 200,000 telephone kiosks many located in remote areas;
mobile-cellular subscribership growing rapidly
international: country code - 62; landing point for both the
SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks that provide
links throughout Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast media:
mixture of about a dozen national television networks - 2 public
broadcasters, the remainder private broadcasters - each with
multiple transmitters; more than 100 local TV stations operating;
widespread use of satellite and cable TV systems; public radio
broadcaster operates 6 national networks as well as regional and
local stations; overall, more than 700 radio stations operating with
more than 650 privately-operated (2008)
Internet country code:
.id
Internet hosts:
1.269 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 39
Internet users:
20 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 22
Transportation ::Indonesia
Airports:
684 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 10
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 171
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 50
914 to 1,523 m: 64
under 914 m: 34 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 513
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 484 (2010)
Heliports:
64 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 735 km; condensate/gas 73 km; gas 5,800 km; oil 5,721 km;
oil/gas/water 12 km; refined products 1,370 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 8,529 km
country comparison to the world: 25
narrow gauge: 8,529 km 1.067-m gauge (565 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 437,759 km
country comparison to the world: 14
paved: 258,744 km
unpaved: 179,015 km (2008)
Waterways:
21,579 km (2011)
country comparison to the world: 5
Merchant marine:
total: 1,244
country comparison to the world: 8
by type: bulk carrier 95, cargo 601, chemical tanker 57, container
112, liquefied gas 17, passenger 47, passenger/cargo 76, petroleum
tanker 214, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 12, specialized
tanker 1, vehicle carrier 8
foreign-owned: 61 (China 1, France 1, Greece 1, Japan 7, Malaysia 1,
Norway 4, Singapore 42, South Korea 1, Taiwan 1, US 2)
registered in other countries: 87 (Bahamas 2, Cambodia 2, Hong Kong
8, Liberia 4, Mongolia 2, Panama 14, Singapore 53, unknown 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Banjarmasin, Belawan, Kotabaru, Krueg Geukueh, Palembang, Panjang,
Sungai Pakning, Tanjung Perak, Tanjung Priok
Transportation - note:
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and
offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea as high
risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial
vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while
underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to
ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift
Military ::Indonesia
Military branches:
Indonesian Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, TNI): Army
(TNI-Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD)), Navy (TNI-Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL);
includes marines, naval air arm), Air Force (TNI-Angkatan Udara
(TNI-AU)), National Air Defense Command (Kommando Pertahanan Udara
Nasional (Kohanudnas)) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military
service; 2-year conscript service obligation, with reserve
obligation to age 45 (officers); Indonesian citizens only (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 65,166,986
females age 16-49: 62,715,534 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 53,624,156
females age 16-49: 52,879,309 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,227,993
female: 2,156,427 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Transnational Issues ::Indonesia
Disputes - international:
Indonesia has a stated foreign policy objective of establishing
stable fixed land and maritime boundaries with all of its neighbors;
some sections of border along Timor-Leste's Oecussi exclave and
maritime boundaries with Timor-Leste remain unresolved; many
refugees from Timor-Leste who left in 2003 still reside in Indonesia
and refuse repatriation; a 1997 treaty between Indonesia and
Australia settled some parts of their maritime boundary but
outstanding issues remain; ICJ's award of Sipadan and Ligitan
islands to Malaysia in 2002 left the sovereignty of Unarang rock and
the maritime boundary in the Ambalat oil block in the Celebes Sea in
dispute; the ICJ decision has prompted Indonesia to assert claims to
and to establish a presence on its smaller outer islands; Indonesia
and Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973
maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of
Indonesia's Batam Island; Indonesian secessionists, squatters, and
illegal migrants create repatriation problems for Papua New Guinea;
maritime delimitation talks continue with Palau; Indonesian groups
challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia has closed
parts of the Ashmore and Cartier Reserve to Indonesian traditional
fishing and placed restrictions on certain catches
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 200,000-350,000 (government offensives against rebels in Aceh;
most IDPs in Aceh, Central Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi Provinces,
and Maluku) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use; producer of
methamphetamine and ecstasy
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Iran (Middle East)
Introduction ::Iran
Background:
Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979
after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza
PAHLAVI was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces
established a theocratic system of government with ultimate
political authority vested in a learned religious scholar referred
to commonly as the Supreme Leader who, according to the
constitution, is accountable only to the Assembly of Experts - a
popularly elected 86-member body of clerics. US-Iranian relations
have been strained since a group of Iranian students seized the US
Embassy in Tehran on 4 November 1979 and held it until 20 January
1981. During 1980-88, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq
that eventually expanded into the Persian Gulf and led to clashes
between US Navy and Iranian military forces between 1987 and 1988.
Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism for its
activities in Lebanon and elsewhere in the world and remains subject
to US, UN, and EU economic sanctions and export controls because of
its continued involvement in terrorism and its nuclear weapons
ambitions. Following the election of reformer Hojjat ol-Eslam
Mohammad KHATAMI as president in 1997 and a reformist Majles
(legislature) in 2000, a campaign to foster political reform in
response to popular dissatisfaction was initiated. The movement
floundered as conservative politicians, through the control of
unelected institutions, prevented reform measures from being enacted
and increased repressive measures. Starting with nationwide
municipal elections in 2003 and continuing through Majles elections
in 2004, conservatives reestablished control over Iran's elected
government institutions, which culminated with the August 2005
inauguration of hardliner Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD as president. His
controversial reelection in June 2009 sparked nationwide protests
over allegations of electoral fraud. The UN Security Council has
passed a number of resolutions (1696 in July 2006, 1737 in December
2006, 1747 in March 2007, 1803 in March 2008, and 1835 in September
2008) calling for Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment and
reprocessing activities and comply with its IAEA obligations and
responsibilities. Resolutions 1737, 1477, and 1803 subject a number
of Iranian individuals and entities involved in Iran's nuclear and
ballistic missile programs to sanctions. Additionally, several
Iranian entities are subject to US sanctions under Executive Order
13382 designations for proliferation activities and EO 13224
designations for support of terrorism.
Geography ::Iran
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the
Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Geographic coordinates:
32 00 N, 53 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 1,648,195 sq km
country comparison to the world: 18
land: 1,531,595 sq km
water: 116,600 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 5,440 km
border countries: Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km,
Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq
1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km
Coastline:
2,440 km; note - Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements or median lines in the
Persian Gulf
continental shelf: natural prolongation
Climate:
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Terrain:
rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts,
mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Kuh-e Damavand 5,671 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead,
manganese, zinc, sulfur
Land use:
arable land: 9.78%
permanent crops: 1.29%
other: 88.93% (2005)
Irrigated land:
76,500 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
137.5 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 72.88 cu km/yr (7%/2%/91%)
per capita: 1,048 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions,
refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation;
overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf;
wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination);
inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw
sewage and industrial waste; urbanization
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, which
are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport
People ::Iran
Population:
76,923,300 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.7% (male 7,394,841/female 7,022,076)
15-64 years: 72.9% (male 24,501,544/female 23,914,172)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 1,725,828/female 1,870,823) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.3 years
male: 26 years
female: 26.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.253% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Birth rate:
18.52 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Death rate:
5.94 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Net migration rate:
-0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Urbanization:
urban population: 68% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 43.45 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 62
male: 43.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 42.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.77 years
country comparison to the world: 146
male: 68.32 years
female: 71.29 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.89 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
86,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,300 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever and malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Iranian(s)
adjective: Iranian
Ethnic groups:
Persian 51%, Azeri 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%,
Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%
Religions:
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian,
Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
Languages:
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%,
Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 77%
male: 83.5%
female: 70.4% (2002 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 15 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
4.8% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 80
Government ::Iran
Country name:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran
conventional short form: Iran
local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran
local short form: Iran
former: Persia
Government type:
theocratic republic
Capital:
name: Tehran
geographic coordinates: 35 40 N, 51 25 E
time difference: UTC+3.5 (8.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins fourth Monday in March; ends
fourth Wednesday in September
Administrative divisions:
31 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Alborz, Ardabil,
Azarbayjan-e Gharbi (West Azerbaijan), Azarbayjan-e Sharqi (East
Azerbaijan), Bushehr, Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars,
Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah,
Khorasan-e Jonubi (South Khorasan), Khorasan-e Razavi (Razavi
Khorasan), Khorasan-e Shomali (North Khorasan), Khuzestan,
Kohgiluyeh va Bowyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi,
Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran,
Yazd, Zanjan
Independence:
1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed); notable earlier
dates: ca. 625 B.C. (unification of Iran under the Medes); ca. A.D.
1501 (Iran reunified under the Safavids); 12 December 1925 (modern
Iran established under the Pahlavis)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
Constitution:
2-3 December 1979; revised in 1989
note: the revision in 1989 expanded powers of the presidency and
eliminated the prime ministership
Legal system:
based on sharia law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June
1989)
head of government: President Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD (since 3 August
2005); First Vice President Mohammad Reza RAHIMI (since 13 September
2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with
legislative approval; the Supreme Leader has some control over
appointments to the more sensitive ministries
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
note: also considered part of the Executive branch of government are
three oversight bodies: 1) Assembly of Experts (Majles-Khebregan), a
popularly elected body charged with determining the succession of
the Supreme Leader, reviewing his performance, and deposing him if
deemed necessary; 2) Expediency Council or the Council for the
Discernment of Expediency (Majma-e-Tashkhis-e-Maslahat-e-Nezam)
exerts supervisory authority over the executive, judicial, and
legislative branches and resolves legislative issues on which the
Majles and the Council of Guardians disagree and since 1989 has been
used to advise national religious leaders on matters of national
policy; in 2005 the Council's powers were expanded to act as a
supervisory body for the government; 3) Council of Guardians of the
Constitution or Council of Guardians or Guardians Council (Shora-ye
Negban-e Qanon-e Asassi) determines whether proposed legislation is
both constitutional and faithful to Islamic law, vets candidates in
popular elections for suitability, and supervises national elections
elections: Supreme Leader appointed for life by the Assembly of
Experts; president elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term and third nonconsecutive term); election
last held on 12 June 2009;(next presidential election slated for
June 2013)
election results: Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD reelected president; percent
of vote - Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD 62.6%, Mir-Hosein MUSAVI-Khamenei
33.8%, other 3.6%; voter turnout 85% (according to official figures
published by the government)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami
or Majles (290 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held on 14 March 2008 with a runoff held on 25 April
2008 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party -
conservatives/Islamists 167, reformers 39, independents 74,
religious minorities 5, other 5
Judicial branch:
The Supreme Court (Qeveh Qazaieh) and the four-member High Council
of the Judiciary have a single head and overlapping
responsibilities; together they supervise the enforcement of all
laws and establish judicial and legal policies; lower courts include
a special clerical court, a revolutionary court, and a special
administrative court
Political parties and leaders:
formal political parties are a relatively new phenomenon in Iran and
most conservatives still prefer to work through political pressure
groups rather than parties; often political parties or coalitions
are formed prior to elections and disbanded soon thereafter; a loose
pro-reform coalition called the 2nd Khordad Front, which includes
political parties as well as less formal groups and organizations,
achieved considerable success in elections for the sixth Majles in
early 2000; groups in the coalition included the Islamic Iran
Participation Front (IIPF), Executives of Construction Party
(Kargozaran), Solidarity Party, Islamic Labor Party, Mardom Salari,
Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization (MIRO), and
Militant Clerics Society (Ruhaniyun); the coalition participated in
the seventh Majles elections in early 2004; following his defeat in
the 2005 presidential elections, former MCS Secretary General and
sixth Majles Speaker Mehdi KARUBI formed the National Trust Party; a
new conservative group, Islamic Iran Developers Coalition
(Abadgaran), took a leading position in the new Majles after winning
a majority of the seats in February 2004; following the 2004 Majles
elections, traditional and hardline conservatives have attempted to
close ranks under the United Front of Principlists and the Broad
Popular Coalition of Principlists; several reformist groups, such as
the Mujahadin of the Islamic Revolution, came together as a
reformist coalition in advance of the 2008 Majles elections; the
IIPF has repeatedly complained that the overwhelming majority of its
candidates have been unfairly disqualified from the 2008 elections
Political pressure groups and leaders:
groups that generally support the Islamic Republic: Ansar-e
Hizballah-Islamic Coalition Party (Motalefeh); Followers of the Line
of the Imam and the Leader; Islamic Engineers Society; Tehran
Militant Clergy Association (Ruhaniyat); active pro-reform student
group: Office of Strengthening Unity (OSU); opposition groups:
Baluchistan People's Party (BPP); Freedom Movement of Iran; Green
Path movement [Mehdi KARUBI, Mir-Hosein MUSAVI]; Marz-e Por Gohar;
National Front; and various ethnic and Monarchist organizations;
armed political groups that have been repressed by the government:
Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI); Jundallah; Komala;
Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK or MKO); People's Fedayeen;
People's Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK)
International organization participation:
CICA, CP, D-8, ECO, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC,
PCA, SAARC (observer), SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none; note - Iran has an Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy;
address: Iranian Interests Section, Pakistani Embassy, 2209
Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; telephone: [1] (202)
965-4990; FAX [1] (202) 965-1073
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none; note - the US Interests Section is located in the Embassy of
Switzerland No. 39 Shahid Mousavi (Golestan 5th), Pasdaran Ave.,
Tehran, Iran; telephone [98] 21 2254 2178/2256 5273; FAX [98] 21
2258 0432
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the
national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah in the
shape of a tulip, a symbol of martyrdom) in red is centered in the
white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is
repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11
times along the top edge of the red band; green is the color of
Islam and also represents growth, white symbolizes honesty and
peace, red stands for bravery and martyrdom
National anthem:
name: "Soroud-e Melli-e Jomhouri-e Eslami-e Iran" (National Anthem
of the Islamic Republic of Iran)
lyrics/music: multiple authors/Hassan RIAHI
note: adopted 1990
Economy ::Iran
Economy - overview:
Iran's economy is marked by an inefficient state sector, reliance on
the oil sector, which provides the majority of government revenues,
and statist policies, which create major distortions throughout the
system. Private sector activity is typically limited to small-scale
workshops, farming, and services. Price controls, subsidies, and
other rigidities weigh down the economy, undermining the potential
for private-sector-led growth. Significant informal market activity
flourishes. The legislature in late 2009 passed President Mahmud
AHMADI-NEJAD's bill to reduce subsidies, particularly on food and
energy. The bill would phase out subsidies - which benefit Iran's
upper and middle classes the most - over three to five years and
replace them with cash payments to Iran's lower classes. However,
the start of the program was delayed repeatedly throughout 2010 over
fears of public reaction to higher prices. This is the most
extensive economic reform since the government implemented gasoline
rationing in 2007. The recovery of world oil prices in the last year
increased Iran's oil export revenue by at least $10 billion over
2009, easing some of the financial impact of the newest round of
international sanctions. Although inflation has fallen substantially
since the mid-2000s, Iran continues to suffer from double-digit
unemployment and underemployment. Underemployment among Iran's
educated youth has convinced many to seek jobs overseas, resulting
in a significant "brain drain."
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$863.5 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$838.3 billion (2009 est.)
$825.9 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$337.9 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
1.5% (2009 est.)
2.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$11,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$11,000 (2009 est.)
$11,000 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11%
industry: 45.9%
services: 43.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
25.7 million
country comparison to the world: 22
note: shortage of skilled labor (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 25%
industry: 31%
services: 45% (June 2007)
Unemployment rate:
14.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
10.3% (2008 est.)
note: data are according to the Iranian Government
Population below poverty line:
18% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 29.6% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
44.5 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 45
Investment (gross fixed):
27.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Public debt:
16.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
16.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
13.5% (2009 est.)
note: official Iranian estimate
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
NA% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
12% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$50.37 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 45
$48.74 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$167.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$147.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$132.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$120.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$63.3 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 51
$49.04 billion (31 December 2008)
$45.57 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, sugar cane, fruits, nuts,
cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar
Industries:
petroleum, petrochemicals, fertilizers, caustic soda, textiles,
cement and other construction materials, food processing
(particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), ferrous
and non-ferrous metal fabrication, armaments
Industrial production growth rate:
4.3% excluding oil (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Electricity - production:
212.8 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Electricity - consumption:
206.7 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Electricity - exports:
6.15 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
2.06 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
4.172 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Oil - consumption:
1.7 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Oil - exports:
2.21 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Oil - imports:
162,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Oil - proved reserves:
137.6 billion bbl based on Iranian claims
country comparison to the world: 3
note: Iran has about 10% of world reserves (1 January 2010 est.)
Natural gas - production:
200 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Natural gas - consumption:
140 billion cu m
country comparison to the world: 4
note: excludes injection and flaring (2008 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
4.246 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Natural gas - imports:
5.2 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Natural gas - proved reserves:
29.61 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Current account balance:
$9.76 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$1.913 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$78.69 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$69.04 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts,
carpets
Exports - partners:
China 16.58%, Japan 11.9%, India 10.54%, South Korea 7.54%, Turkey
4.36% (2009)
Imports:
$58.97 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$58.97 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
industrial raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods,
foodstuffs and other consumer goods, technical services
Imports - partners:
UAE 15.14%, China 13.48%, Germany 9.66%, South Korea 7.16%, Italy
5.27%, Russia 4.81%, India 4.12% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$75.06 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
$81.31 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$12.84 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
$12.63 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$16.82 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$15.13 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$2.075 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$1.825 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Iranian rials (IRR) per US dollar - 10,308.2 (2010), 9,864.3 (2009),
9,142.8 (2008), 9,407.5 (2007), 9,227.1 (2006)
Communications ::Iran
Telephones - main lines in use:
25.804 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 11
Telephones - mobile cellular:
52.555 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 21
Telephone system:
general assessment: currently being modernized and expanded with the
goal of not only improving the efficiency and increasing the volume
of the urban service but also bringing telephone service to several
thousand villages, not presently connected
domestic: the addition of new fiber cables and modern switching and
exchange systems installed by Iran's state-owned telecom company
have improved and expanded the fixed-line network greatly;
fixed-line availability has more than doubled to nearly 26 million
lines since 2000; additionally, mobile-cellular service has
increased dramatically serving more than 50 million subscribers in
2009; combined fixed and mobile-cellular subscribership now exceeds
100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 98; submarine fiber-optic cable to UAE
with access to Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG);
Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line runs from Azerbaijan
through the northern portion of Iran to Turkmenistan with expansion
to Georgia and Azerbaijan; HF radio and microwave radio relay to
Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Syria,
Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; satellite earth stations - 13 (9
Intelsat and 4 Inmarsat) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-run broadcast media with no private, independent broadcasters;
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the state-run TV
broadcaster, operates 5 nationwide channels, a news channel, about
30 provincial channels, and several international channels; about 20
foreign Persian-language TV stations broadcasting on satellite TV
are capable of being seen in Iran; satellite dishes are illegal and,
while their use had been tolerated, authorities began confiscating
satellite dishes following the unrest stemming from the 2009
presidential election; IRIB operates 8 nationwide networks, a number
of provincial stations, and an external service; most major
international broadcasters transmit to Iran (2009)
Internet country code:
.ir
Internet hosts:
119,947 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 75
Internet users:
8.214 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 35
Transportation ::Iran
Airports:
319 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 24
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 133
over 3,047 m: 42
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 34
under 914 m: 6 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 186
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 142
under 914 m: 33 (2010)
Heliports:
19 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 7 km; condensate/gas 12 km; gas 19,246 km; liquid
petroleum gas 570 km; oil 7,018 km; refined products 7,936 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 8,442 km
country comparison to the world: 26
broad gauge: 94 km 1.676-m gauge
standard gauge: 8,348 km 1.435-m gauge (148 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 172,927 km
country comparison to the world: 28
paved: 125,908 km (includes 1,429 km of expressways)
unpaved: 47,019 km (2006)
Waterways:
850 km (on Karun River; some navigation on Lake Urmia) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 70
Merchant marine:
total: 74
country comparison to the world: 57
by type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 40, chemical tanker 5, container 9,
liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated
cargo 2, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 1 (UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 78 (Barbados 4, Bolivia 1, Cyprus 10,
Hong Kong 1, Malta 56, Panama 5, Ukraine 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Assaluyeh, Bandar Abbas, Bandar-e-Eman Khomeyni
Military ::Iran
Military branches:
Islamic Republic of Iran Regular Forces (Artesh): Ground Forces,
Navy, Air Force (IRIAF), Khatemolanbia Air Defense; Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps (Sepah-e Pasdaran-e Enqelab-e Eslami,
IRGC): Ground Resistance Forces, Navy, Aerospace Force, Qods Force
(special operations); Law Enforcement Forces (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
19 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for
volunteers; 17 years of age for Law Enforcement Forces; 15 years of
age for Basij Forces (Popular Mobilization Army); conscript military
service obligation - 18 months; women exempt from military service
(2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 20,763,890
females age 16-49: 20,157,570 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 17,844,536
females age 16-49: 17,312,808 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 636,558
female: 604,658 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 60
Transnational Issues ::Iran
Disputes - international:
Iran protests Afghanistan's limiting flow of dammed tributaries to
the Helmand River in periods of drought; Iraq's lack of a maritime
boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of
the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb
Islands and Abu Musa Island, which are occupied by Iran; Iran stands
alone among littoral states in insisting upon a division of the
Caspian Sea into five equal sectors
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 914,268 (Afghanistan); 54,024 (Iraq)
(2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Iran is a source, transit, and destination
country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of
sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude; Iranian women are
trafficked internally for the purpose of forced prostitution and for
forced marriages to settle debts; Iranian and Afghan children living
in Iran are trafficked internally for the purpose of forced
marriages, commercial sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude
as beggars or laborers to pay debts, provide income or support drug
addiction of their families; press reports indicate that criminal
organizations play a significant role in human trafficking to and
from Iran, in connection with smuggling of migrants, drugs, and arms
tier rating: Tier 3 - Iran did not provide evidence of law
enforcement activities against trafficking, and credible reports
indicate that Iranian authorities' response is not sufficient to
penalize offenders, protect victims, and eliminate trafficking; some
aspects of Iranian law and policy hinder efforts to combat
trafficking including punishment of victims and legal obstacles to
punishing offenders; Iran has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol
(2009)
Illicit drugs:
despite substantial interdiction efforts and considerable control
measures along the border with Afghanistan, Iran remains one of the
primary transshipment routes for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe;
suffers one of the highest opiate addiction rates in the world, and
has an increasing problem with synthetic drugs; lacks anti-money
laundering laws; has reached out to neighboring countries to share
counter-drug intelligence
page last updated on January 13, 2011
======================================================================
@Iraq (Middle East)
Introduction ::Iraq
Background:
Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by Britain
during the course of World War I; in 1920, it was declared a League
of Nations mandate under UK administration. In stages over the next
dozen years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. A
"republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series of
strongmen ruled the country until 2003. The last was SADDAM Husayn.
Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly
eight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait but was
expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during the Gulf War of
January-February 1991. Following Kuwait's liberation, the UN
Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass
destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification
inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions
over a period of 12 years led to the US-led invasion of Iraq in
March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime. US forces
remained in Iraq under a UNSC mandate through 2009 and under a
bilateral security agreement thereafter, helping to provide security
and to train and mentor Iraqi security forces. In October 2005,
Iraqis approved a constitution in a national referendum and,
pursuant to this document, elected a 275-member Council of
Representatives (CoR) in December 2005. After the election, Ibrahim
al-JAFARI was selected as prime minister; he was replaced by Nuri
al-MALIKI in May 2006. The CoR approved most cabinet ministers in
May 2006, marking the transition to Iraq's first constitutional
government in nearly a half century. On 31 January 2009, Iraq held
elections for provincial councils in all provinces except for the
three provinces comprising the Kurdistan Regional Government and
Kirkuk province. Iraq held a national legislative election in March
2010, and after nine months of deadlock the CoR approved the new
government in December.
Geography ::Iraq
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
Geographic coordinates:
33 00 N, 44 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 438,317 sq km
country comparison to the world: 58
land: 437,367 sq km
water: 950 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Idaho
Land boundaries:
total: 3,650 km
border countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 240 km, Saudi
Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 352 km
Coastline:
58 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: not specified
Climate:
mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless
summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish
borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that
melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in
central and southern Iraq
Terrain:
mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south
with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and
Turkey
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unnamed peak; 3,611 m; note - this peak is neither
Gundah Zhur 3,607 m nor Kuh-e Hajji-Ebrahim 3,595 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Land use:
arable land: 13.12%
permanent crops: 0.61%
other: 86.27% (2005)
Irrigated land:
35,250 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
96.4 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 42.7 cu km/yr (3%/5%/92%)
per capita: 1,482 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
dust storms; sandstorms; floods
Environment - current issues:
government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited
marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the
feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Marsh Arabs,
who inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been
displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses
serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate
supplies of potable water; development of the Tigris and Euphrates
rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian
Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and
erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of the
Persian Gulf
People ::Iraq
Population:
29,671,605 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.8% (male 5,711,187/female 5,514,794)
15-64 years: 58.2% (male 8,535,550/female 8,303,942)
65 years and over: 3% (male 410,395/female 469,701) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.6 years
male: 20.5 years
female: 20.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.449% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Birth rate:
29.41 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Death rate:
4.92 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 82
Urbanization:
urban population: 67% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 43.16 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 64
male: 47.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 38.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.25 years
country comparison to the world: 145
male: 68.88 years
female: 71.69 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.76 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Iraqi(s)
adjective: Iraqi
Ethnic groups:
Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian, or other 5%
Religions:
Muslim 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
Languages:
Arabic (official), Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Turkoman
(a Turkish dialect), Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic), Armenian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.1%
male: 84.1%
female: 64.2% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 8 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Iraq
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Iraq
conventional short form: Iraq
local long form: Jumhuriyat al-Iraq
local short form: Al Iraq
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Baghdad
geographic coordinates: 33 20 N, 44 23 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
18 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah) and 1 region*; Al
Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah (Ad Diwaniyah), An
Najaf, Arbil (Erbil), As Sulaymaniyah, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi
Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Kirkuk, Kurdistan Regional Government*,
Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit
Independence:
3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British
administration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition Provisional
Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi-controlled Government
National holiday:
Republic Day, July 14 (1958); note - the Government of Iraq has yet
to declare an official national holiday but still observes Republic
Day
Constitution:
ratified on 15 October 2005 (subject to review by the Constitutional
Review Committee and a possible public referendum)
Legal system:
based on European civil and Islamic law under the framework outlined
in the Iraqi Constitution; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jalal TALABANI (since 6 April 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI (since 20 May 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers consists of ministers appointed by the
Presidency Council plus the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by Council of Representatives
(parliament) to serve a four-year term (eligible for a second term)
election results: President Jalal TALABANI reelected on 11 November
2010; parliamentary vote count on second ballot - 195 votes; Nuri
al-MALIKI reselected prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral Council of Representatives (325 seats consisting of 317
members elected by an optional open-list, proportional
representation system and 8 seats reserved for minorities; members
serve four-year terms); note - Iraq's Constitution calls for the
establishment of an upper house, the Federation Council
elections: last held on 7 March 2010 for an enlarged 325-seat
parliament; next election to be held in 2014
election results: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by
coalition - Iraqi National Movement 25.9%, State of Law coalition
25.8%, Iraqi National Alliance 19.4%, Kurdistan Alliance 15.3%,
Goran (Change) List 4.4%, Tawafuq Front 2.7%, Iraqi Unity Alliance
2.9%, Kurdistan Islamic Union 2.3%, Kurdistan Islamic Group 1.4%;
seats by coalition - Iraqi National Movement 91, State of Law
Coalition 89, Iraqi National Alliance 70, Kurdistan Alliance 43,
Goran (Change) List 8, Tawafuq Front 6, Iraqi Unity Alliance 4,
Kurdistan Islamic Union 4, Kurdistan Islamic Group 2, seats reserved
for minorities 8
Judicial branch:
the Iraq Constitution calls for the federal judicial power to be
comprised of the Higher Judicial Council, Federal Supreme Court,
Federal Court of Cassation, Public Prosecution Department, Judiciary
Oversight Commission and other federal courts that are regulated in
accordance with the law
Political parties and leaders:
Badr Organization [Hadi al-AMIRI]; Da'wa al-Islamiya Party [Prime
Minister Nuri al-MALIKI]; Da'wa Tanzim [Hashim al-MUSAWI branch];
Da-wa Tanzim [Abd al-Karim al-ANZI branch]; Fadilah Party [Hashim
al-HASHIMI]; Hadba Gathering [Athil al-NUJAYFI]; Iraqi Charter
Assembly [Ahmad Abd al-Ghafur al-SAMARRAI]; Iraqi Constitutional
Party [Jawad al-BULANI]; Iraqi Front for National Dialogue [Salih
al-MUTLAQ]; Iraqi Islamic Party or IIP [Usama al-TIKRITI]; Iraqi
Justice and Reform Movement [Shaykh Abdallah al-YAWR]; Iraqi
National Congress or INC [Ahmad CHALABI]; Iraqi National Accord or
INA [former Prime Minister Ayad ALLAWI]; Islamic Supreme Council of
Iraq or ISCI [Ammar al-HAKIM]; Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP
[Kurdistan Regional Government President Masud BARZANI]; National
Gathering [Deputy Prime Minister Rafi al-ISSAWI]; National Movement
for Reform and Development [Jamal al-KARBULI]; National Reform Trend
[former Prime Minister Ibrahim al-JAFARI]; Patriotic Union of
Kurdistan or PUK [Jalal TALABANI]; Renewal List [Vice President
Tariq al-HASHIMI]; Sadrist Trend [Muqtada al-SADR]; Sahawa al-Iraq
[Ahmad al-RISHAWI]; Tawafuq Front
note: numerous smaller local, tribal, and minority parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Sunni militias; Shia militias, some associated with political parties
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Samir Shakir al-SUMAYDI
chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 742-1600
FAX: [1] (202) 333-1129
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James F. Jeffrey
embassy: Baghdad
mailing address: APO AE 09316
telephone: 1-240-553-0589 ext. 5340 or 5635; note - Consular Section
FAX: NA
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the
Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great") in green Arabic
script is centered in the white band; the band colors derive from
the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome
through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future
(white); the Council of Representatives approved this flag in 2008
as a compromise temporary replacement for the Ba'athist Saddam-era
flag
note: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two stars but no
script, Yemen, which has a plain white band, and that of Egypt,
which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band
National anthem:
name: "Mawtini" (My Homeland)
lyrics/music: Ibrahim TOUQAN/Mohammad FLAYFEL
note: adopted 2004; following the ousting of Saddam HUSSEIN, Iraq
adopted "Mawtini," a popular folk song throughout the Arab world,
which also serves as an unofficial anthem of the Palestinian people
Economy ::Iraq
Economy - overview:
An improved security environment and an initial wave of foreign
investment are helping to spur economic activity, particularly in
the energy, construction, and retail sectors. Broader economic
improvement, long-term fiscal health, and sustained increases in the
standard of living still depend on the government passing major
policy reforms and on continued development of Iraq's massive oil
reserves. Although foreign investors viewed Iraq with increasing
interest in 2010, most are still hampered by difficulties in
acquiring land for projects and by other regulatory impediments.
Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which provides over
90% of government revenue and 80% of foreign exchange earnings.
Since mid-2009, oil export earnings have returned to levels seen
before Operation Iraqi Freedom and government revenues have
rebounded, along with global oil prices. In 2011 Baghdad probably
will increase oil exports above the current level of 1.9 million
barrels per day (bbl/day) as a result of new contracts with
international oil companies, but is likely to fall short of the 2.4
million bbl/day it is forecasting in its budget. Iraq is making
modest progress in building the institutions needed to implement
economic policy. In 2010, Bagdad signed a new agreement with both
the IMF and World Bank for conditional aid programs that will help
strengthen Iraq's economic institutions. Some reform-minded leaders
within the Iraqi government are seeking to pass laws to strengthen
the economy. This legislation includes a package of laws to
establish a modern legal framework for the oil sector and a
mechanism to equitably divide oil revenues within the nation,
although these and other important reforms are still under
contentious and sporadic negotiation. Iraq's recent contracts with
major oil companies have the potential to greatly expand oil
revenues, but Iraq will need to upgrade its oil processing,
pipeling, and export infrastructure to enable these deals to reach
their potential. The Government of Iraq is pursuing a strategy to
gain additional foreign investment in Iraq's economy. This includes
an amendment to the National Investment Law, multiple international
trade and investment events, as well as potential participation in
joint ventures with state-owned enterprises. Provincial Councils
also are using their own budgets to promote and facilitate
investment at the local level. However, widespread corruption,
inadequate infrastructure, insufficient essential services, and
antiquated commercial laws and regulations stifle investment and
continue to constrain the growth of private, non-energy sectors. The
Central Bank has successfully held the exchange rate at
approximately 1,170 Iraqi dinar/US dollar since January 2009.
Inflation has decreased consistently since 2006 as the security
situation has improved. However, Iraqi leaders remain hard pressed
to translate macroeconomic gains into improved lives for ordinary
Iraqis. Unemployment remains a problem throughout the country.
Reducing corruption and implementing reforms - such as bank
restructuring and developing the private sector - would be important
steps in this direction.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$117.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$111.5 billion (2009 est.)
$106.7 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$84.14 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
4.5% (2009 est.)
7.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
$3,600 (2009 est.)
$3,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.7%
industry: 63%
services: 27.3% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
8.5 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 21.6%
industry: 18.7%
services: 59.8% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
15.2% (2008 est.)
Population below poverty line:
25% (2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
6.8% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
8.83% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 16
16.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15.64% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
19.5% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$35.69 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 50
$30.02 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$46.01 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$37.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$21.94 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$10.16 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$2.6 billion (31 July 2010)
country comparison to the world: 93
$2 billion (31 July 2009)
$1.878 billion (31 March 2008)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep,
poultry
Industries:
petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials,
food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing
Industrial production growth rate:
4.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Electricity - production:
46.39 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Electricity - consumption:
52 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
5.6 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
2.399 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Oil - consumption:
687,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Oil - exports:
1.91 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Oil - imports:
116,900 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Oil - proved reserves:
115 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Natural gas - production:
1.88 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Natural gas - consumption:
9.454 billion cu m
country comparison to the world: 48
note: 1.48 billion cu m were flared (2008 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Natural gas - proved reserves:
3.17 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Current account balance:
$2.715 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
-$19.9 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$49.1 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$40.86 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels, food and live animals
Exports - partners:
US 27.62%, India 14.45%, Italy 10.14%, South Korea 8.62%, Taiwan
5.61%, China 4.23%, Netherlands 4.13%, Japan 3.99% (2009)
Imports:
$42.56 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$50 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, medicine, manufactures
Imports - partners:
Turkey 24.99%, Syria 17.36%, US 8.66%, China 6.79%, Jordan 4.17%,
Italy 3.98%, Germany 3.97% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$45.68 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$44.38 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$52.58 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$73 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Iraqi dinars (IQD) per US dollar - 1,170 (2010), 1,170 (2009), 1,176
(2008), 1,255 (2007), 1,466 (2006)
Communications ::Iraq
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.108 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 73
Telephones - mobile cellular:
19.722 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 40
Telephone system:
general assessment: the 2003 liberation of Iraq severely disrupted
telecommunications throughout Iraq including international
connections; widespread government efforts to rebuild domestic and
international communications through fiber optic links are in
progress; the mobile cellular market has expanded rapidly and its
subscribership base is expected to continue increasing rapidly
domestic: repairs to switches and lines destroyed during 2003
continue; additional switching capacity is improving access;
mobile-cellular service is available and centered on 3 GSM networks
which are being expanded beyond their regional roots, improving
country-wide connectivity; wireless local loop is available in some
metropolitan areas and additional licenses have been issued with the
hope of overcoming the lack of fixed-line infrastructure
international: country code - 964; satellite earth stations - 4 (2
Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Intersputnik -
Atlantic Ocean region, and 1 Arabsat (inoperative)); local microwave
radio relay connects border regions to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and
Turkey; international terrestrial fiber-optic connections have been
established with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Kuwait with planned
connections to Iran and Jordan; a link to the Fiber-Optic Link
Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine fiber-optic cable is planned (2009)
Broadcast media:
the number of private radio and television stations has increased
rapidly since 2003; government-owned TV and radio stations are
operated by the publicly-funded Iraqi Public Broadcasting Service;
private broadcast media are mostly linked to political, ethnic, or
religious groups; satellite TV is available to an estimated 70% of
viewers and many of the broadcasters are based abroad; transmissions
of multiple international radio broadcasters are accessible (2007)
Internet country code:
.iq
Internet hosts:
9 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 222
Internet users:
325,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 126
Transportation ::Iraq
Airports:
104 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 58
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 75
over 3,047 m: 20
2,438 to 3,047 m: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 8 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 29
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 6 (2010)
Heliports:
21 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 2,501 km; liquid petroleum gas 918 km; oil 5,032 km; refined
products 1,637 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,272 km
country comparison to the world: 69
standard gauge: 2,272 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 44,900 km
country comparison to the world: 83
paved: 37,851 km
unpaved: 7,049 km (2002)
Waterways:
5,279 km
country comparison to the world: 23
note: Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River (1,899 km), and Third
River (565 km) are principal waterways (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 2
country comparison to the world: 147
by type: petroleum tanker 2
registered in other countries: 2 (Marshall Islands 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Al Basrah, Khawr az Zubayr, Umm Qasr
Military ::Iraq
Military branches:
Iraqi Armed Forces: Iraqi Army (includes Iraqi Special Operations
Force, Iraqi Intervention Force), Iraqi Navy (former Iraqi Coastal
Defense Force), Iraqi Air Force (former Iraqi Army Air Corps) (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
18-40 years of age for voluntary military service (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,541,723
females age 16-49: 7,238,553 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,402,171
females age 16-49: 6,232,674 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 323,328
female: 313,360 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
8.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 4
Transnational Issues ::Iraq
Disputes - international:
coalition forces assist Iraqis in monitoring internal and
cross-border security; approximately two million Iraqis have fled
the conflict in Iraq, with the majority taking refuge in Syria and
Jordan, and lesser numbers to Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, and Turkey;
Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction
disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf;
Turkey has expressed concern over the autonomous status of Kurds in
Iraq
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 10,000-15,000 (Palestinian
Territories); 11,773 (Iran); 16,832 (Turkey)
IDPs: 2.4 million (ongoing US-led war and ethno-sectarian violence)
(2007)
page last updated on January 26, 2011
======================================================================
@Ireland (Europe)
Introduction ::Ireland
Background:
Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions
by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended
when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions
began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of
Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh
repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off
several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in
independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern
(Ulster) counties remained part of the UK. In 1949, Ireland withdrew
from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in
1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of
Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A
peace settlement for Northern Ireland is gradually being implemented
despite some difficulties. In 2006, the Irish and British
governments developed and began to implement the St. Andrews
Agreement, building on the Good Friday Agreement approved in 1998.
Geography ::Ireland
Location:
Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in
the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
Geographic coordinates:
53 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 70,273 sq km
country comparison to the world: 119
land: 68,883 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 360 km
border countries: UK 360 km
Coastline:
1,448 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild
winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the
time
Terrain:
mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills
and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m
Natural resources:
natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum,
limestone, dolomite
Land use:
arable land: 16.82%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 83.15% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
46.8 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.18 cu km/yr (23%/77%/0%)
per capita: 284 cu m/yr (1994)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 94, 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: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America
and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 100
km of Dublin
People ::Ireland
Population:
4,622,917 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.9% (male 454,571/female 424,022)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,411,336/female 1,409,760)
65 years and over: 12% (male 224,850/female 278,661) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.5 years
male: 34.1 years
female: 34.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.007% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Birth rate:
16.37 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Death rate:
6.3 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Urbanization:
urban population: 61% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.057 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.89 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 206
male: 4.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.07 years
country comparison to the world: 26
male: 77.86 years
female: 82.41 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.03 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Nationality:
noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)
adjective: Irish
Ethnic groups:
Irish 87.4%, other white 7.5%, Asian 1.3%, black 1.1%, mixed 1.1%,
unspecified 1.6% (2006 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 87.4%, Church of Ireland 2.9%, other Christian 1.9%,
other 2.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.2% (2006 census)
Languages:
English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic or
Gaeilge) (official) spoken mainly in areas along the western coast
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 18 years
male: 18 years
female: 18 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 73
Government ::Ireland
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ireland
local long form: none
local short form: Eire
Government type:
republic, parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Dublin
geographic coordinates: 53 19 N, 6 14 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
29 counties and 5 cities*; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Cork*,
Donegal, Dublin*, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Galway, Galway*,
Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Limerick*,
Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, North Tipperary, Offaly,
Roscommon, Sligo, South Dublin, South Tipperary, Waterford,
Waterford*, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
Independence:
6 December 1921 (from the UK by treaty)
National holiday:
Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Constitution:
adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29 December 1937
Legal system:
based on English common law substantially modified by indigenous
concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November 1997)
head of government: Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian COWEN (since 7
May 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination
by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 31 October 1997
(next scheduled for October 2011); note - Mary MCALEESE was
appointed to a second term when no other candidate qualified for the
2004 presidential election; prime minister (taoiseach) nominated by
the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann) and appointed by the
president
election results: Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of vote -
Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or Seanad
Eireann (60 seats; 49 members elected by the universities and from
candidates put forward by five vocational panels, 11 are nominated
by the prime minister; members serve five-year terms) and the House
of Representatives or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members elected by
popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held in July 2007 (next to be held probably
in early 2011); House of Representatives - last held on 24 May 2007
(next to be held probably in early 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Fianna Fail 28, Fine Gael 14, Labor Party 6, Progressive
Democrats 2, Green Party 2, Sein Fein 1, independents 7; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 41.6%, Fine
Gael 27.3%, Labor Party 10.1%, Sinn Fein 6.9%, Green Party 4.7%,
Progressive Democrats 2.7%, other 6.7%; seats by party - Fianna Fail
78, Fine Gael 51, Labor Party 20, Sinn Fein 4, Green Party 6,
Progressive Democrats 2, independents 4, Speaker of the Dail 1; note
- through dissertions and attrition the makeup of both houses is
greatly changed
note: on 8 November 2008, delegates voted to disband the Progressive
Democrats, and in November 2009 it officially stopped operating as a
political party
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the advice of
the prime minister and cabinet)
Political parties and leaders:
Fianna Fail [Brian COWEN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party [John
GORMLEY]; Labor Party [Eamon GILMORE]; Progressive Democrats or PD
[Noel GREALISH] (formerly dissolved on 20 November 2009); Sinn Fein
[Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [Joe HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party
[Michael FINNEGAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Families Acting for Innocent Relatives or FAIR [Brian MCCONNELL]
(seek compensation for victims of violence); Families Against
Intimidation and Terror or FAIT (oppose terrorism); Gaeltacht Civil
Rights Campaign (Coiste Cearta Sibhialta na Gaeilge) or CCSG
(encourages the use of the Irish language and campaigns for greater
civil rights in Irish speaking areas); Iona Institute [David QUINN]
(a conservative Catholic think tank); Irish Anti-War Movement
[Richard Boyd BARRETT] (campaigns against wars around the world);
Irish Republican Army or IRA (terrorist group); Keep Ireland Open
(environmental group); Midland Railway Action Group or MRAG [Willie
ALLEN] (transportation promoters); Peace and Neutrality Alliance
[Roger COLE] (campaigns to protect Irish neutrality); Rail Users
Ireland (formerly the Platform 11 - transportation promoters); 32
Country Sovereignty Movement or 32CSM (supports a fully sovereign
Ireland); Ulster Defence Association or UDA (terrorist group)
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB,
EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael COLLINS
chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939
FAX: [1] (202) 232-5993
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel ROONEY
embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [353] (1) 668-8777
FAX: [353] (1) 668-9946
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange;
officially the flag colors have no meaning, but a common
interpretation is that the green represents the Irish nationalist
(Gaelic) tradition of Ireland; orange represents the Orange
tradition (minority supporters of William of Orange); white
symbolizes peace (or a lasting truce) between the green and the
orange
note: similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has
the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also
similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of
green (hoist side), white, and red
National anthem:
name: "Amhran na bhFiann" (The Soldier"s Song)
lyrics/music: Peadar KEARNEY [English], Liam O RINN [Irish]/Patrick
HEENEY and Peadar KEARNEY
note: adopted 1926; instead of "Amhran na bhFiann," the song
"Ireland"s Call" is often used in athletic events where citizens of
the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland compete as a unified
team
Economy ::Ireland
Economy - overview:
Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy. Ireland joined
11 other EU nations in circulating the euro on 1 January 2002. GDP
growth averaged 6% in 1995-2007, but economic activity has dropped
sharply since 2008 with GDP falling by over 3% in 2008, nearly 8% in
2009, and 1% in 2010, and further contraction is expectd in 2011.
Ireland entered into a recession for the first time in more than a
decade with the onset of the world financial crisis and subsequent
severe slowdown in its domestic property and construction markets.
Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by
industry and services. Although the export sector, dominated by
foreign multinationals, remains a key component of Ireland's
economy, construction most recently fueled economic growth along
with strong consumer spending and business investment. Property
prices rose more rapidly in Ireland in the decade up to 2007 than in
any other developed economy. However, average home prices have
fallen 50% from the 2007 peak. In 2008 the COWEN government moved to
guarantee all bank deposits, recapitalize the banking system, and
establish partly-public venture capital funds in response to the
country's economic downturn. In 2009, in an effort to stabilize the
banking sector, the Irish Government established the National Asset
Management Agency (NAMA) to acquire problem commercial property and
development loans from Irish banks. Faced with sharply reduced
revenues and a burgeoning budget deficit, the Irish Government
introduced the first in a series of draconian budgets in 2009. In
addition to across-the-board cuts in spending, the 2009 budget
included wage reductions for all public servants. These measures
were not sufficient. The budget deficit reached nearly 38% of GDP in
2010 because of additional government support for the banking
sector. In late 2010, the COWEN Government agreed to a $112 billion
loan package from the EU and IMF to help Dublin recapitalize its
banking sector and avoid defaulting on its sovereign debt, and
initiated a four-year austerity plan to cut an additional $20
billion from its budget.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$174 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
$175.1 billion (2009 est.)
$189.5 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$204.1 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
-7.6% (2009 est.)
-3.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$37,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$38,200 (2009 est.)
$41,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 46%
services: 49% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
2.18 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 27%
services: 67% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
13.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
11.8% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
4.2% (2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 27.2% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30.7 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 108
35.9 (1987)
Investment (gross fixed):
12.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Public debt:
98.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
64.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
-4.5% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 118
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
4.32% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
6.76% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$127.7 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 26
$141 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro
area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating
within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$257.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$275.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$745.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
$738.5 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$29.88 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 50
$49.4 billion (31 December 2008)
$144 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products
Industries:
steel, lead, zinc, silver, aluminum, barite, and gypsum mining
processing; food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals,
pharmaceuticals; machinery, rail transportation equipment; glass and
crystal; software, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Electricity - production:
26.06 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Electricity - consumption:
25.12 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Electricity - exports:
303 million kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
753 million kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Oil - consumption:
164,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Oil - exports:
22,410 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Oil - imports:
192,900 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Natural gas - production:
392 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Natural gas - consumption:
5.112 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Natural gas - imports:
4.723 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Natural gas - proved reserves:
9.911 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Current account balance:
-$3.191 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
-$6.762 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$115.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
$107.3 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live
animals, animal products
Exports - partners:
US 20.52%, Belgium 17.78%, UK 16.31%, Germany 5.66%, France 5.56%,
Spain 4.19% (2009)
Imports:
$70.36 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$62.22 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals,
petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing
Imports - partners:
UK 35.28%, US 16.87%, Germany 6.76%, Netherlands 5.86%, France 4.76%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$2.154 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.131 trillion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 10
$2.356 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$221.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$198.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$192.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$180.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Ireland
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.08 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 54
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.871 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 98
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern digital system using cable and microwave
radio relay
domestic: system privatized but dominated by former state monopoly
operator; increasing levels of broadband access
international: country code - 353; landing point for the
Hibernia-Atlantic submarine cable with links to the US, Canada, and
UK; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast media:
publicly-owned broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) operates 2 TV
stations; commercial television stations are available; about 75% of
households utilize multi-channel satellite and TV services that
provide access to a wide range of stations; RTE operates 4 national
radio stations and has launched digital audio broadcasts on several
stations; a number of commercial broadcast stations operate at the
national, regional, and local levels (2007)
Internet country code:
.ie
Internet hosts:
1.339 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 36
Internet users:
3.042 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 67
Transportation ::Ireland
Airports:
39 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 105
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 5 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 21 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 1,550 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 3,237 km
country comparison to the world: 53
broad gauge: 1,872 km 1.600-m gauge (37 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,365 km 0.914-m gauge (operated by the Irish Peat
Board to transport peat to power stations and briquetting plants)
(2008)
Roadways:
total: 96,036 km
country comparison to the world: 48
paved: 96,036 km (includes 423 km of expressways) (2008)
Waterways:
956 km (pleasure craft only) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 68
Merchant marine:
total: 28
country comparison to the world: 87
by type: cargo 25, chemical tanker 2, container 1
foreign-owned: 5 (Norway 3, US 2)
registered in other countries: 21 (Bahamas 3, Bermuda 2, Cyprus 3,
Isle of Man 1, Kazakhstan 1, Malta 1, Netherlands 7, Panama 1,
Slovakia 1, Sweden 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Cork, Dublin, Shannon Foynes, Waterford
Military ::Ireland
Military branches:
Irish Defense Forces (IDF; Oglaigh na h-Eireann): Army, Naval
Service, Air Corps (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
17-25 years of age for male or female voluntary military service
(17-27 years of age for the Naval Service); enlistees 16 years of
age can be recruited for apprentice specialist positions; 17-35
years of age for the Reserve Defense Forces (RDF); maximum
obligation 12 years (5 years IDF, 7 years RDF); EU citizenship or
5-year residence in Ireland required (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,031,985
females age 16-49: 1,030,606 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 858,317
females age 16-49: 855,125 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 27,987
female: 26,240 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Transnational Issues ::Ireland
Disputes - international:
Ireland, Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe
Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for and consumer of hashish from North Africa to
the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced synthetic drugs;
increasing consumption of South American cocaine; minor
transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined for Western
Europe; despite recent legislation, narcotics-related money
laundering - using bureaux de change, trusts, and shell companies
involving the offshore financial community - remains a concern
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Isle of Man (Europe)
Introduction ::Isle of Man
Background:
Part of the Norwegian Kingdom of the Hebrides until the 13th century
when it was ceded to Scotland, the isle came under the British crown
in 1765. Current concerns include reviving the almost extinct Manx
Gaelic language. Isle of Man is a British crown dependency but is
not part of the UK or of the European Union. However, the UK
Government remains constitutionally responsible for its defense and
international representation.
Geography ::Isle of Man
Location:
Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and
Ireland
Geographic coordinates:
54 15 N, 4 30 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 572 sq km
country comparison to the world: 193
land: 572 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
160 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate:
temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about a third of
the time
Terrain:
hills in north and south bisected by central valley
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m
highest point: Snaefell 621 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 91% (permanent pastures, forests, mountain, and heathland)
(2002)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary air
pollution
Geography - note:
one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest and is a
bird sanctuary
People ::Isle of Man
Population:
83,859 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.9% (male 6,612/female 6,300)
15-64 years: 66% (male 25,433/female 25,083)
65 years and over: 17.1% (male 5,408/female 7,676) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 42.3 years
male: 41.6 years
female: 43 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.968% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Birth rate:
11.54 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Death rate:
9.87 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Net migration rate:
8.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Urbanization:
urban population: 51% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.077 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.38 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 196
male: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.53 years
country comparison to the world: 21
male: 79.01 years
female: 82.18 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.97 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Manxman (men), Manxwoman (women)
adjective: Manx
Ethnic groups:
Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Britons
Religions:
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society
of Friends
Languages:
English, Manx Gaelic (about 2% of the population has some knowledge)
Literacy:
NA
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Isle of Man
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Isle of Man
abbreviation: I.O.M.
Dependency status:
British crown dependency
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Douglas
geographic coordinates: 54 09 N, 4 29 W
time difference: UTC 0 (five hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined
by the US Government, but there are 24 local authorities each with
its own elections
Independence:
none (British crown dependency)
National holiday:
Tynwald Day, 5 July
Constitution:
unwritten; note - The Isle of Man Constitution Act of 1961 does not
embody the unwritten Manx Constitution
Legal system:
the laws of the UK where applicable apply and Manx statutes
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Paul K. HADDACKS
(since 17 October 2005)
head of government: Chief Minister Tony BROWN (since 14 December
2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed
by the monarch; the chief minister elected by the Tynwald for a
five-year term; election last held on 14 December 2006 (next to be
held in December 2011)
election results: House of Keys speaker Tony BROWN elected chief
minister by the Tynwald
Legislative branch:
bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative Council (11 seats;
members composed of the President of Tynwald, the Lord Bishop of
Sodor and Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8 others named by
the House of Keys) and the House of Keys (24 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Keys - last held on 23 November 2006 (next to be
held in November 2011)
election results: House of Keys - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - Liberal Vannin Party 2, Manx Labor Party 1,
independents 21
Judicial branch:
High Court of Justice (justices are appointed by the Lord Chancellor
of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor)
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Progressive Government; Liberal Vannin Party [Peter
KARRAN]; Manx Labor Party; Manx Nationalist Party (Mec Vannin)
[Bernard MOFFATT]
note: most members sit as independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Alliance for Progressive Government or APG (a government watchdog);
Mec Vannin (political party advocating a sovereign state and
environment policies); note - has only had one member elected to the
Tynwald
International organization participation:
UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (British crown dependency)
Flag description:
red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (triskelion), in the center;
the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in
order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag,
a two-sided emblem is used; the flag is based on the coat-of-arms of
the last recognized Norse King of Mann, Magnus III (r. 1252-1265);
the triskelion has its roots in an early Celtic sun symbol
National anthem:
name: "Arrane Ashoonagh dy Vannin" (O Land of Our Birth)
lyrics/music: William Henry GILL [English], John J. KNEEN
[Manx]/traditional
note: adopted 2003, in use since 1907; serves as a local anthem; as
a British crown dependency, "God Save the Queen" is official (see
United Kingdom) and is played when the sovereign, members of the
royal family, or the lieutenant governor are present
Economy ::Isle of Man
Economy - overview:
Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of the
economy. The government offers low taxes and other incentives to
high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on
the island; this has paid off in expanding employment opportunities
in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing,
once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in their
contributions to GDP. The Isle of Man also attracts online gambling
sites and the film industry. Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle
of Man enjoys free access to EU markets.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.719 billion (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.719 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.2% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 51
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$35,000 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 13%
services: 86% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
39,690 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 196
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture, forestry, and fishing: 3%
manufacturing: 11%
construction: 10%
transport and communication: 8%
wholesale and retail distribution: 11%
professional and scientific services: 18%
public administration: 6%
banking and finance: 18%
tourism: 2%
entertainment and catering: 3%
miscellaneous services: 10% (2001)
Unemployment rate:
1.8% (October 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
1.5% (December 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.1% (December 2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry
Industries:
financial services, light manufacturing, tourism
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
timber, fertilizers, fish
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Manx pounds (IMP) per US dollar - 0.6504 (2010), 0.6389 (2009),
0.5302 (2008), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006)
note: the Manx pound is at par with the British pound
Communications ::Isle of Man
Telephones - main lines in use:
51,000 (1999)
country comparison to the world: 160
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: landline, telefax, mobile cellular telephone system
international: country code - 44; fiber-optic cable, microwave radio
relay, satellite earth station, submarine cable
Broadcast media:
national public radio broadcasts over 3 FM stations and 1 AM
station; 2 commercial broadcasters operating with 1 having multiple
FM stations; receives radio and TV services via relays from British
TV and radio broadcasters (2008)
Internet country code:
.im
Internet hosts:
765 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 173
Transportation ::Isle of Man
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 221
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Railways:
total: 63 km
country comparison to the world: 129
narrow gauge: 6 km 1.076-m gauge (6 km electrified); 57 km 0.914-m
gauge (29 km electrified)
note: primarily summer tourist attractions (2008)
Roadways:
total: 500 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 193
Merchant marine:
total: 292
country comparison to the world: 31
by type: bulk carrier 45, cargo 49, chemical tanker 48, container 6,
liquefied gas 41, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 91, roll
on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 200 (Bermuda 7, Chile 8, Denmark 26, Germany 56,
Greece 57, Ireland 1, Japan 15, Norway 26, Singapore 1, Sweden 1, US
2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Douglas, Ramsey
Military ::Isle of Man
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 14,748
females age 16-49: 14,392 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 469
female: 449 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Isle of Man
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Israel (Middle East)
Introduction ::Israel
Background:
Following World War II, the British withdrew from their mandate of
Palestine, and the UN partitioned the area into Arab and Jewish
states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Subsequently, the
Israelis defeated the Arabs in a series of wars without ending the
deep tensions between the two sides. The territories Israel occupied
since the 1967 war are not included in the Israel country profile,
unless otherwise noted. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the
Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. In keeping
with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October
1991, bilateral negotiations were conducted between Israel and
Palestinian representatives and Syria to achieve a permanent
settlement. Israel and Palestinian officials signed on 13 September
1993 a Declaration of Principles (also known as the "Oslo Accords")
guiding an interim period of Palestinian self-rule. Outstanding
territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26
October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace. In addition, on 25 May
2000, Israel withdrew unilaterally from southern Lebanon, which it
had occupied since 1982. In April 2003, US President BUSH, working
in conjunction with the EU, UN, and Russia - the "Quartet" - took
the lead in laying out a roadmap to a final settlement of the
conflict by 2005, based on reciprocal steps by the two parties
leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. However,
progress toward a permanent status agreement was undermined by
Israeli-Palestinian violence between September 2003 and February
2005. In the summer of 2005, Israel unilaterally disengaged from the
Gaza Strip, evacuating settlers and its military while retaining
control over most points of entry into the Gaza Strip. The election
of HAMAS to head the Palestinian Legislative Council froze relations
between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Ehud OLMERT
became prime minister in March 2006 and presided over a 34-day
conflict with Hizballah in Lebanon in June-August 2006 and a 23-day
conflict with HAMAS in the Gaza Strip during December 2008 and
January 2009. OLMERT, who in June 2007 resumed talks with PA
President Mahmoud ABBAS, resigned in September 2008. Prime Minister
Binyamin NETANYAHU formed a coalition in March 2009 following a
February 2009 general election. Direct talks launched in September
2010 collapsed following the expiration of Israel's 10-month partial
settlement construction moratorium in the West Bank. Diplomatic
initiatives to revive the negotiations through proximity talks began
at the end of 2010.
Geography ::Israel
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and
Lebanon
Geographic coordinates:
31 30 N, 34 45 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 22,072 sq km
country comparison to the world: 152
land: 21,642 sq km
water: 430 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 1,017 km
border countries: Egypt 266 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km,
Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km
Coastline:
273 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
Climate:
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Terrain:
Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains;
Jordan Rift Valley
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m
Natural resources:
timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium
bromide, clays, sand
Land use:
arable land: 15.45%
permanent crops: 3.88%
other: 80.67% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,940 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
1.7 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.05 cu km/yr (31%/7%/62%)
per capita: 305 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic
earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose serious
constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial and
vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and
domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) is an important freshwater source;
there are about 355 Israeli civilian sites including about 145 small
outpost communities in the West Bank, 41 sites in the Golan Heights,
and 32 in East Jerusalem (2010 est.)
People ::Israel
Population:
7,353,985 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
note: approximately 296,700 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank
(2009 est.); approximately 19,100 Israeli settlers live in the Golan
Heights (2008 est.); approximately 192,800 Israeli settlers live in
East Jerusalem (2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.9% (male 1,031,629/female 984,230)
15-64 years: 62.3% (male 2,283,034/female 2,221,301)
65 years and over: 9.9% (male 311,218/female 402,289) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.3 years
male: 28.6 years
female: 30 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.628% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Birth rate:
19.51 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Death rate:
5.45 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Net migration rate:
2.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Urbanization:
urban population: 92% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.17 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 202
male: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.86 years
country comparison to the world: 16
male: 78.7 years
female: 83.12 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.72 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Nationality:
noun: Israeli(s)
adjective: Israeli
Ethnic groups:
Jewish 76.4% (of which Israel-born 67.1%, Europe/America-born 22.6%,
Africa-born 5.9%, Asia-born 4.2%), non-Jewish 23.6% (mostly Arab)
(2004)
Religions:
Jewish 75.5%, Muslim 16.8%, Christian 2.1%, Druze 1.7%, other 3.9%
(2008)
Languages:
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English
most commonly used foreign language
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.1%
male: 98.5%
female: 95.9% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
6.4% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 30
Government ::Israel
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Israel
conventional short form: Israel
local long form: Medinat Yisra'el
local short form: Yisra'el
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Jerusalem
geographic coordinates: 31 46 N, 35 14 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in March; ends the
Sunday between the holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur
note: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the
US, like all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv
Administrative divisions:
6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem,
Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv
Independence:
14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British
administration)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 14 May (1948); note - Israel declared independence
on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may
occur in April or May
Constitution:
no formal constitution; some of the functions of a constitution are
filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the Basic Laws of
the parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli citizenship law; note -
since May 2003 the Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee of the
Knesset has been working on a draft constitution
Legal system:
mixture of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and in
personal matters Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legal systems; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Shimon PERES (since 15 July 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU (since 31
March 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the
Knesset
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president largely a ceremonial role and is elected by the
Knesset for a seven-year term (one-term limit); election last held
13 June 2007 (next to be held in 2014 but can be called earlier);
following legislative elections, the president, in consultation with
party leaders, assigns the task of forming a governing coalition to
a Knesset member who he or she determines is most likely to
accomplish that task
election results: Shimon PERES elected president; number of votes in
first round - Shimon PERES 58, Reuven RIVLIN 37, Colette AVITAL 21;
PERES elected president in second round with 86 votes (unopposed)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Knesset (120 seats; political parties are elected by
popular vote and assigned seats for members on a proportional basis;
members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 10 February 2009 (next scheduled election to
be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - Kadima 23.2%, Likud-Ahi
22.3%, YB 12.1%, Labor 10.2%, SHAS 8.8%, United Torah Judaism 4.5%,
United Arab List 3.5%, National Union 3.4%, Hadash 3.4%, The Jewish
Home 3%, The New Movement-Meretz 3%, Balad 2.6%; seats by party -
Kadima 28, Likud-Ahi 27, YB 15, Labor 13, SHAS 11, United Torah
Judaism 5, United Arab List 4, National Union 4, HADASH 4, The
Jewish Home 3, The New Movement-Meretz 3, Balad 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (justices appointed by Judicial Selection Committee -
made up of all three branches of the government; mandatory
retirement age is 70)
Political parties and leaders:
Balad [Jamal ZAHALKA]; Democratic Front for Peace and Equality
(HADASH) [Muhammad BARAKEH]; Kadima [Tzipora "Tzipi" LIVNI]; Labor
Party [Ehud BARAK]; Likud [Binyamin NETANYAHU]; National Union
[Yaakov KATZ]; SHAS [Eliyahu YISHAI]; The Jewish Home (HaBayit
HaYehudi) [Daniel HERSCHKOWITZ]; The New Movement-Meretz [Haim
ORON]; United Arab List-Ta'al [Ibrahim SARSUR]; United Torah Judaism
or UTJ [Yaakov LITZMAN]; Yisrael Beiteinu or YB [Avigdor LIEBERMAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
B'Tselem [Jessica MONTELL, Executive Director] monitors human rights
abuses; Peace Now [Yariv OPPENHEIMER, Secretary General] supports
territorial concessions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; YESHA
Council of Settlements [Danny DAYAN, Chairman] promotes settler
interests and opposes territorial compromise; Breaking the Silence
[Yehuda SHAUL, Executive Director] collects testimonies from
soldiers who served in the West Bank and Gaza Strip
International organization participation:
BIS, BSEC (observer), CERN (observer), CICA, EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OAS (observer),
OECD, OPCW (signatory), OSCE (partner), Paris Club (associate), PCA,
SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael OREN
chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 364-5500
FAX: [1] (202) 364-5607
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James B. CUNNINGHAM
embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv 63903
telephone: [972] (3) 519-7575
FAX: [972] (3) 516-4390
consulate(s) general: Jerusalem; note - an independent US mission,
established in 1928, whose members are not accredited to a foreign
government
Flag description:
white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the
Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal
blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag; the basic
design resembles a Jewish prayer shawl (tallit), which is white with
blue stripes; the hexagram as a Jewish symbol dates back to medieval
times
National anthem:
name: "Hatikvah" (The Hope)
lyrics/music: Naftali Herz IMBER/traditional, arranged by Samuel
COHEN
note: adopted 2004, unofficial since 1948; used as the anthem of the
Zionist movement since 1897; the 1888 arrangement by Shmuel COHEN is
thought to be based on the Romanian folk song "Carul cu boi" (The Ox
Driven Cart)
Economy ::Israel
Economy - overview:
Israel has a technologically advanced market economy. It depends on
imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment.
Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively developed
its agricultural and industrial sectors over the past 20 years. Cut
diamonds, high-technology equipment, and agricultural products
(fruits and vegetables) are the leading exports. Israel usually
posts sizable trade deficits, which are covered by large transfer
payments from abroad and by foreign loans. Roughly half of the
government's external debt is owed to the US, its major source of
economic and military aid. Israel's GDP, after contracting slightly
in 2001 and 2002 due to the Palestinian conflict and troubles in the
high-technology sector, grew about 5% per year from 2004-07. The
global financial crisis of 2008-09 spurred a brief recession in
Israel, but the country entered the crisis with solid fundamentals -
following years of prudent fiscal policy and a series of
liberalizing reforms - and a resilient banking sector, and the
economy has shown signs of an early recovery. Following GDP growth
of 4% in 2008, Israel's GDP slipped to 0.2% in 2009, but reached
3.4% in 2010, as exports rebounded. The global economic downturn
affected Israel's economy primarily through reduced demand for
Israel's exports in the United States and EU, Israel's top trading
partners. Exports account for about 25% of the country's GDP. The
Israeli Government responded to the recession by implementing a
modest fiscal stimulus package and an aggressive expansionary
monetary policy - including cutting interest rates to record lows,
purchasing government bonds, and intervening in the foreign currency
market. The Bank of Israel began raising interest rates in the
summer of 2009 when inflation rose above the upper end of the Bank's
target and the economy began to show signs of recovery.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$217.1 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$210 billion (2009 est.)
$209.6 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$201.3 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
0.2% (2009 est.)
4.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$29,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$29,000 (2009 est.)
$29,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 32.6%
services: 65% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
3.08 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 16%
services: 82% (September 2008)
Unemployment rate:
6.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
7.6% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
23.6%
note: Israel's poverty line is $7.30 per person per day (2007)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 24.3% (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39.2 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 67
35.5 (2001)
Investment (gross fixed):
16.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Public debt:
77.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
77.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
3.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 130
2.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
3.73% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
6.06% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$27.58 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 59
$25.16 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$208.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$195.7 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$169.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$148.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$182.1 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 28
$134.5 billion (31 December 2008)
$236.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
citrus, vegetables, cotton; beef, poultry, dairy products
Industries:
high-technology products (including aviation, communications,
computer-aided design and manufactures, medical electronics, fiber
optics), wood and paper products, potash and phosphates, food,
beverages, and tobacco, caustic soda, cement, construction, metals
products, chemical products, plastics, diamond cutting, textiles,
footwear
Industrial production growth rate:
5.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Electricity - production:
54.5 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Electricity - consumption:
46.38 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Electricity - exports:
2.081 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008)
Oil - production:
3,806 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Oil - consumption:
231,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Oil - exports:
69,580 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Oil - imports:
318,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Oil - proved reserves:
1.94 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Natural gas - production:
1.19 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Natural gas - consumption:
1.19 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Natural gas - proved reserves:
30.44 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Current account balance:
$6.269 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$7.637 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$54.31 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$45.9 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural
products, chemicals, textiles and apparel
Exports - partners:
US 35.05%, Hong Kong 6.02%, Belgium 4.95% (2009)
Imports:
$55.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$45.99 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials, military equipment, investment goods, rough diamonds,
fuels, grain, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
US 12.35%, China 7.43%, Germany 7.1%, Switzerland 6.94%, Belgium
5.42%, Italy 4.49%, UK 4.03%, Netherlands 3.98% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$66.98 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$60.61 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$89.68 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$86.78 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$64.82 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$58.82 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$58.42 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$55.02 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.7461 (2010), 3.9326
(2009), 3.588 (2008), 4.14 (2007), 4.4565 (2006)
Communications ::Israel
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.25 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 47
Telephones - mobile cellular:
9.022 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 70
Telephone system:
general assessment: most highly developed system in the Middle East
although not the largest
domestic: good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay;
all systems are digital; four privately-owned mobile-cellular
service providers with countrywide coverage
international: country code - 972; submarine cables provide links to
Europe, Cyprus, and parts of the Middle East; satellite earth
stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:
state broadcasting network, operated by the Israel Broadcasting
Authority (IBA), broadcasts on 2 channels, one in Hebrew and the
other in Arabic; 5 commercial channels including a channel
broadcasting in Russian, a channel broadcasting Knesset proceedings,
and a music channel supervised by a public body; multi-channel
satellite and cable TV packages provide access to foreign channels;
IBA broadcasts on 8 radio networks with multiple repeaters and
Israel Defense Forces Radio broadcasts over multiple stations; about
15 privately-owned radio stations; overall more than 100 stations
and repeater stations operating (2008)
Internet country code:
.il
Internet hosts:
1.689 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 35
Internet users:
4.525 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 51
Transportation ::Israel
Airports:
48 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 92
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 30
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 6 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 14 (2010)
Heliports:
3 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 176 km; oil 442 km; refined products 261 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 949 km
country comparison to the world: 92
standard gauge: 949 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 18,096 km
country comparison to the world: 116
paved: 18,096 km (includes 146 km of expressways) (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 10
country comparison to the world: 113
by type: cargo 2, container 8
registered in other countries: 51 (Bermuda 3, Cyprus 1, Georgia 1,
Honduras 1, Liberia 31, Malta 5, Marshall Islands 1, Moldova 4,
Panama 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Ashdod, Elat (Eilat), Hadera, Haifa
Military ::Israel
Military branches:
Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israel Naval Forces (IN), Israel Air
Force (IAF) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory (Jews, Druzes) and voluntary
(Christians, Muslims, Circassians) military service; both sexes are
obligated to military service; conscript service obligation - 36
months for enlisted men, 21 months for enlisted women, 48 months for
officers; pilots commit to 9 years service; reserve obligation to
age 41-51 (men), 24 (women) (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,771,661
females age 16-49: 1,687,698 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,496,542
females age 16-49: 1,425,537 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 61,613
female: 58,679 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
7.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 6
Transnational Issues ::Israel
Disputes - international:
West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status
subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent
status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel
continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along
parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel withdrew
its settlers and military from the Gaza Strip and from four
settlements in the West Bank in August 2005; Golan Heights is
Israeli-occupied (Lebanon claims the Shab'a Farms area of Golan
Heights); since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce
Supervision Organization (UNTSO) headquartered in Jerusalem monitor
ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated
incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the
region
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 150,000-420,000 (Arab villagers displaced from homes in
northern Israel) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
increasingly concerned about ecstasy, cocaine, and heroin abuse;
drugs arrive in country from Lebanon and, increasingly, from Jordan;
money-laundering center
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Italy (Europe)
Introduction ::Italy
Background:
Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional states of the
peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King
Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a
close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist
dictatorship. His alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's defeat
in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946
and economic revival followed. Italy was a charter member of NATO
and the European Economic Community (EEC). It has been at the
forefront of European economic and political unification, joining
the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include
illegal immigration, organized crime, corruption, high unemployment,
sluggish economic growth, and the low incomes and technical
standards of southern Italy compared with the prosperous north.
Geography ::Italy
Location:
Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central
Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia
Geographic coordinates:
42 50 N, 12 50 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 301,340 sq km
country comparison to the world: 71
land: 294,140 sq km
water: 7,200 sq km
note: includes Sardinia and Sicily
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries:
total: 1,899.2 km
border countries: Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (Vatican
City) 3.2 km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 199 km, Switzerland 740 km
Coastline:
7,600 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
Terrain:
mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) de Courmayeur 4,748 m (a
secondary peak of Mont Blanc)
Natural resources:
coal, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice,
fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil
reserves, fish, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 26.41%
permanent crops: 9.09%
other: 64.5% (2005)
Irrigated land:
27,500 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
175 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 41.98 cu km/yr (18%/37%/45%)
per capita: 723 cu m/yr (1998)
Natural hazards:
regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches,
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice
volcanism: Italy experiences significant volcanic activity; Etna
(elev. 3,330 m, 10,925 ft), which is in eruption as of 2010, is
Europe's most active volcano; flank eruptions pose a threat to
nearby Sicilian villages; Etna, along with the famous Vesuvius,
which remains a threat to the millions of nearby residents in the
Bay of Naples area, have both been deemed "Decade Volcanoes" by the
International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the
Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and
close proximity to human populations; Stromboli, on its namesake
island, has also been continuously active with moderate volcanic
activity; other historically active volcanoes include Campi Flegrei,
Ischia, Larderello, Pantelleria, Vulcano, and Vulsini
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide;
coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural
effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate industrial waste
treatment and disposal facilities
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as
southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe
People ::Italy
Population:
58,090,681 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.5% (male 4,056,156/female 3,814,070)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 19,530,696/female 18,981,084)
65 years and over: 20.2% (male 4,903,762/female 6,840,444) (2010
est.)
Median age:
total: 43.7 years
male: 42.3 years
female: 45.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.075% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Birth rate:
8.01 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
Death rate:
10.83 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Net migration rate:
2.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Urbanization:
urban population: 68% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.066 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.41 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 182
male: 5.96 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.33 years
country comparison to the world: 23
male: 77.39 years
female: 83.46 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.32 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
150,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,900 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Nationality:
noun: Italian(s)
adjective: Italian
Ethnic groups:
Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and
Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and
Greek-Italians in the south)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 90% (approximately; about one-third practicing),
other 10% (includes mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a
growing Muslim immigrant community)
Languages:
Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are
predominantly German speaking), French (small French-speaking
minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking
minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 98.8%
female: 98% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
4.3% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 99
Government ::Italy
Country name:
conventional long form: Italian Republic
conventional short form: Italy
local long form: Repubblica Italiana
local short form: Italia
former: Kingdom of Italy
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Rome
geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 29 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:
15 regions (regioni, singular - regione) and 5 autonomous regions
(regioni autonome, singular - regione autonoma)
regions: Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna,
Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte
(Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Toscana (Tuscany), Umbria, Veneto
(Venetia)
autonomous regions: Friuli-Venezia Giulia; Sardegna (Sardinia);
Sicilia (Sicily); Trentino-Alto Adige (Trentino-South Tyrol) or
Trentino-Suedtirol (German); Valle d'Aosta (Aosta Valley) or Vallee
d'Aoste (French)
Independence:
17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally
unified until 1870)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 2 June (1946)
Constitution:
passed 11 December 1947, effective 1 January 1948; amended many times
Legal system:
based on civil law system; appeals treated as new trials; judicial
review under certain conditions in Constitutional Court; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal (except in senatorial elections, where
minimum age is 25)
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Giorgio NAPOLITANO (since 15 May 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Silvio BERLUSCONI (since 8 May
2008) note - in Italy the prime minister is referred to as the
president of the Council of Ministers
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister and
nominated by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of
both houses of parliament and 58 regional representatives for a
seven-year term (no term limits); election last held on 10 May 2006
(next to be held in May 2013); prime minister appointed by the
president and confirmed by parliament
election results: Giorgio NAPOLITANO elected president on the fourth
round of voting; electoral college vote - 543
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists of the Senate or Senato
della Repubblica (315 seats; members elected by proportional vote
with the winning coalition in each region receiving 55% of seats
from that region; members to serve five-year terms; and up to 5
senators for life appointed by the president of the Republic) and
the Chamber of Deputies or Camera dei Deputati (630 seats; members
elected by popular vote with the winning national coalition
receiving 54% of chamber seats; members to serve five-year terms);
note - it has not been clarified if each president has the power to
designate up to five senators or if five is the number of senators
for life who might sit in the Senate
elections: Senate - last held on 13-14 April 2008 (next to be held
in April 2013); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 13-14 April 2008
(next to be held in April 2013)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - S. BERLUSCONI coalition 174 (PdL 147, LN 25, MpA 2), W.
VELTRONI coalition 132 (PD 118, IdV 3), UdC 3, other 6; Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - S.
BERLUSCONI coalition 344 (PdL 276, LN 60, MpA 8), W. VELTRONI
coalition 246 (PD 217, IdV 29), UdC 36, other 4
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court or Corte Costituzionale (composed of 15 judges:
one-third appointed by the president, one-third elected by
parliament, one-third elected by the ordinary and administrative
Supreme Courts)
Political parties and leaders:
Center-Right coalition: Lega Nord or LN [Umberto BOSSI]; Movement
for Autonomy or MpA [Raffaele LOMBARDO]; People of Freedom or PdL
[Silvio BERLUSCONI]
Center-Left coalition: Democratic Party or PD [Pier Luigi BERSANI];
Italy of Values or IdV [Antonio DI PIETRO]
other non-allied parties: Future and Liberty Party or FLI
[Gianfranco FINI]; Union of the Center or UdC [Pier Ferdinando
CASINI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
manufacturers and merchants associations - Confcommercio;
Confindustria; organized farm groups - Confcoltivatori;
Confagricoltura; Roman Catholic Church; three major trade union
confederations - Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro or CGIL
[Guglielmo EPIFANI] which is left wing; Confederazione Italiana dei
Sindacati Lavoratori or CISL [Raffaele BONANNO], which is Roman
Catholic centrist; Unione Italiana del Lavoro or UIL [Luigi
ANGELETTI] which is lay centrist)
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia
Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CDB, CE, CEI,
CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-7, G-8,
G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner),
Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNRWA,
UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Giulio TERZI di Sant' Agata
chancery: 3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 612-4400
FAX: [1] (202) 518-2151
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los
Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco
consulate(s): Detroit
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David THORNE
embassy: Via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187-Rome
mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100, APO AE 09624
telephone: [39] (06) 46741
FAX: [39] (06) 488-2672, 4674-2356
consulate(s) general: Florence, Milan, Naples
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red;
design inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in
1797; colors are those of Milan (red and white) combined with the
green uniform color of the Milanese civic guard
note: similar to the flag of Mexico, which is longer, uses darker
shades of red and green, and has its coat of arms centered on the
white band; Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side),
white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire,
which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green
National anthem:
name: "Il Canto degli Italiani" (The Song of the Italians)
lyrics/music: Goffredo MAMELI/Michele NOVARO
note: adopted 1946; the anthem, originally written in 1847, is also
known as "L'Inno di Mameli" (Mameli's Hymn), and "Fratelli D'Italia"
(Brothers of Italy)
Economy ::Italy
Economy - overview:
Italy has a diversified industrial economy, which is divided into a
developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and a
less-developed, welfare-dependent, agricultural south, with high
unemployment. The Italian economy is driven in large part by the
manufacture of high-quality consumer goods produced by small and
medium-sized enterprises, many of them family owned. Italy also has
a sizable underground economy, which by some estimates accounts for
as much as 15% of GDP. These activities are most common within the
agriculture, construction, and service sectors. Italy has moved
slowly on implementing needed structural reforms, such as reducing
graft, overhauling costly entitlement programs, and increasing
employment opportunities for young workers, particularly women. The
international financial crisis worsened conditions in Italy's labor
market, with unemployment rising from 6.2% in 2007 to 8.4% in 2010,
but in the longer-term Italy's low fertility rate and quota-driven
immigration policies will increasingly strain its economy. A rise in
exports and investment driven by the global economic recovery
nevertheless helped the economy grow by about 1% in 2010 following a
5% contraction in 2009. The Italian government has struggled to
limit government spending, but Italy's exceedingly high public debt
remains above 115% of GDP, and its fiscal deficit - just 1.5% of GDP
in 2007 - exceeded 5% in 2009 and 2010, as the costs of servicing
the country's debt rose.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.782 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$1.763 trillion (2009 est.)
$1.857 trillion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.037 trillion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
-5.1% (2009 est.)
-1.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$30,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$30,300 (2009 est.)
$31,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.8%
industry: 24.9%
services: 73.3% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
25.05 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 4.2%
industry: 30.7%
services: 65.1% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
8.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
7.8% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 26.8% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 101
27.3 (1995)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Public debt:
118.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
115.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
0.8% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 119
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.26% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
11.31% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.234 trillion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 7
$1.267 trillion (31 December 2009 est)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro
area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating
within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$1.884 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$1.846 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.274 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$3.047 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$317.3 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 16
$520.9 billion (31 December 2008)
$1.073 trillion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain,
olives; beef, dairy products; fish
Industries:
tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing,
textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics
Industrial production growth rate:
0.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Electricity - production:
289.7 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Electricity - consumption:
315 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Electricity - exports:
3.431 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
43 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
146,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Oil - consumption:
1.537 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Oil - exports:
586,900 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Oil - imports:
1.911 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Oil - proved reserves:
423.7 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Natural gas - production:
8.119 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Natural gas - consumption:
78.12 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Natural gas - exports:
124 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Natural gas - imports:
69.24 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Natural gas - proved reserves:
69.83 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Current account balance:
-$61.98 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
-$66.2 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$458.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$407.2 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
engineering products, textiles and clothing, production machinery,
motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; food, beverages and
tobacco; minerals, and nonferrous metals
Exports - partners:
Germany 12.6%, France 11.57%, US 5.92%, Spain 5.69%, UK 5.13%,
Switzerland 4.69% (2009)
Imports:
$459.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$403.9 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
engineering products, chemicals, transport equipment, energy
products, minerals and nonferrous metals, textiles and clothing;
food, beverages, and tobacco
Imports - partners:
Germany 16.68%, France 8.82%, China 6.53%, Netherlands 5.63%, Spain
4.3%, Russia 4.12%, Belgium 4.08% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$132.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.223 trillion (30 June 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$2.328 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$405.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$368.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$601.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$555.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Italy
Telephones - main lines in use:
21.3 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 12
Telephones - mobile cellular:
90.613 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 11
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern, well developed, fast; fully automated
telephone, telex, and data services
domestic: high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks
international: country code - 39; a series of submarine cables
provide links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, North Africa, and US;
satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (with a total of 5 antennas -
3 for Atlantic Ocean and 2 for Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic
Ocean region), and NA Eutelsat
Broadcast media:
two Italian media giants - the publicly-owned Radiotelevisione
Italiana (RAI) with 3 national terrestrial stations and
privately-owned Mediaset with 3 national terrestrial stations -
dominate; additional broadcasts by a large number of private
stations and Sky Italia - a satellite TV network; RAI operates 3
AM/FM nationwide radio stations; some 1,300 commercial radio
stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.it
Internet hosts:
23.16 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 3
Internet users:
29.235 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 13
Transportation ::Italy
Airports:
132 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 44
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 101
over 3,047 m: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 13 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 19 (2010)
Heliports:
6 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 17,558 km; oil 1,241 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 19,729 km
country comparison to the world: 15
standard gauge: 18,317 km 1.435-m gauge (12,458 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 123 km 1.000-m gauge (123 km electrified); 1,058 km
0.950-m gauge (151 km electrified); 231 km 0.850-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 487,700 km
country comparison to the world: 13
paved: 487,700 km (includes 6,700 km of expressways) (2007)
Waterways:
2,400 km
country comparison to the world: 38
note: used for commercial traffic; of limited overall value compared
to road and rail (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 667
country comparison to the world: 17
by type: bulk carrier 81, cargo 47, carrier 1, chemical tanker 169,
container 22, liquefied gas 25, passenger 23, passenger/cargo 160,
petroleum tanker 56, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 34,
specialized tanker 11, vehicle carrier 34
foreign-owned: 78 (Denmark 4, France 2, Germany 1, Greece 8,
Luxembourg 12, Nigeria 1, Norway 6, Sweden 1, Switzerland 6, Taiwan
11, Turkey 3, UK 2, US 21)
registered in other countries: 213 (Bahamas 5, Belize 3, Cayman
Islands 6, Cyprus 6, Georgia 2, Gibraltar 4, Greece 5, Kiribati 1,
Liberia 48, Malta 52, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands 9, Norway 3,
Panama 23, Portugal 10, Russia 9, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Singapore 3, Slovakia 2, Spain 1,
Sweden 5, Turkey 2, UK 4, unknown 3) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Augusta, Cagliari, Genoa, Livorno, Santa Panagia (Melilli), Taranto,
Trieste, Venice
Military ::Italy
Military branches:
Italian Armed Forces: Italian Army (Esercito Italiano, EI), Italian
Navy (Marina Militare Italiana, MMI), Italian Air Force (Aeronautica
Militare Italiana, AMI), Carabinieri Corps (Arma dei Carabinieri,
CC) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-27 year of age for voluntary military service; conscription
abolished January 2005; women may serve in any military branch;
10-month service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 45
(Army and Air Force) or 39 (Navy) (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 13,705,846
females age 16-49: 12,929,946 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 11,092,984
females age 16-49: 10,452,910 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 280,255
female: 263,336 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Transnational Issues ::Italy
Disputes - international:
Italy's long coastline and developed economy entices tens of
thousands of illegal immigrants from southeastern Europe and
northern Africa
Illicit drugs:
important gateway for and consumer of Latin American cocaine and
Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market; money
laundering by organized crime and from smuggling
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Jamaica (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Jamaica
Background:
The island - discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1494 - was
settled by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The native Taino
Indians, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually
exterminated and replaced by African slaves. England seized the
island in 1655 and established a plantation economy based on sugar,
cocoa, and coffee. The abolition of slavery in 1834 freed a quarter
million slaves, many of whom became small farmers. Jamaica gradually
obtained increasing independence from Britain. In 1958 it joined
other British Caribbean colonies in forming the Federation of the
West Indies. Jamaica gained full independence when it withdrew from
the Federation in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the
1970s led to recurrent violence as rival gangs affiliated with the
major political parties evolved into powerful organized crime
networks involved in international drug smuggling and money
laundering. Violent crime, drug trafficking, and poverty pose
significant challenges to the government today. Nonetheless, many
rural and resort areas remain relatively safe and contribute
substantially to the economy.
Geography ::Jamaica
Location:
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba
Geographic coordinates:
18 15 N, 77 30 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 10,991 sq km
country comparison to the world: 167
land: 10,831 sq km
water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,022 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
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:
tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
Terrain:
mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m
Natural resources:
bauxite, gypsum, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 15.83%
permanent crops: 10.01%
other: 74.16% (2005)
Irrigated land:
250 sq km (2002)
Total renewable water resources:
9.4 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.41 cu km/yr (34%/17%/49%)
per capita: 155 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes (especially July to November)
Environment - current issues:
heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial
waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution
in Kingston results from vehicle emissions
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the
main sea lanes for the Panama Canal
People ::Jamaica
Population:
2,847,232 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.4% (male 451,310/female 436,466)
15-64 years: 61.1% (male 851,372/female 875,132)
65 years and over: 7.5% (male 94,833/female 116,815) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.9 years
male: 23.4 years
female: 24.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.747% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Birth rate:
19.47 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Death rate:
6.48 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Net migration rate:
-5.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Urbanization:
urban population: 53% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.91 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 125
male: 15.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.48 years
country comparison to the world: 113
male: 71.8 years
female: 75.25 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.21 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
27,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Nationality:
noun: Jamaican(s)
adjective: Jamaican
Ethnic groups:
black 91.2%, mixed 6.2%, other or unknown 2.6% (2001 census)
Religions:
Protestant 62.5% (Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, Pentecostal 9.5%,
Other Church of God 8.3%, Baptist 7.2%, New Testament Church of God
6.3%, Church of God in Jamaica 4.8%, Church of God of Prophecy 4.3%,
Anglican 3.6%, other Christian 7.7%), Roman Catholic 2.6%, other or
unspecified 14.2%, none 20.9%, (2001 census)
Languages:
English, English patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 87.9%
male: 84.1%
female: 91.6% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
6.2% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 34
Government ::Jamaica
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jamaica
Government type:
constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Kingston
geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 76 48 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
Administrative divisions:
14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland,
Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint
James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland
note: for local government purposes, Kingston and Saint Andrew were
amalgamated in 1923 into the present single corporate body known as
the Kingston and Saint Andrew Corporation
Independence:
6 August 1962 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 August (1962)
Constitution:
6 August 1962
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Dr. Patrick L. ALLEN (since 26
February 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Bruce GOLDING (since 11 September
2007)
cabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the governor general on the advice
of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy 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 the
leader of the majority coalition in the House of Representatives is
appointed prime minister by the governor general; the deputy prime
minister recommended by the prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 21-member body
appointed by the governor general on the recommendations of the
prime minister and the leader of the opposition; ruling party is
allocated 13 seats, and the opposition is allocated 8 seats) and the
House of Representatives (60 seats; members elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 3 September 2007 (next to be held no later
than October 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - JLP 50.1%, PNP 49.8%;
seats by party - JLP 33, PNP 27
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the governor general on the
advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal; Privy Council in UK;
member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)
Political parties and leaders:
Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Bruce GOLDING]; People's National Party
or PNP [Portia SIMPSON-MILLER]; National Democratic Movement or NDM
[Michael WILLIAMS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
New Beginnings Movement or NBM; Rastafarians (black religious/racial
cultists, pan-Africanists)
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
PetroCaribe, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Audrey P. MARKS
chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 452-0660
FAX: [1] (202) 452-0081
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela BRIDGEWATER
embassy: 142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6
mailing address: P.O. Box 541, Kingston 5
telephone: [1] (876) 702-6000
FAX: [1] (876) 702-6001
Flag description:
diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green
(top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side); green
represents hope, vegetation, and agriculture, black reflects
hardships overcome and to be faced, and yellow recalls golden
sunshine and the island's natural resources
National anthem:
name: "Jamaica, Land We Love"
lyrics/music: Hugh Braham SHERLOCK/Robert Charles LIGHTBOURNE
note: adopted 1962
Economy ::Jamaica
Economy - overview:
The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which now
account for more than 60% of GDP. The country continues to derive
most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and
bauxite/alumina. Remittances account for nearly 15% of GDP and
exports of bauxite and alumina make up about 10%. Tourism revenues
account for roughly 10% of GDP, and both arrivals and revenues grew
in 2010, up 4% and 6% respectively. The Economic growth faces many
challenges: high crime and corruption, large-scale unemployment and
underemployment, and a debt-to-GDP ratio of more than 120%.
Jamaica's onerous debt burden - the fourth highest per capita - is
the result of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy,
most notably to the financial sector in the mid-to-late 1990s. The
Government of Jamaica signed a $1.27 billion, 27-month Standby
Agreement with the International Monetary Fund for balance of
payment support in February 2010. Other multilaterals have also
provided millions of dollars in loans and grants. The government's
difficult fiscal position hinders spending on infrastructure and
social programs, particularly as job losses rise in a shrinking
economy. The GOLDING administration faces the difficult prospect of
having to achieve fiscal discipline in order to maintain debt
payments, while simultaneously attacking a serious and growing crime
problem that is hampering economic growth. High unemployment
exacerbates the crime problem, including gang violence that is
fueled by the drug trade.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$23.93 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
$24.12 billion (2009 est.)
$24.81 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$13.74 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
-2.8% (2009 est.)
-0.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
$8,500 (2009 est.)
$8,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.7%
industry: 29.7%
services: 64.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.317 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 19%
services: 64% (2006)
Unemployment rate:
12.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
11.4% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
14.8% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 35.8% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
45.5 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 40
37.9 (2000)
Investment (gross fixed):
25.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Public debt:
123.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
124.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
13% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
9.6% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
NA% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
16.43% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
16.83% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.432 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 126
$1.371 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$5.782 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$5.472 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$7.922 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
$7.282 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$6.201 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 72
$7.513 billion (31 December 2008)
$12.33 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, yams, ackees, vegetables;
poultry, goats, milk; crustaceans, mollusks
Industries:
tourism, bauxite/alumina, agro processing, light manufactures, rum,
cement, metal, paper, chemical products, telecommunications
Industrial production growth rate:
-2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Electricity - production:
7.324 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Electricity - consumption:
6.345 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Oil - consumption:
77,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Oil - imports:
77,720 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Current account balance:
-$1.382 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
-$876 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.487 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
$1.263 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
alumina, bauxite, sugar, rum, coffee, yams, beverages, chemicals,
wearing apparel, mineral fuels
Exports - partners:
US 38.19%, Canada 12.2%, UK 10.79%, Norway 4.89%, Netherlands 4.69%
(2009)
Imports:
$5.378 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
$4.581 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food and other consumer goods, industrial supplies, fuel, parts and
accessories of capital goods, machinery and transport equipment,
construction materials
Imports - partners:
US 28.32%, Trinidad and Tobago 22.98%, Venezuela 12.14%, China
4.61%, Brazil 4.18% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.85 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
$2.081 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$12.66 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
$10.56 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Jamaican dollars (JMD) per US dollar - 87.41 (2010), 87.894 (2009),
72.236 (2008), 69.034 (2007), 65.768 (2006)
Communications ::Jamaica
Telephones - main lines in use:
302,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 113
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.971 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 114
Telephone system:
general assessment: fully automatic domestic telephone network
domestic: the 1999 agreement to open the market for
telecommunications services resulted in rapid growth in
mobile-cellular telephone usage while the number of fixed-lines in
use has declined; combined mobile-cellular teledensity exceeded 110
per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 1-876; the Fibralink submarine cable
network provides enhanced delivery of business and broadband traffic
and is linked to the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1)
submarine cable in the Dominican Republic; the link to ARCOS-1
provides seamless connectivity to US, parts of the Caribbean,
Central America, and South America; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:
privately-owned Radio Jamaica Limited and its subsidiaries operate
multiple television stations, subscription cable services, and radio
stations; 2 other privately-owned television stations broadcast;
roughly 70 radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.jm
Internet hosts:
3,099 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 143
Internet users:
1.581 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 80
Transportation ::Jamaica
Airports:
27 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 124
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 7 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 15
under 914 m: 15 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 21,552 km
country comparison to the world: 108
paved: 15,937 km (includes 33 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,615 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 19
country comparison to the world: 100
by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 5, container 4, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 19 (Denmark 1, Germany 10, Greece 8) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Discovery Bay (Port Rhoades), Kingston, Montego Bay, Port Antonio,
Port Esquivel, Port Kaiser, Rocky Point
Military ::Jamaica
Military branches:
Jamaica Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Wing (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; younger recruits may
be conscripted with parental consent (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 712,627
females age 16-49: 730,845 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 581,033
females age 16-49: 590,437 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 32,723
female: 32,098 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Transnational Issues ::Jamaica
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine from South America to North America
and Europe; illicit cultivation and consumption of cannabis;
government has an active manual cannabis eradication program;
corruption is a major concern; substantial money-laundering
activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Jamaica for illicit
financial transactions
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Jan Mayen (Europe)
Introduction ::Jan Mayen
Background:
This desolate, arctic, mountainous island was named after a Dutch
whaling captain who indisputably discovered it in 1614 (earlier
claims are inconclusive). Visited only occasionally by seal hunters
and trappers over the following centuries, the island came under
Norwegian sovereignty in 1929. The long dormant Beerenberg volcano
resumed activity in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985.
It is the northernmost active volcano on earth.
Geography ::Jan Mayen
Location:
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian
Sea, northeast of Iceland
Geographic coordinates:
71 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 377 sq km
country comparison to the world: 203
land: 377 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
124.1 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 4 nm
contiguous zone: 10 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Terrain:
volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Haakon VII Toppen on Beerenberg 2,277 m
note: Beerenberg volcano has numerous peaks; the highest point on
the volcano rim is named Haakon VII Toppen, after Norway's first
king following the reestablishment of Norwegian independence in 1905
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
dominated by the volcano Beerenberg
volcanism: Beerenberg (elev. 2,227 m, 7,306 ft) is Norway's only
active volcano; volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent
eruption occurred in 1985
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
barren volcanic island with some moss and grass
People ::Jan Mayen
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and
the weather and coastal services radio station
Government ::Jan Mayen
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jan Mayen
Dependency status:
territory of Norway; since August 1994, administered from Oslo
through the county governor (fylkesmann) of Nordland; however,
authority has been delegated to a station commander of the Norwegian
Defense Communication Service
Legal system:
the laws of Norway where applicable apply
Flag description:
the flag of Norway is used
Economy ::Jan Mayen
Economy - overview:
Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable natural
resources, although surrounding waters contain substantial fish
stocks and potential untapped petroleum resources. Economic activity
is limited to providing services for employees of Norway's radio and
meteorological stations on the island.
Communications ::Jan Mayen
Broadcast media:
a coastal radio station has been remotely operated since 1994 (2008)
Transportation ::Jan Mayen
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 220
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military ::Jan Mayen
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Norway
Transnational Issues ::Jan Mayen
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@Japan (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Japan
Background:
In 1603, after decades of civil warfare, the Tokugawa shogunate (a
military-led, dynastic government) ushered in a long period of
relative political stability and isolation from foreign influence.
For more than two centuries this policy enabled Japan to enjoy a
flowering of its indigenous culture. Japan opened its ports after
signing the Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854 and began to
intensively modernize and industrialize. During the late 19th and
early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power that was able to
defeat the forces of both China and Russia. It occupied Korea,
Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. In 1931-32 Japan
occupied Manchuria, and in 1937 it launched a full-scale invasion of
China. Japan attacked US forces in 1941 - triggering America's entry
into World War II - and soon occupied much of East and Southeast
Asia. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an
economic power and an ally of the US. While the emperor retains his
throne as a symbol of national unity, elected politicians hold
actual decision-making power. Following three decades of
unprecedented growth, Japan's economy experienced a major slowdown
starting in the 1990s, but the country remains a major economic
power.
Geography ::Japan
Location:
Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the
Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
Geographic coordinates:
36 00 N, 138 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 377,915 sq km
country comparison to the world: 61
land: 364,485 sq km
water: 13,430 sq km
note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto,
Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and
Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
29,751 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the international
straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and
Western Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
Terrain:
mostly rugged and mountainous
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m
highest point: Fujiyama 3,776 m
Natural resources:
negligible mineral resources, fish
note: with virtually no energy natural resources, Japan is the
world's largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas, as well
as the second largest importer of oil
Land use:
arable land: 11.64%
permanent crops: 0.9%
other: 87.46% (2005)
Irrigated land:
25,920 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
430 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 88.43 cu km/yr (20%/18%/62%)
per capita: 690 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic
occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis; typhoons
volcanism: both Unzen (elev. 1,500 m, 4,621 ft) and Sakura-jima
(elev. 1,117 m, 3,665 ft), which lies near the densely populated
city of Kagoshima, have been deemed "Decade Volcanoes" by the
International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the
Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and
close proximity to human populations; other notable historically
active volcanoes include Asama, Honshu Island's most active volcano,
Aso, Bandai, Fuji, Iwo-Jima, Kikai, Kirishima, Komaga-take, Oshima,
Suwanosejima, Tokachi, Yake-dake, and Usu
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain;
acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and
threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of
fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these
resources in Asia and elsewhere
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-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:
strategic location in northeast Asia
People ::Japan
Population:
126,804,433 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.5% (male 8,804,465/female 8,344,800)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 41,187,425/female 40,533,876)
65 years and over: 22.2% (male 11,964,694/female 16,243,419) (2010
est.)
Median age:
total: 44.6 years
male: 42.9 years
female: 46.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.242% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
Birth rate:
7.41 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
Death rate:
9.83 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 96
Urbanization:
urban population: 66% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.056 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 2.79 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 219
male: 2.98 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 82.17 years
country comparison to the world: 5
male: 78.87 years
female: 85.66 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.2 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
9,600 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Nationality:
noun: Japanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Japanese
Ethnic groups:
Japanese 98.5%, Koreans 0.5%, Chinese 0.4%, other 0.6%
note: up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin migrated to Japan
in the 1990s to work in industries; some have returned to Brazil
(2004)
Religions:
Shintoism 83.9%, Buddhism 71.4%, Christianity 2%, other 7.8%
note: total adherents exceeds 100% because many people belong to
both Shintoism and Buddhism (2005)
Languages:
Japanese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2002)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 15 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.7% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 126
Government ::Japan
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Japan
local long form: Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku
local short form: Nihon/Nippon
Government type:
a parliamentary government with a constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Tokyo
geographic coordinates: 35 41 N, 139 45 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka,
Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki,
Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto,
Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita,
Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka,
Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata,
Yamaguchi, Yamanashi
Independence:
3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to Meiji
Constitution); notable earlier dates: 660 B.C. (traditional date of
the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU); 29 November 1890
(Meiji Constitution provides for constitutional monarchy)
National holiday:
Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933)
Constitution:
3 May 1947
Legal system:
modeled after European civil law systems with English-American
influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989)
head of government: Prime Minister Naoto KAN (since 8 June 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: Diet designates the prime minister; constitution requires
that the prime minister commands parliamentary majority; following
legislative elections, the leader of majority party or leader of
majority coalition in House of Representatives usually becomes prime
minister; the monarchy is hereditary
Legislative branch:
bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors or
Sangi-in (242 seats - members elected for fixed six-year terms; half
reelected every three years; 146 members in multi-seat
constituencies and 96 by proportional representation) and the House
of Representatives or Shugi-in (480 seats - members elected for
maximum four-year terms; 300 in single-seat constituencies; 180
members by proportional representation in 11 regional blocs); the
prime minister has the right to dissolve the House of
Representatives at any time with the concurrence of the cabinet
elections: House of Councillors - last held on 11 July 2010 (next to
be held in July 2013); House of Representatives - last held on 30
August 2009 (next to be held by August 2013)
election results: House of Councillors - percent of vote by party -
DPJ 31.6%, LDP 24.1%, YP 13.6%, NK 13.1%, JCP 6.1%, SDP 3.8%, others
7.7%; seats by party - DPJ 106, LDP 84, NK 19, YP 11, JCP 6, SDP 4,
others 12
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party (by proportional
representation) - DPJ 42.4%, LDP 26.7%, NK 11.5%, JCP 7.0%, SDP
4.3%, others 8.1%; seats by party - DPJ 308, LDP 119, NK 21, JCP 9,
SDP 7, others 16 (2009)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the monarch after
designation by the cabinet; all other justices are appointed by the
cabinet)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party of Japan or DPJ [Naoto KAN]; Japan Communist Party
or JCP [Kazuo SHII]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Sadakazu
TANIGAKI]; New Komeito or NK [Natsuo YAMAGUCHI]; People's New Party
or PNP [Shizuka KAMEI]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Mizuho
FUKUSHIMA]; Your Party or YP [Yoshimi WATANABE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: business groups; trade unions
International organization participation:
ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner),
Australia Group, BIS, CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, EAS,
EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA
(observer), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE
(partner), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SECI
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNRWA,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ichiro FUJISAKI
chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 238-6700
FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit,
Agana (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York,
Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, Seattle
consulate(s): Anchorage, Nashville
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John V. ROOS
embassy: 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420
mailing address: Unit 9800, Box 300, APO AP 96303-0300
telephone: [81] (03) 3224-5000
FAX: [81] (03) 3505-1862
consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo
consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya
Flag description:
white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in
the center
National anthem:
name: "Kimigayo" (The Emperor"s Reign)
lyrics/music: unknown/Hiromori HAYASHI
note: adopted 1999; in use as unofficial national anthem since 1883;
oldest anthem lyrics in the world, dating to the 10th century or
earlier; there is some opposition to the anthem because of its
association with militarism and worship of the emperor
Economy ::Japan
Economy - overview:
In the years following World War II, government-industry
cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a
comparatively small defense allocation (1% of GDP) helped Japan
develop a technologically advanced economy. Two notable
characteristics of the post-war economy were the close interlocking
structures of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors, known as
keiretsu, and the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial
portion of the urban labor force. Both features are now eroding
under the dual pressures of global competition and domestic
demographic change. Japan's industrial sector is heavily dependent
on imported raw materials and fuels. A tiny agricultural sector is
highly subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest
in the world. Usually self sufficient in rice, Japan imports about
60% of its food on a caloric basis. Japan maintains one of the
world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the
global catch. For three decades, overall real economic growth had
been spectacular - a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5% average in the
1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s. Growth slowed markedly in the
1990s, averaging just 1.7%, largely because of the after effects of
inefficient investment and an asset price bubble in the late 1980s
that required a protracted period of time for firms to reduce excess
debt, capital, and labor. The Japanese financial sector was not
heavily exposed to sub-prime mortgages or their derivative
instruments and weathered the initial effect of the recent global
credit crunch, but a sharp downturn in business investment and
global demand for Japan's exports in late 2008 pushed Japan further
into recession. Government stimulus spending helped the economy
recover in late 2009 and 2010, but Tokyo is warning that GDP growth
will slow in 2011. Prime Minister Kan's government has proposed
opening the agricultural and services sectors to greater foreign
competition and boosting exports through free-trade agreements, but
debate continues on restructuring the economy and funding new
stimulus programs in the face of a tight fiscal situation. Japan's
huge government debt, which is approaching 200 percent of GDP,
persistent deflation, and an aging and shrinking population are
major complications for the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.338 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
$4.211 trillion (2009 est.)
$4.442 trillion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.391 trillion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
-5.2% (2009 est.)
-1.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$34,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$33,100 (2009 est.)
$34,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.5%
industry: 22.8%
services: 75.7% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
65.64 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 28%
services: 68% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
5.1% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.8%
highest 10%: 21.7% (1993)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
38.1 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 74
24.9 (1993)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Public debt:
196.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
192.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-0.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
-1.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
0.3% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 139
0.3% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
1.72% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
1.91% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$5.541 trillion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 3
$5.162 trillion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$18.3 trillion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 2
$14.56 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$16.39 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
$13.32 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$3.378 trillion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 3
$3.22 trillion (31 December 2008)
$4.453 trillion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, dairy products,
eggs; fish
Industries:
among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of
motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and
nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods
Industrial production growth rate:
7.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Electricity - production:
957.9 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Electricity - consumption:
925.5 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
132,700 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Oil - consumption:
4.363 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Oil - exports:
380,900 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Oil - imports:
5.033 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Oil - proved reserves:
44.12 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Natural gas - production:
3.539 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Natural gas - consumption:
94.67 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Natural gas - imports:
90.29 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Natural gas - proved reserves:
20.9 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Current account balance:
$182.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
$142.2 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$735.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
$545.3 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electrical
machinery, chemicals
Exports - partners:
China 18.88%, US 16.42%, South Korea 8.13%, Taiwan 6.27%, Hong Kong
5.49% (2009)
Imports:
$636.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
$501.6 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, raw
materials
Imports - partners:
China 22.2%, US 10.96%, Australia 6.29%, Saudi Arabia 5.29%, UAE
4.12%, South Korea 3.98%, Indonesia 3.95% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$1.024 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.246 trillion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 6
$2.231 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$161.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$147.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$831.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$738.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
yen (JPY) per US dollar - 88.67 (2010), 93.57 (2009), 103.58 (2008),
117.99 (2007), 116.18 (2006)
Communications ::Japan
Telephones - main lines in use:
44.364 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 5
Telephones - mobile cellular:
114.917 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 7
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international service
domestic: high level of modern technology and excellent service of
every kind
international: country code - 81; numerous submarine cables provide
links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US;
satellite earth stations - 7 Intelsat (Pacific and Indian Oceans), 1
Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), 3 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian
Ocean regions), and 8 SkyPerfect JSAT (2008)
Broadcast media:
a mixture of public and commercial broadcast TV and radio stations;
5 national terrestrial television networks including 1 public
broadcaster; the large number of radio and TV stations available
provide a wide range of choices; satellite and cable services
provide access to international channels (2008)
Internet country code:
.jp
Internet hosts:
54.846 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 2
Internet users:
99.182 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 3
Transportation ::Japan
Airports:
176 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 34
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 144
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 44
1,524 to 2,437 m: 38
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 27 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 32
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 28 (2010)
Heliports:
15 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 3,879 km; oil 167 km; oil/gas/water 53 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 26,435 km
country comparison to the world: 11
standard gauge: 3,978 km 1.435-m gauge (3,978 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 96 km 1.372-m gauge (96 km electrified); 22,313 km
1.067-m gauge (15,235 km electrified); 48 km 0.762-m gauge (48 km
electrified) (2009)
Roadways:
total: 1,203,777 km
country comparison to the world: 5
paved: 961,366 km (includes 7,560 km of expressways)
unpaved: 242,411 km (2008)
Waterways:
1,770 km (seagoing vessels use inland seas) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 47
Merchant marine:
total: 673
country comparison to the world: 16
by type: bulk carrier 152, cargo 31, carrier 3, chemical tanker 28,
container 2, liquefied gas 63, passenger 12, passenger/cargo 120,
petroleum tanker 152, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 52,
vehicle carrier 54
foreign-owned: 1 (Norway 1)
registered in other countries: 3,064 (Bahamas 93, Belize 1, Bermuda
2, Burma 1, Cambodia 2, Cayman Islands 19, China 2, Cyprus 19,
Honduras 4, Hong Kong 84, Indonesia 7, Isle of Man 15, Liberia 102,
Malaysia 4, Malta 5, Marshall Islands 41, Netherlands 1, Panama
2347, Philippines 82, Portugal 9, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Sierra Leone 3, Singapore 146, South
Korea 15, Thailand 2, UK 4, Vanuatu 44, unknown 4) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Chiba, Kawasaki, Kobe, Mizushima, Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo,
Tomakomai, Yokohama
Military ::Japan
Military branches:
Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD): Ground Self-Defense Force
(Rikujou Jietai, GSDF), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Kaijou Jietai,
MSDF), Air Self-Defense Force (Koku Jieitai, ASDF) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 27,461,338
females age 16-49: 26,478,466 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 22,564,075
females age 16-49: 21,720,375 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 626,115
female: 593,905 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 148
Transnational Issues ::Japan
Disputes - international:
the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and
Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern
Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands," occupied
by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimed
by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace
treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Japan and South
Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do) occupied by South
Korea since 1954; China and Taiwan dispute both Japan's claims to
the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and
Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East
China Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Jersey (Europe)
Introduction ::Jersey
Background:
Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of
the medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both France and
England. These islands were the only British soil occupied by German
troops in World War II. Jersey is a British crown dependency but is
not part of the UK or of the European Union. However, the UK
Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and
international representation.
Geography ::Jersey
Location:
Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates:
49 15 N, 2 10 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 116 sq km
country comparison to the world: 224
land: 116 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
70 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate:
temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Terrain:
gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 143 m
Natural resources:
arable land
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population
concentrated in Saint Helier
People ::Jersey
Population:
93,363 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 7,623/female 7,087)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 30,914/female 31,081)
65 years and over: 16.3% (male 6,614/female 8,307) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.1 years
male: 38.5 years
female: 41.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.86% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Birth rate:
10.73 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Death rate:
7.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Net migration rate:
5.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Urbanization:
urban population: 31% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.02 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 204
male: 4.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 81.28 years
country comparison to the world: 11
male: 78.88 years
female: 83.83 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.66 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic groups:
Jersey 51.1%, Britons 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%,
Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census)
Religions:
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church,
Methodist, Presbyterian
Languages:
English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
Literacy:
NA
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Jersey
Country name:
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
conventional short form: Jersey
Dependency status:
British crown dependency
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Saint Helier
geographic coordinates: 49 11 N, 2 06 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 12 parishes including Grouville, Saint Brelade, Saint Clement,
Saint Helier, Saint John, Saint Lawrence, Saint Martin, Saint Mary,
Saint Ouen, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour, and Trinity
Independence:
none (British crown dependency)
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution:
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system:
the laws of the UK where applicable apply and local statutes;
justice is administered by the Royal Court
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Lieutenant Governor Andrew RIDGEWAY (since 14 June
2006)
head of government: Chief Minister Terry LE SUEUR (12 December
2008); Bailiff Michael BIRT (since 9 July 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet (since December 2005)
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: ministers of the Cabinet including the chief minister are
elected by the Assembly of States; the monarchy is hereditary;
lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the States of Jersey (58 seats; 55 are voting
members, of which 12 are senators elected for six-year terms, 12 are
constables or heads of parishes elected for three-year terms, 29 are
deputies elected for three-year terms, the bailiff and the deputy
bailiff, and 3 non-voting members include the Dean of Jersey, the
Attorney General, and the Solicitor General appointed by the monarch)
elections: last held on 15 October 2008 for senators and 26 November
2008 for deputies (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 55
Judicial branch:
Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)
Political parties and leaders:
two declared parties: Centre Party; Jersey Democratic Alliance
note: all senators and deputies elected in 2008 were independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Institute of Directors, Jersey branch (provides business support);
Jersey Hospitality Association [Robert JONES] (trade association);
Jersey Rights Association [David ROTHERHAM] (human rights); La
Societe Jersiaise (education and conservation group); Progress
Jersey [Daren O'TOOLE, Gino RISOLI] (human rights); Royal Jersey
Agriculture and Horticultural Society or RJA&HS (development and
management of the Jersey breed of cattle); Save Jersey's Heritage
(protects heritage through building preservation)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (British crown dependency)
Flag description:
white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of the
flag; in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a red
shield with three lions in yellow; according to tradition, the ships
of Jersey - in an attempt to differentiate themselves from English
ships flying the horizontal cross of St. George - rotated the cross
to the "X" (saltire) configuration; because this arrangement still
resembled the Irish cross of St. Patrick, the yellow Plantagenet
crown and Jersey coat of arms were added
National anthem:
name: "Isle de Siez Nous" (Island Home)
lyrics/music: Gerard LE FEUVRE
note: adopted 2008; serves as a local anthem; as a British crown
dependency, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
Economy ::Jersey
Economy - overview:
Jersey's economy is based on international financial services,
agriculture, and tourism. In 2005 the finance sector accounted for
about 50% of the island's output. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes,
and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to
the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and
represents an important export income earner. Milk products go to
the UK and other EU countries. Tourism accounts for one-quarter of
GDP. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry
to locate in Jersey with the result that an electronics industry has
developed, displacing more traditional industries. All raw material
and energy requirements are imported as well as a large share of
Jersey's food needs. Light taxes and death duties make the island a
popular tax haven. Living standards come close to those of the UK.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.1 billion (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.1 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$57,000 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 2%
services: 97% (2005)
Labor force:
53,560 (June 2006)
country comparison to the world: 187
Unemployment rate:
2.2% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.7% (December 2006)
country comparison to the world: 107
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
Industries:
tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - consumption:
630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Electricity - imports:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
light industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle, foodstuffs,
textiles, flowers
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs,
mineral fuels, chemicals
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Jersey pounds per US dollar 0.6504 (2010), 0.6389 (2009), 0.5302
(2008), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006)
note: the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound
Communications ::Jersey
Telephones - main lines in use:
73,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 152
Telephones - mobile cellular:
83,900 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 188
Telephone system:
general assessment: state-owned, partially-competitive market;
increasingly modern, with some broadband access
domestic: digital telephone system launch announced in 2006 and
currently being implemented; fixed-line and mobile-cellular services
widely available; combined fixed and mobile-cellular density exceeds
100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 44; submarine cable connectivity to
Guernsey, the UK, and France (2008)
Broadcast media:
multiple UK terrestrial television broadcasts - received via a
transmitter in Jersey with relays in Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney
- will begin switching from analog to digital broadcasts in November
2010; satellite packages available; BBC Radio Jersey and 1 other
radio station operating (2009)
Internet country code:
.je
Internet hosts:
237 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 191
Internet users:
29,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 181
Transportation ::Jersey
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 219
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 576 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 190
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 11 (Gibraltar 1, India 1, Marshall
Islands 9) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 110
Ports and terminals:
Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
Military ::Jersey
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 16,853
females age 16-49: 16,737 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 594
female: 555 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Jersey
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Jordan (Middle East)
Introduction ::Jordan
Background:
Following World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the
UK received a mandate to govern much of the Middle East. Britain
separated out a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan from Palestine
in the early 1920s, and the area gained its independence in 1946; it
adopted the name of Jordan in 1950. The country's long-time ruler
was King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic leader, he successfully
navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and
UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian
population. Jordan lost the West Bank to Israel in the 1967 war and
barely managed to defeat Palestinian rebels who attempted to
overthrow the monarchy in 1970. King HUSSEIN in 1988 permanently
relinquished Jordanian claims to the West Bank. In 1989, he
reinstituted parliamentary elections and initiated a gradual
political liberalization; political parties were legalized in 1992.
In 1994, he signed a peace treaty with Israel. King ABDALLAH II, the
son of King HUSSEIN, assumed the throne following his father's death
in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidated his power and
undertaken an aggressive economic reform program. Jordan acceded to
the World Trade Organization in 2000, and began to participate in
the European Free Trade Association in 2001. In 2003, Jordan
staunchly supported the Coalition ouster of Saddam in Iraq and
following the outbreak of insurgent violence in Iraq, absorbed
thousands of displaced Iraqis. Municipal elections were held in July
2007 under a system in which 20% of seats in all municipal councils
were reserved by quota for women. Parliamentary elections were held
in November 2010 and saw independent pro-government candidates win
the vast majority of seats.
Geography ::Jordan
Location:
Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
31 00 N, 36 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 89,342 sq km
country comparison to the world: 111
land: 88,802 sq km
water: 540 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 1,635 km
border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km,
Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km
Coastline:
26 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate:
mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
Terrain:
mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift
Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Jabal Umm ad Dami 1,854 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, potash, shale oil
Land use:
arable land: 3.32%
permanent crops: 1.18%
other: 95.5% (2005)
Irrigated land:
750 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
0.9 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.01 cu km/yr (21%/4%/75%)
per capita: 177 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
droughts; periodic earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing;
soil erosion; desertification
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, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba and as the Arab
country that shares the longest border with Israel and the occupied
West Bank
People ::Jordan
Population:
6,407,085 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36% (male 1,161,484/female 1,096,441)
15-64 years: 59.4% (male 1,892,472/female 1,829,112)
65 years and over: 4.6% (male 143,058/female 146,718) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.8 years
male: 21.6 years
female: 22.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.159% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Birth rate:
27.06 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Death rate:
2.66 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
Net migration rate:
-2.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Urbanization:
urban population: 78% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 17.03 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 109
male: 17.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.92 years
country comparison to the world: 27
male: 78.64 years
female: 81.28 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.42 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
600 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Nationality:
noun: Jordanian(s)
adjective: Jordanian
Ethnic groups:
Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some
Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox,
Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several
small Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)
Languages:
Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle
classes
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.9%
male: 95.1%
female: 84.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (1999)
country comparison to the world: 72
Government ::Jordan
Country name:
conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
conventional short form: Jordan
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah
local short form: Al Urdun
former: Transjordan
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Amman
geographic coordinates: 31 57 N, 35 56 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in March; ends last
Friday in October
Administrative divisions:
12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ajlun, Al
'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az
Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba
Independence:
25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British
administration)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
Constitution:
1 January 1952; amended many times
Legal system:
based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of
legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999); Crown
Prince HUSSEIN (born 28 June 1994), eldest son of King ABDALLAH II
head of government: Prime Minister Samir al-RIFAI (since 9 December
2009); Deputy Prime Ministers Ayman al-SAFADI, Khalid al-KARAKI,
Sa'ad Hayel SROUR
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation
with the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by
the monarch
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of the
Senate, also called the House of Notables or Majlis al-Ayan (60
seats; members appointed by the monarch to serve four-year terms)
and the Chamber of Deputies, also called the House of
Representatives or Majlis al-Nuwaab (120 seats; members elected
using a single, non-transferable vote system in multi-member
districts to serve four-year terms); note - the new electoral law
enacted in May 2010 allocated an additional 10 seats (6 seats added
to the number reserved for women, bringing the total to 12; 2
additional seats for Amman; and 1 seat each for the cities of Zarqa
and Irbid; unchanged are 9 seats reserved for Christian candidates,
9 for Bedouin candidates, and 3 for Jordanians of Chechen or
Circassian descent
elections: Chamber of Deputies - last held on 9 November 2010 (next
scheduled in 2014); note - the King dissolved the previous Chamber
of Deputies in November 2009, midway through the parliamentary term
election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - independents and other 120 (includes 12 seats
filled by women's quota and 1 woman was directly elected); note -
the IAF boycotted the election
Judicial branch:
Court of Cassation (Supreme Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Arab Ba'ath Socialist Party [Fuad DABBOUR]; Ba'ath Arab Progressive
Party [Tayseer al-HAMSI]; Call Party [Mohammed Abu BAKR]; Democratic
People's Party [Ablah al-ULBAH]; Democratic Popular Unity Party
[Sa'ed DIAB]; Islamic Action Front or IAF [Hamzeh MANSOUR]; Islamic
Center Party [Marwan al-FA'OURI; Jordanian Communist Party [Munir
HAMARNEH]; Jordanian National Party [Mona Abu BAKR]; Jordanian
United Front [Amjad al-MAJALI]; Life Party [Thaher 'AMROU]; Message
Party [Hazem QASHOU]; National Constitution Party [Ahmed al-SHUNAQ];
National Current Party [Abd al-Hadi al-MAJALI]; National Movement
for Direct Democracy [Mohammed al-QAQ]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Anti-Normalization Committee [Hamzeh MANSOUR, chairman]; Higher
Coordination Committee of Opposition Parties [Hamzeh MANZOUR];
Jordan Bar Association [Saleh al-ARMUTI, chairman]; Jordanian Press
Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Jordanian Muslim
Brotherhood [Dr. Hamam SAID, controller general]
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO,
MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alia Hatough BOURAN
chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664
FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert S. BEECROFT
embassy: Abdoun, Amman
mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box
5, DPO AE 09892-0200
telephone: [962] (6) 590-6000
FAX: [962] (6) 592-0121
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), representing the
Abbassid Caliphate, white, representing the Ummayyad Caliphate, and
green, representing the Fatimid Caliphate; a red isosceles triangle
on the hoist side, representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, and
bearing a small white seven-pointed star symbolizing the seven
verses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Holy Koran; the seven
points on the star represent faith in One God, humanity, national
spirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations; design is
based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I
National anthem:
name: "As-salam al-malaki al-urdoni" (Long Live the King of Jordan)
lyrics/music: Abdul-Mone'm al-RIFAI'/Abdul-Qader al-TANEER
note: adopted 1946; the shortened version of the anthem is used most
commonly, while the full version is reserved for special occasions
Economy ::Jordan
Economy - overview:
Jordan's economy is among the smallest in the Middle East, with
insufficient supplies of water, oil, and other natural resources,
underlying the government's heavy reliance on foreign assistance.
Other economic challenges for the government include chronic high
rates of poverty, unemployment, inflation, and a large budget
deficit. Since assuming the throne in 1999, King ABDALLAH has
implemented significant economic reforms, such as opening the trade
regime, privatizing state-owned companies, and eliminating most fuel
subsidies, which in the past few years have spurred economic growth
by attracting foreign investment and creating some jobs. The global
economic slowdown, however, has depressed Jordan's GDP growth.
Export-oriented sectors such as manufacturing, mining, and the
transport of re-exports have been hit the hardest. The Government
approved two supplementary budgets in 2010, but sweeping tax cuts
planned for 2010 did not materialize because of Amman's need for
additional revenue to cover excess spending. The budget deficit is
likely to remain high, at 5-6% of GDP, and Amman likely will
continue to depend heavily on foreign assistance to finance the
deficit in 2011. Jordan's financial sector has been relatively
isolated from the international financial crisis because of its
limited exposure to overseas capital markets. Jordan is currently
exploring nuclear power generation to forestall energy shortfalls.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$33.79 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
$32.74 billion (2009 est.)
$31.98 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$27.13 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
2.4% (2009 est.)
5.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
$5,200 (2009 est.)
$5,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.4%
industry: 30.3%
services: 66.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.719 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 20%
services: 77.4% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
13.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
12.9% (2009 est.)
note: official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30%
Population below poverty line:
14.2% (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 30.7% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39.7 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 63
36.4 (1997)
Investment (gross fixed):
30.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Public debt:
61.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
64.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
-0.7% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 73
6.25% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
9.03% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$9.386 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 72
$8.437 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$35.53 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$33.38 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$26.85 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$25.14 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$31.86 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 53
$35.85 billion (31 December 2008)
$41.22 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
citrus, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, strawberries, stone fruits;
sheep, poultry, dairy
Industries:
clothing, fertilizers, potash, phosphate mining, pharmaceuticals,
petroleum refining, cement, inorganic chemicals, light
manufacturing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
2.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Electricity - production:
12.21 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Electricity - consumption:
10.4 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Electricity - exports:
176 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
200 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Oil - consumption:
108,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Oil - imports:
108,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Oil - proved reserves:
1 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Natural gas - production:
250 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Natural gas - consumption:
2.97 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Natural gas - imports:
2.72 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Natural gas - proved reserves:
6.031 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Current account balance:
-$975 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
-$1.27 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$7.333 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
$6.366 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, fertilizers, potash, phosphates, vegetables,
pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners:
US 17.13%, Iraq 17%, India 13.59%, Saudi Arabia 10.56%, Syria 4.18%,
UAE 4.09% (2009)
Imports:
$12.97 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$12.5 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, iron, cereals
Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 17.3%, China 10.95%, US 6.94%, Germany 6.29%, Egypt
6.1% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$12.64 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$12.14 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$5.522 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
$6.766 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$22.19 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$19.76 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Jordanian dinars (JOD) per US dollar - 0.709 (2010), 0.709 (2009),
0.709 (2008), 0.709 (2007), 0.709 (2006)
Communications ::Jordan
Telephones - main lines in use:
501,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 96
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6.014 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 85
Telephone system:
general assessment: service has improved recently with increased use
of digital switching equipment; microwave radio relay transmission
and coaxial and fiber-optic cable are employed on trunk lines;
growing mobile-cellular usage in both urban and rural areas is
reducing use of fixed-line services; Internet penetration remains
modest and slow-growing
domestic: 1995 telecommunications law opened all non-fixed-line
services to private competition; in 2005, monopoly over fixed-line
services terminated and the entire telecommunications sector was
opened to competition; currently multiple mobile-cellular providers
with subscribership rapidly approaching 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 962; landing point for the Fiber-Optic
Link Around the Globe (FLAG) FEA and FLAG Falcon submarine cable
networks; satellite earth stations - 33 (3 Intelsat, 1 Arabsat, and
29 land and maritime Inmarsat terminals); fiber-optic cable to Saudi
Arabia and microwave radio relay link with Egypt and Syria;
participant in Medarabtel (2010)
Broadcast media:
radio and TV dominated by the government-owned Jordan Radio and
Television Corporation (JRTV) that operates a main network, a sports
network, a film network, and a satellite channel; first independent
TV broadcaster aired in 2007; international satellite TV and Israeli
and Syrian TV broadcasts are available; roughly 30 radio stations
operational with JRTV operating the main government-owned station;
transmissions of multiple international radio broadcasters are
available (2007)
Internet country code:
.jo
Internet hosts:
42,412 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 92
Internet users:
1.642 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 78
Transportation ::Jordan
Airports:
18 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 138
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 439 km; oil 49 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 507 km
country comparison to the world: 114
narrow gauge: 507 km 1.050-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 7,891 km
country comparison to the world: 143
paved: 7,891 km (2009)
Merchant marine:
total: 13
country comparison to the world: 108
by type: cargo 5, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, roll
on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 7 (UAE 7)
registered in other countries: 20 (Bahamas 2, Egypt 2, Panama 13,
Syria 2, unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Al 'Aqabah
Military ::Jordan
Military branches:
Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF): Royal Jordanian Land Force (RJLF),
Royal Jordanian Navy, Royal Jordanian Air Force (Al-Quwwat
al-Jawwiya al-Malakiya al-Urduniya, RJAF), Special Operations
Command (Socom); Public Security Directorate (normally falls under
Ministry of Interior, but comes under JAF in wartime or crisis)
(2008)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription at age
18 was suspended in 1999, although all males under age 37 are
required to register; women not subject to conscription, but can
volunteer to serve in non-combat military positions in the Royal
Jordanian Arab Army Women's Corps; conscription for males only
resurrected in July 2007 in order to provide youth training
necessary for job market needs (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,646,215
females age 16-49: 1,579,268 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,416,681
females age 16-49: 1,358,608 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 73,554
female: 69,359 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
8.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 5
Transnational Issues ::Jordan
Disputes - international:
approximately two million Iraqis have fled the conflict in Iraq,
with the majority taking refuge in Syria and Jordan; 2004 Agreement
settles border dispute with Syria pending demarcation
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 1,835,704 (Palestinian Refugees
(UNRWA)); 500,000 (Iraq)
IDPs: 160,000 (1967 Arab-Israeli War) (2007)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Kazakhstan (Central Asia)
Introduction ::Kazakhstan
Background:
Ethnic Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes who
migrated into the region in the 13th century, were rarely united as
a single nation. The area was conquered by Russia in the 18th
century, and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1936. During the
1950s and 1960s agricultural "Virgin Lands" program, Soviet citizens
were encouraged to help cultivate Kazakhstan's northern pastures.
This influx of immigrants (mostly Russians, but also some other
deported nationalities) skewed the ethnic mixture and enabled
non-ethnic Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Independence in 1991 drove
many of these newcomers to emigrate. Kazakhstan's economy is larger
than those of all the other Central Asian states largely due to the
country's vast natural resources. Current issues include: developing
a cohesive national identity; expanding the development of the
country's vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets;
diversifying the economy outside the oil, gas, and mining sectors;
enhancing Kazakhstan's economic competitiveness; developing a
multiparty parliament and advancing political and social reform; and
strengthening relations with neighboring states and other foreign
powers.
Geography ::Kazakhstan
Location:
Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural
(Zhayyq) River in eastern-most Europe
Geographic coordinates:
48 00 N, 68 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 2,724,900 sq km
country comparison to the world: 9
land: 2,699,700 sq km
water: 25,200 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than four times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 12,185 km
border countries: China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,224 km, Russia 6,846
km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked); note - Kazakhstan borders the Aral Sea, now split
into two bodies of water (1,070 km), and the Caspian Sea (1,894 km)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid
Terrain:
vast flat steppe extending from the Volga in the west to the Altai
Mountains in the east and from the plains of western Siberia in the
north to oases and deserts of Central Asia in the south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 m
highest point: Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m
Natural resources:
major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese,
chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite,
gold, uranium
Land use:
arable land: 8.28%
permanent crops: 0.05%
other: 91.67% (2005)
Irrigated land:
35,560 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
109.6 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 35 cu km/yr (2%/17%/82%)
per capita: 2,360 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes in the south; mudslides around Almaty
Environment - current issues:
radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with former defense
industries and test ranges scattered throughout the country pose
health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe
in some cities; because the two main rivers that flowed into the
Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and
leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural
salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown
into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil
pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination from
poor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
landlocked; Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km of territory
enclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome; in January 2004, Kazakhstan and
Russia extended the lease to 2050
People ::Kazakhstan
Population:
15,460,484 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.8% (male 1,717,469/female 1,643,920)
15-64 years: 70.2% (male 5,279,292/female 5,534,607)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 426,494/female 797,655) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.9 years
male: 28.4 years
female: 31.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.399% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Birth rate:
16.66 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Death rate:
9.39 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Net migration rate:
-3.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Urbanization:
urban population: 58% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.058 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 24.93 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 84
male: 29.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.19 years
country comparison to the world: 152
male: 62.91 years
female: 73.78 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.87 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
12,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Nationality:
noun: Kazakhstani(s)
adjective: Kazakhstani
Ethnic groups:
Kazakh (Qazaq) 53.4%, Russian 30%, Ukrainian 3.7%, Uzbek 2.5%,
German 2.4%, Tatar 1.7%, Uighur 1.4%, other 4.9% (1999 census)
Religions:
Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%
Languages:
Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official, used in
everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic
communication") 95% (2001 est.)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.5%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.3% (1999 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 15 years (2009)
Education expenditures:
2.8% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 156
Government ::Kazakhstan
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan
conventional short form: Kazakhstan
local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy
local short form: Qazaqstan
former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside
the executive branch
Capital:
name: Astana
geographic coordinates: 51 10 N, 71 25 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Kazakhstan is divided into two time zones
Administrative divisions:
14 provinces (oblystar, singular - oblys) and 3 cities* (qalalar,
singular - qala); Almaty Oblysy, Almaty Qalasy*, Aqmola Oblysy
(Astana), Aqtobe Oblysy, Astana Qalasy*, Atyrau Oblysy, Batys
Qazaqstan Oblysy [West Kazakhstan] (Oral), Bayqongyr Qalasy
[Baykonur]*, Mangghystau Oblysy (Aqtau), Ongtustik Qazaqstan Oblysy
[South Kazakhstan] (Shymkent), Pavlodar Oblysy, Qaraghandy Oblysy,
Qostanay Oblysy, Qyzylorda Oblysy, Shyghys Qazaqstan Oblysy [East
Kazakhstan] (Oskemen), Soltustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Petropavlovsk),
Zhambyl Oblysy (Taraz)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses); in 1995, the Governments of
Kazakhstan and Russia entered into an agreement whereby Russia would
lease for a period of 20 years an area of 6,000 sq km enclosing the
Baykonur space launch facilities and the city of Bayqongyr
(Baykonur, formerly Leninsk); in 2004, a new agreement extended the
lease to 2050
Independence:
16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 December (1991)
Constitution:
first post-independence constitution adopted 28 January 1993; new
constitution adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995
Legal system:
based on Islamic law and Roman law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (chairman of the
Supreme Soviet from 22 February 1990, elected president 1 December
1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Karim MASIMOV (since 10 January
2007); First Deputy Prime Minister Umirzak SHUKEYEV (since 3 March
2009), Deputy Prime Ministers Yerbol ORYNBAYEV (since 29 October
2007), Aset ISEKESHEV (since 12 March 2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held on 4 December 2005 (next to be held in 2012);
prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the
president, with Mazhilis approval; note - constitutional amendments
of May 2007 shortened the presidential term from seven years to five
years and established a two-consecutive-term limit; changes will
take effect after NAZARBAYEV's term ends; he, and only he, is
allowed to run for president indefinitely
election results: Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV reelected president;
percent of vote - Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV 91.1%, Zharmakhan A.
TUYAKBAY 6.6%, Alikhan M. BAYMENOV 1.6%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (47 seats; 15 members
are appointed by the president; 32 members elected by local
assemblies; members serve six-year terms, but elections are
staggered with half of the members up for re-election every three
years) and the Mazhilis (107 seats; 9 out of the 107 Mazhilis
members elected by the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, a
presidentially appointed advisory body designed to represent the
country's ethnic minorities; non-appointed members are popularly
elected to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - (indirect) last held in October 2008 (next to be
held in 2011); Mazhilis - last held on 18 August 2007 (next to be
held in 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Nur Otan 16; Mazhilis - percent of vote by party - Nur-Otan
88.1%, NSDP 4.6%, Ak Zhol 3.3%, Auyl 1.6%, Communist People's Party
1.3%, Patriots Party 0.8% Ruhaniyat 0.4%; seats by party - Nur-Otan
98; note - parties had to achieve a threshold of 7% of the
electorate to qualify for seats in the Mazhilis; changes to
electoral legislation enacted since the 2007 election now ensure
that the second-placed party will enter the Majilis at the next
parliamentary election, even if it does not clear the 7% threshold
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (44 members); Constitutional Council (seven members)
Political parties and leaders:
Adilet (Justice) [Maksut NARIKBAYEV, Zeynulla ALSHIMBAYEV, Serik
ABDRAHMANOV, Bakhytbek AKHMETZHAN, Yerkin ONGARBAYEV, Tolegan
SYDYKOV] (formerly Democratic Party of Kazakhstan); Agrarian and
Industrial Union of Workers Block or AIST (Agrarian Party and Civic
Party); Ak Zhol Party (Bright Path) [Alikhan BAYMENOV]; Alga
[Vladimir KOZLOV] (unregistered); Auyl (Village) [Gani KALIYEV];
Azat (Freedom) Party [Bolat ABILOV] (formerly True Ak Zhol Party);
Azat NSDP [co-chaired by Bolat ABILOV and Zharmakhan TUYAKBAY]; Azat
and NSDP united in 2009, but the authorities have refused to
register Azat NSDP as a single party; Communist Party of Kazakhstan
or KPK [Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN]; Communist People's Party of
Kazakhstan [Vladislav KOSAREV]; National Social Democratic Party or
NSDP [Zharmakhan TUYAKBAY]; Nur-Otan [Bakhytzhan ZHUMAGULOV] (the
Agrarian, Asar, and Civic parties merged with Otan); Patriots' Party
[Gani KASYMOV]; Rukhaniyat (Spirituality) [Altynshash ZHAGANOVA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Adil-Soz [Tamara KALEYEVA]; Almaty Helsinki Committee [Ninel
FOKINA]; Confederation of Free Trade Unions [Sergei BELKIN]; For
Fair Elections [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS (jailed), Sabit ZHUSUPOV, Sergey
DUVANOV, Ibrash NUSUPBAYEV]; Kazakhstan International Bureau on
Human Rights [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS, executive director]; Pan-National
Social Democratic Party of Kazakhstan [Zharmakhan TUYAKBAY];
Pensioners Movement or Pokoleniye [Irina SAVOSTINA, chairwoman];
Republican Network of International Monitors [Dos KUSHIM];
Transparency International [Sergey ZLOTNIKOV]
International organization participation:
ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS
(observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Yerlan IDRISSOV
chancery: 1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 232-5488
FAX: [1] (202) 232-5845
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard E. HOAGLAND
embassy: Ak Bulak 4, Str. 23-22, Building #3, Astana 010010
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [7] (7172) 70-21-00
FAX: [7] (7172) 34-08-90
Flag description:
a gold sun with 32 rays above a soaring golden steppe eagle, both
centered on a sky blue background; the hoist side displays a
national ornamental pattern "koshkar-muiz" (the horns of the ram) in
gold; the blue color is of religious significance to the Turkic
peoples of the country, and so symbolizes cultural and ethnic unity;
it also represents the endless sky as well as water; the sun, a
source of life and energy, exemplifies wealth and plenitude; the
sun's rays are shaped like grain, which is the basis of abundance
and prosperity; the eagle has appeared on the flags of Kazakh tribes
for centuries and represents freedom, power, and the flight to the
future
National anthem:
name: "Menin Qazaqstanim" (My Kazakhstan)
lyrics/music: Zhumeken NAZHIMEDENOV and Nursultan NAZARBAYEV/Shamshi
KALDAYAKOV
note: adopted 2006; President Nursultan NAZARBAYEV played a role in
revising the lyrics
Economy ::Kazakhstan
Economy - overview:
Kazakhstan, geographically the largest of the former Soviet
republics, excluding Russia, possesses enormous fossil fuel reserves
and plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals, such as
uranium, copper, and zinc. It also has a large agricultural sector
featuring livestock and grain. Kazakhstan's industrial sector is
primarily focused on the extraction and processing of these natural
resources. Kazakhstan enjoyed double-digit growth in 2000-01 and 8%
or more per year in 2002-07 - thanks largely to its booming energy
sector but also to economic reform, good harvests, and increased
foreign investment; GDP growth slowed dramatically following the
near-collapse of the banking sector in late 2007 and the declines in
oil and metals prices associated with the global economic downturn
in 2008-09. Kazakhstan has embarked upon an industrial policy
designed to diversify the economy away from overdependence on the
oil sector as well expanding export markets away from its historical
reliance on Russia. Nevertheless, growth is still driven by oil. The
government has engaged in several disputes with Western oil
companies over the terms of production agreements, most recently,
with regard to the Kashagan project in 2007-08 and the Karachaganak
project in 2009.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$193.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$184.8 billion (2009 est.)
$182.6 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$129.8 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
1.2% (2009 est.)
3.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
$12,000 (2009 est.)
$11,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 42.8%
services: 51.2% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
8.718 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 31.5%
industry: 18.4%
services: 50% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
6.3% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
12.1% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 26.5% (2004 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
28.8 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 119
31.5 (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):
27.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Public debt:
15.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
14.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
7.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
7% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 42
10.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2008)
Stock of narrow money:
$20.91 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 63
$16.66 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$65.55 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$52.83 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$44.53 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$39.72 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$57.66 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 54
$31.08 billion (31 December 2008)
$41.38 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
grain (mostly spring wheat), cotton; livestock
Industries:
oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper,
titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, iron and steel;
tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors,
construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:
7.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Electricity - production:
78.4 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Electricity - consumption:
77.9 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Electricity - exports:
3.617 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
1.94 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
1.54 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Oil - consumption:
241,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Oil - exports:
1.345 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Oil - imports:
164,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Oil - proved reserves:
30 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Natural gas - production:
35.61 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Natural gas - consumption:
33.68 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Natural gas - exports:
17.66 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Natural gas - imports:
3.72 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.407 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Current account balance:
$6.993 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
-$3.405 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$59.23 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$43.84 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil and oil products 59%, ferrous metals 19%, chemicals 5%,
machinery 3%, grain, wool, meat, coal
Exports - partners:
China 16.34%, France 9.23%, Germany 8.32%, Russia 6.9%, Ukraine
5.52%, Romania 5.25%, Italy 5.12%, US 4.34% (2009)
Imports:
$30.11 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
$28.77 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, metal products, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Russia 28.5%, China 26.72%, Germany 6.59%, Italy 5.58%, Ukraine 4.8%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$32.44 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
$23.22 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$94.44 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$106.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$83.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$69.46 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$7.208 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$5.708 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
tenge (KZT) per US dollar - 147.28 (2010), 147.5 (2009), 120.25
(2008), 122.55 (2007), 126.09 (2006)
Communications ::Kazakhstan
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.763 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 42
Telephones - mobile cellular:
14.995 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 50
Telephone system:
general assessment: inherited an outdated telecommunications network
from the Soviet era requiring modernization
domestic: intercity by landline and microwave radio relay; number of
fixed-line connections is gradually increasing and fixed-line
teledensity now roughly 25 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage is
increasing and the subscriber base now is roughly 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 7; international traffic with other
former Soviet republics and China carried by landline and microwave
radio relay and with other countries by satellite and by the
Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable; satellite earth stations
- 2 Intelsat (2008)
Broadcast media:
state owns nearly all radio and TV transmission facilities and
operates national TV and radio networks; nearly all nationwide TV
networks are wholly or partly owned by the government; some former
state-owned media outlets have been privatized and are controlled by
the president's daughter, who heads the Khabar Agency that runs
multiple TV and radio stations; a number of privately-owned TV
stations; households with satellite dishes have access to foreign
media; a small number of commercial radio stations operating along
with state-run radio stations (2008)
Internet country code:
.kz
Internet hosts:
53,984 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 85
Internet users:
5.299 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 44
Transportation ::Kazakhstan
Airports:
97 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 62
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 65
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 8 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 32
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 13 (2010)
Heliports:
3 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 658 km; gas 11,146 km; oil 10,376 km; refined products
1,095 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 15,082 km
country comparison to the world: 19
broad gauge: 15,082 km 1.520-m gauge (3,700 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 93,612 km
country comparison to the world: 51
paved: 84,100 km
unpaved: 9,512 km (2008)
Waterways:
4,000 km; on the Ertis (Irtysh) River (80%) and Syr Darya
(Syrdariya) River (2008)
country comparison to the world: 26
Merchant marine:
total: 8
country comparison to the world: 123
by type: petroleum tanker 6, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized
tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Ireland 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev), Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk),
Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk)
Military ::Kazakhstan
Military branches:
Kazakhstani Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Mobile Forces,
Air Defense Forces (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service
obligation - 2 years; minimum age for volunteers NA (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,176,999
females age 16-49: 4,202,422 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,902,859
females age 16-49: 3,543,467 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 133,884
female: 127,415 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.1% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 128
Transnational Issues ::Kazakhstan
Disputes - international:
Kyrgyzstan has yet to ratify the 2001 boundary delimitation with
Kazakhstan; field demarcation of the boundaries with Turkmenistan
commenced in 2005, and with Uzbekistan in 2004; demarcation is
scheduled to get underway with Russia in 2007; demarcation with
China was completed in 2002; creation of a seabed boundary with
Turkmenistan in the Caspian Sea remains under discussion;
equidistant seabed treaties have been ratified with Azerbaijan and
Russia in the Caspian Sea, but no resolution has been made on
dividing the water column among any of the littoral states
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 3,700 (Russia); 508 (Afghanistan)
(2007)
Illicit drugs:
significant illicit cultivation of cannabis for CIS markets, as well
as limited cultivation of opium poppy and ephedra (for the drug
ephedrine); limited government eradication of illicit crops; transit
point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of
Europe; significant consumer of opiates
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Kenya (Africa)
Introduction ::Kenya
Background:
Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led
Kenya from independence in 1963 until his death in 1978, when
President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI took power in a constitutional
succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969
until 1982 when the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) made
itself the sole legal party in Kenya. MOI acceded to internal and
external pressure for political liberalization in late 1991. The
ethnically fractured opposition failed to dislodge KANU from power
in elections in 1992 and 1997, which were marred by violence and
fraud, but were viewed as having generally reflected the will of the
Kenyan people. President MOI stepped down in December 2002 following
fair and peaceful elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate
of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow
Coalition (NARC), defeated KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA and assumed
the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption
platform. KIBAKI's NARC coalition splintered in 2005 over the
constitutional review process. Government defectors joined with KANU
to form a new opposition coalition, the Orange Democratic Movement,
which defeated the government's draft constitution in a popular
referendum in November 2005. KIBAKI's reelection in December 2007
brought charges of vote rigging from ODM candidate Raila ODINGA and
unleashed two months of violence in which as many as 1,500 people
died. UN-sponsored talks in late February produced a powersharing
accord bringing ODINGA into the government in the restored position
of prime minister.
Geography ::Kenya
Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and
Tanzania
Geographic coordinates:
1 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 580,367 sq km
country comparison to the world: 48
land: 569,140 sq km
water: 11,227 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Land boundaries:
total: 3,477 km
border countries: Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km,
Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km
Coastline:
536 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
Terrain:
low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley;
fertile plateau in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m
Natural resources:
limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite,
gypsum, wildlife, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 8.01%
permanent crops: 0.97%
other: 91.02% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,030 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
30.2 cu km (1990)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.58 cu km/yr (30%/6%/64%)
per capita: 46 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons
volcanism: Kenya experiences limited volcanic activity; the Barrier
(elev. 1,032 m, 3,385 ft) last erupted in 1921; South Island is the
only other historically active volcano
Environment - current issues:
water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of
water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers;
water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil
erosion; desertification; poaching
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful
agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on
Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak; unique physiography
supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic
value
People ::Kenya
Population:
40,046,566
country comparison to the world: 33
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.3% (male 8,300,393/female 8,181,898)
15-64 years: 55.1% (male 10,784,119/female 10,702,999)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 470,218/female 563,145) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.8 years
male: 18.7 years
female: 18.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.588% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Birth rate:
35.14 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Death rate:
9.26 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Urbanization:
urban population: 22% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 53.49 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 44
male: 56.28 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 50.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 58.82 years
country comparison to the world: 190
male: 58.33 years
female: 59.32 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.38 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
6.7% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.2 million (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
150,000 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria and Rift Valley fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Kenyan(s)
adjective: Kenyan
Ethnic groups:
Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%,
Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab)
1%
Religions:
Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous beliefs
10%, other 2%
note: a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for
the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous
beliefs vary widely
Languages:
English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous
languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.1%
male: 90.6%
female: 79.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
7% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 21
Government ::Kenya
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Kenya
conventional short form: Kenya
local long form: Republic of Kenya/Jamhuri ya Kenya
local short form: Kenya
former: British East Africa
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Nairobi
geographic coordinates: 1 17 S, 36 49 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*,
North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western
Independence:
12 December 1963 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 December (1963)
Constitution:
27 August 2010; the new constitution abolishes the position of prime
minister and establishes a bicameral legislature; many details have
yet to be finalized and will require significant legislative action
Legal system:
based on Kenyan statutory law, Kenyan and English common law, tribal
law, and Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; constitutional
amendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in
1991
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002); Vice
President Stephen Kalonzo MUSYOKA (since 10 January 2008);
head of government: President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002);
Vice President Stephen Kalonzo MUSYOKA (since 10 January 2008); note
- the roles of the president and prime minister are not well defined
at this juncture; constitutionally, the president remains chief of
state and head of government, but the prime minister is charged with
coordinating government business
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and headed by the prime
minister, who is the leader of the largest party in parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); in addition to receiving the largest
number of votes in absolute terms, the presidential candidate must
also win 25% or more of the vote in at least five of Kenya's seven
provinces and one area to avoid a runoff; election last held on 27
December 2007 (next to be held in December 2012); vice president
appointed by the president
election results: President Mwai KIBAKI reelected; percent of vote -
Mwai KIBAKI 46%, Raila ODINGA 44%, Kalonzo MUSYOKA 9%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Bunge usually referred to as
Parliament (224 seats; 210 members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms, 12 nominated members appointed by the president but
selected by the parties in proportion to their parliamentary vote
totals, 2 ex-officio members)
elections: last held on 27 December 2007 (next to be held in
December 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
ODM 99, PNU 46, ODM-K 16, KANU 14 other 35; ex-officio 2; seats
appointed by the president - ODM 6, PNU 3, ODM-K 2, KANU 1
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal (chief justice is appointed by the president); High
Court
Political parties and leaders:
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya or FORD-Kenya [Musikari
KOMBO]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People or FORD-People
[Reuben OYONDI]; Kenya African National Union or KANU [Uhuru
KENYATTA]; National Rainbow Coalition-Kenya or NARC-Kenya [Martha
KARUA]; Orange Democratic Movement or ODM [Raila ODINGA]; Orange
Democratic Movement-Kenya or ODM-K [Kalonzo MUSYOKA]; Party of
National Unity or PNU [Mwai KIBAKI]; Shirikisho Party of Kenya or
SPK [Chirau Ali MWAKWERE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Council of Islamic Preachers of Kenya or CIPK [Sheikh Idris
MOHAMMED]; Kenya Human Rights Commission [L. Muthoni WANYEKI];
Muslim Human Rights Forum [Ali-Amin KIMATHI]; National Convention
Executive Council or NCEC, a proreform coalition of political
parties and nongovernment organizations [Ndung'u WAINANA]; National
Muslim Leaders Forum or NAMLEF [Abdullahi ABDI]; Protestant National
Council of Churches of Kenya or NCCK [Canon Peter Karanja MWANGI];
Roman Catholic and other Christian churches; Supreme Council of
Kenya Muslims or SUPKEM [Shaykh Abdul Gafur al-BUSAIDY]
other: labor unions
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM,
OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Elkanah Odembo ABSALOM
chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101
FAX: [1] (202) 462-3829
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael E. RANNEBERGER
embassy: US Embassy, United Nations Avenue, Nairobi; P. O. Box 606
Village Market, Nairobi 00621
mailing address: Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831
telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000
FAX: [254] (20) 363-410
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red
band is edged in white; a large Maasai warrior's shield covering
crossed spears is superimposed at the center; black symbolizes the
majority population, red the blood shed in the struggle for freedom,
green stands for natural wealth, and white for peace; the shield and
crossed spears symbolize the defense of freedom
National anthem:
name: "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu" (Oh God of All Creation)
lyrics/music: Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA,
Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE/traditional, adapted by
Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI,
and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE
note: adopted 1963; the anthem is based on a traditional Kenyan folk
song
Economy ::Kenya
Economy - overview:
Although the regional hub for trade and finance in East Africa,
Kenya has been hampered by corruption and by reliance upon several
primary goods whose prices have remained low. In 1997, the IMF
suspended Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program due to the
government's failure to maintain reforms and curb corruption. The
IMF, which had resumed loans in 2000 to help Kenya through a
drought, again halted lending in 2001 when the government failed to
institute several anticorruption measures. In the key December 2002
elections, Daniel Arap MOI's 24-year-old reign ended, and a new
opposition government took on the formidable economic problems
facing the nation. After some early progress in rooting out
corruption and encouraging donor support, the KIBAKI government was
rocked by high-level graft scandals in 2005 and 2006. In 2006, the
World Bank and IMF delayed loans pending action by the government on
corruption. The international financial institutions and donors have
since resumed lending, despite little action on the government's
part to deal with corruption. Post-election violence in early 2008,
coupled with the effects of the global financial crisis on
remittance and exports, reduced GDP growth to 1.7 in 2008, but the
economy rebounded in 2009-10.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$65.95 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$63.42 billion (2009 est.)
$61.78 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$32.42 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
2.6% (2009 est.)
1.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
$1,600 (2009 est.)
$1,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 22%
industry: 16%
services: 62% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
17.94 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 75%
industry and services: 25% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
40% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
40% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
50% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 37.8% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
42.5 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
44.9 (1997)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Public debt:
50.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
46.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
9.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA%
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.8% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
14.02% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$6.333 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 81
$5.717 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$15.38 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
$13.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$14.11 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
$13.17 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$10.76 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 66
$10.92 billion (31 December 2008)
$13.39 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
tea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy
products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs
Industries:
small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles,
clothing, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products,
horticulture, oil refining; aluminum, steel, lead; cement,
commercial ship repair, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Electricity - production:
5.223 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Electricity - consumption:
4.863 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Electricity - exports:
58.3 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
22.5 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Oil - consumption:
76,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Oil - exports:
7,270 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Oil - imports:
80,530 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Current account balance:
-$1.414 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
-$1.611 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$5.141 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
$4.459 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish, cement
Exports - partners:
UK 11.31%, Netherlands 9.81%, Uganda 9.07%, Tanzania 8.83%, US
5.93%, Pakistan 5.63% (2009)
Imports:
$10.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
$9.715 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor
vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics
Imports - partners:
India 11.67%, China 10.58%, UAE 9.32%, South Africa 8.36%, Saudi
Arabia 6.53%, US 6.25%, Japan 5.1% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$4.585 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$3.85 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$7.935 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
$7.795 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$2.337 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
$2.129 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$338 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$288 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Kenyan shillings (KES) per US dollar - 79.217 (2010), 77.35 (2009),
68.358 (2008), 68.309 (2007), 72.101 (2006)
Communications ::Kenya
Telephones - main lines in use:
664,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 90
Telephones - mobile cellular:
19.365 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 41
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate; fixed-line telephone system is small
and inefficient; trunks are primarily microwave radio relay;
business data commonly transferred by a very small aperture terminal
(VSAT) system
domestic: sole fixed-line provider, Telkom Kenya, is slated for
privatization; multiple providers in the mobile-cellular segment of
the market fostering a boom in mobile-cellular telephone usage with
teledensity reaching 50 per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 254; The East Africa Marine System
(TEAMS) and the SEACOM undersea fiber-optic cable systems; satellite
earth stations - 4 Intelsat
Broadcast media:
about a half-dozen privately-owned TV stations and a state-owned
television broadcaster that operates 2 channels; satellite and cable
TV subscription services are available; state-owned radio
broadcaster operates 2 national radio channels and provides regional
and local radio services in multiple languages; a large number of
private radio broadcasters, including provincial stations
broadcasting in local languages; transmissions of several
international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.ke
Internet hosts:
47,676 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 90
Internet users:
3.996 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 59
Transportation ::Kenya
Airports:
191 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 33
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 174
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 107
under 914 m: 55 (2010)
Pipelines:
oil 4 km; refined products 928 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,778 km
country comparison to the world: 60
narrow gauge: 2,778 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 160,886 km
country comparison to the world: 32
paved: 11,197 km
unpaved: 149,689 km (2008)
Waterways:
the only significant inland waterway in the country is the part of
Lake Victoria within the boundaries of Kenya; Kisumu is the main
port and has ferry connections to Uganda and Tanzania (2010)
Merchant marine:
total: 1
country comparison to the world: 150
by type: petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries: 5 (Comoros 1, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 2, Tuvalu 1, unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Kisumu, Mombasa
Military ::Kenya
Military branches:
Kenya Armed Forces: Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, Kenya Air Force (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-26 years of age for voluntary service (less than 18 with parental
consent), with a 9-year obligation (7 years for Kenyan Navy);
applicants must be Kenyan citizens and provide a national identity
card (obtained at age 18) and a school-leaving certificate (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 9,525,556
females age 16-49: 9,242,381 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,162,904
females age 16-49: 5,904,173 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 417,061
female: 412,438 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 51
Transnational Issues ::Kenya
Disputes - international:
Kenya served as an important mediator in brokering Sudan's
north-south separation in February 2005; Kenya provides shelter to
almost a quarter of a million refugees, including Ugandans who flee
across the border periodically to seek protection from Lord's
Resistance Army (LRA) rebels; Kenya works hard to prevent the clan
and militia fighting in Somalia from spreading across the border,
which has long been open to nomadic pastoralists; the boundary that
separates Kenya's and Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the "Ilemi
Triangle," which Kenya has administered since colonial times
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 173,702 (Somalia); 73,004 (Sudan);
16,428 (Ethiopia)
IDPs: 250,000-400,000 (2007 post-election violence; KANU attacks on
opposition tribal groups in 1990s) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
widespread harvesting of small plots of marijuana; transit country
for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and North America; Indian
methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa; significant
potential for money-laundering activity given the country's status
as a regional financial center; massive corruption, and relatively
high levels of narcotics-associated activities
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Kiribati (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Kiribati
Background:
The Gilbert Islands became a British protectorate in 1892 and a
colony in 1915; they were captured by the Japanese in the Pacific
War in 1941. The islands of Makin and Tarawa were the sites of major
US amphibious victories over entrenched Japanese garrisons in 1943.
The Gilbert Islands were granted self-rule by the UK in 1971 and
complete independence in 1979 under the new name of Kiribati. The US
relinquished all claims to the sparsely inhabited Phoenix and Line
Island groups in a 1979 treaty of friendship with Kiribati.
Geography ::Kiribati
Location:
Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling
the Equator; the capital Tarawa is about half way between Hawaii and
Australia; note - on 1 January 1995, Kiribati proclaimed that all of
its territory was in the same time zone as its Gilbert Islands group
(UTC +12) even though the Phoenix Islands and the Line Islands under
its jurisdiction were on the other side of the International Date
Line
Geographic coordinates:
1 25 N, 173 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 811 sq km
country comparison to the world: 186
land: 811 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands,
Phoenix Islands
Area - comparative:
four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,143 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation on Banaba 81 m
Natural resources:
phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
Land use:
arable land: 2.74%
permanent crops: 47.95%
other: 49.31% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March;
occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands make them
sensitive to changes in sea level
Environment - current issues:
heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to heavy
migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines
and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
21 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean Island) in
Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the
Pacific Ocean - the others are Makatea in French Polynesia, and Nauru
People ::Kiribati
Population:
99,482 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.6% (male 21,488/female 20,899)
15-64 years: 59% (male 32,871/female 33,690)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 1,656/female 2,246) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.2 years
male: 21.4 years
female: 23 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.271% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Birth rate:
23.06 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Death rate:
7.48 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Net migration rate:
-2.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 184
Urbanization:
urban population: 44% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 40.13 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 66
male: 41.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 38.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.03 years
country comparison to the world: 171
male: 61.68 years
female: 66.49 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.86 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural)
adjective: I-Kiribati
Ethnic groups:
Micronesian 98.8%, other 1.2% (2000 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 55%, Protestant 36%, Mormon 3.1%, Bahai 2.2%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 1.9%, other 1.8% (2005 census)
Languages:
I-Kiribati, English (official)
Literacy:
NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
17.8% of GDP (2002)
country comparison to the world: 1
Government ::Kiribati
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati
conventional short form: Kiribati
local long form: Republic of Kiribati
local short form: Kiribati
note: pronounced keer-ree-bahss
former: Gilbert Islands
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Tarawa
geographic coordinates: 1 19 N, 172 58 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands; note - in
addition, there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line
Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) and 21 island
councils - one for each of the inhabited islands (Abaiang, Abemama,
Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati,
Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea,
Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina)
Independence:
12 July 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Constitution:
12 July 1979
Legal system:
English common law supplemented by local, customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice
President Teima ONORIO; note - the president is both the chief of
state and head of government
head of government: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice
President Teima ONORIO
cabinet: 12-member cabinet appointed by the president from among the
members of the House of Parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the House of Parliament chooses the presidential
candidates from among its members and then those candidates compete
in a general election; president elected by popular vote for a
four-year term (eligible for two more terms); election last held on
17 October 2007 (next to be held in 2011); vice president appointed
by the president
election results: Anote TONG 63.7%, Nabuti MWEMWENIKARAWA 32.9%
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Parliament or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (46 seats;
44 members elected by popular vote, 1 ex officio member - the
attorney general, 1 nominated by the Rabi Council of Leaders
(representing Banaba Island); members serve four-year terms)
elections: legislative elections were held in two rounds - the first
round on 22 August 2007 and the second round on 30 August 2007 (next
to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NA, other 2 (includes attorney general)
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal; High Court; 26 Magistrates' courts; judges at all
levels are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders:
Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK [Taberannang TIMEON]; Maneaban Te
Mauri Party or MTM [Teburoro TITO]; Maurin Kiribati Pati or MKP;
National Progressive Party or NPP [Dr. Harry TONG]
note: there is no tradition of formally organized political parties
in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups
because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party
structures
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Kiribati does not have an embassy in the US; there is an honorary
consulate in Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the US ambassador to
Fiji is accredited to Kiribati
Flag description:
the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a
yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal
wavy white stripes to represent the Pacific ocean; the white stripes
represent the three island groups - the Gilbert, Line, and Phoenix
Islands; the 17 rays of the sun represent the 16 Gilbert Islands and
Banaba (formerly Ocean Island); the frigate bird symbolizes
authority and freedom
National anthem:
name: "Teirake kaini Kiribati" (Stand Up, Kiribati)
lyrics/music: Urium Tamuera IOTEBA
note: adopted 1979
Economy ::Kiribati
Economy - overview:
A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few
natural resources and is one of the least developed Pacific Islands.
Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of
independence from the UK in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the
bulk of production and exports. The economy has fluctuated widely in
recent years. Economic development is constrained by a shortage of
skilled workers, weak infrastructure, and remoteness from
international markets. Tourism provides more than one-fifth of GDP.
Private sector initiatives and a financial sector are in the early
stages of development. Foreign financial aid from the EU, UK, US,
Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UN agencies, and Taiwan
accounts for 20-25% of GDP. Remittances from seamen on merchant
ships abroad account for more than $5 million each year. Kiribati
receives around $15 million annually for the government budget from
an Australian trust fund.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$619.5 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
$610.4 million (2009 est.)
$614.7 million (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$152 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
-0.7% (2009 est.)
-1.1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
$6,200 (2009 est.)
$6,300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.9%
industry: 24.2%
services: 66.8% (2004)
Labor force:
7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (2001
est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 32%
services: 65.3% (2000)
Unemployment rate:
2% (1992 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish
Industries:
fishing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
14 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Electricity - consumption:
13.02 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Oil - consumption:
NA bbl/day (2009 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Oil - imports:
261 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Current account balance:
-$21 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Exports:
$17 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Exports - commodities:
copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish
Imports:
$62 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured
goods, fuel
Debt - external:
$10 million (1999 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.1151 (2010), 1.2822
(2009), 1.2059 (2008), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006)
Communications ::Kiribati
Telephones - main lines in use:
4,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 216
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 217
Telephone system:
general assessment: generally good quality national and
international service
domestic: wire line service available on Tarawa and Kiritimati
(Christmas Island); connections to outer islands by HF/VHF
radiotelephone; wireless service available in Tarawa since 1999
international: country code - 686; Kiribati is being linked to the
Pacific Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications Network, which should
improve telephone service; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast media:
1 television broadcast station that provides about 1 hour of local
programming Monday-Friday; multi-channel TV packages provide access
to Australian and US stations; 1 government-operated radio station
broadcasting on AM, FM, and shortwave (2009)
Internet country code:
.ki
Internet hosts:
31 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 214
Internet users:
7,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 203
Transportation ::Kiribati
Airports:
19 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 137
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 4 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 670 km (2000)
country comparison to the world: 189
Waterways:
5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2007)
country comparison to the world: 109
Merchant marine:
total: 71
country comparison to the world: 61
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 32, chemical tanker 6,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 15
foreign-owned: 51 (China 28, Hong Kong 1, Italy 1, Singapore 11,
South Korea 2, Taiwan 5, Turkey 3) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Betio (Tarawa Atoll), Canton Island, English Harbor
Military ::Kiribati
Military branches:
no regular military forces (constitutionally prohibited); Police
Force (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 24,734 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 17,941
females age 16-49: 19,758 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,107
female: 1,083 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Military - note:
Kiribati does not have military forces; defense assistance is
provided by Australia and NZ
Transnational Issues ::Kiribati
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Korea, North (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Korea, North
Background:
An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was
occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese
War. Five years later, Japan formally annexed the entire peninsula.
Following World War II, Korea was split with the northern half
coming under Soviet-sponsored Communist control. After failing in
the Korean War (1950-53) to conquer the US-backed Republic of Korea
(ROK) in the southern portion by force, North Korea (DPRK), under
its founder President KIM Il Sung, adopted a policy of ostensible
diplomatic and economic "self-reliance" as a check against outside
influence. The DPRK demonized the US as the ultimate threat to its
social system through state-funded propaganda, and molded political,
economic, and military policies around the core ideological
objective of eventual unification of Korea under Pyongyang's
control. KIM's son, the current ruler KIM Jong Il, was officially
designated as his father's successor in 1980, assuming a growing
political and managerial role until the elder KIM's death in 1994.
After decades of economic mismanagement and resource misallocation,
the DPRK since the mid-1990s has relied heavily on international aid
to feed its population. North Korea's history of regional military
provocations, proliferation of military-related items, long-range
missile development, WMD programs including tests of nuclear devices
in 2006 and 2009, and massive conventional armed forces are of major
concern to the international community.
Geography ::Korea, North
Location:
Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the
Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
Geographic coordinates:
40 00 N, 127 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 120,538 sq km
country comparison to the world: 98
land: 120,408 sq km
water: 130 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Mississippi
Land boundaries:
total: 1,673 km
border countries: China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km
Coastline:
2,495 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
note: military boundary line 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the
exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign
vessels and aircraft without permission are banned
Climate:
temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
Terrain:
mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys;
coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m
Natural resources:
coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper,
gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 22.4%
permanent crops: 1.66%
other: 75.94% (2005)
Irrigated land:
14,600 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
77.1 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 9.02 cu km/yr (20%/25%/55%)
per capita: 401 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional
typhoons during the early fall
volcanism: Changbaishan (elev. 2,744 m, 9,003 ft) (also known as
Baitoushan, Baegdu or P'aektu-san), on the Chinese border, is
considered historically active
Environment - current issues:
water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; waterborne
disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia;
mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated
People ::Korea, North
Population:
22,757,275 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.3% (male 2,440,439/female 2,376,557)
15-64 years: 69.4% (male 7,776,889/female 7,945,399)
65 years and over: 9.4% (male 820,504/female 1,305,557) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 33.9 years
male: 32.5 years
female: 35.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.389% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Birth rate:
14.58 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Death rate:
10.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Net migration rate:
-0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Urbanization:
urban population: 63% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 50.15 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 51
male: 57.39 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 42.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.13 years
country comparison to the world: 170
male: 61.53 years
female: 66.89 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.94 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups:
racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few
ethnic Japanese
Religions:
traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and
syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way)
note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent;
government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of
religious freedom
Languages:
Korean
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99%
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Korea, North
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
conventional short form: North Korea
local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
local short form: Choson
abbreviation: DPRK
Government type:
Communist state one-man dictatorship
Capital:
name: Pyongyang
geographic coordinates: 39 01 N, 125 45 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 2 municipalities (si,
singular and plural)
provinces: Chagang-do (Chagang), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong),
Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae),
Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae), Kangwon-do (Kangwon),
P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan),
Yanggang-do (Yanggang)
municipalities: Nason-si, P'yongyang-si (Pyongyang)
Independence:
15 August 1945 (from Japan)
National holiday:
Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9
September (1948)
Constitution:
adopted 1948; revised several times most recently in 2009
Legal system:
based on Prussian civil law system with Japanese influences and
Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: KIM Jong Il (since July 1994); note - on 9 April
2009, rubberstamp Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) reelected KIM Jong
Il chairman of the National Defense Commission, a position accorded
nation's "highest administrative authority"; SPA reelected KIM Yong
Nam in 2009 president of its Presidium also with responsibility of
representing state and receiving diplomatic credentials
head of government: Premier CHOE Yong Rim (since 7 June 2010); Vice
Premier HAN Kwang Bok (since 7 June 2010), Vice Premier JO Pyong Ju
(since 7 June 2010), Vice Premier JON Ha Chol (since 7 June 2010),
Vice Premier KANG Nung Su (since 7 June 2010), Vice Premier KIM Rak
Hui (since 7 June 2010), Vice Premier PAK Su Gil (since 18 September
2009), Vice Premier RI Thae Nam (since 7 June 2010); Vice Premier RO
Tu Chol (since 3 September 2003)
cabinet: Naegak (cabinet) members, except for Minister of People's
Armed Forces, are appointed by SPA
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: last election held in September 2003; date of next
election NA
election results: KIM Jong Il and KIM Yong Nam were only nominees
for positions and ran unopposed
Legislative branch:
unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 8 March 2009 (next to be held in March 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NA; ruling party approves a list of candidates who are elected
without opposition; a token number of seats are reserved for minor
parties
Judicial branch:
Central Court (judges are elected by the Supreme People's Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
major party - Korean Workers' Party or KWP [KIM Jong Il]; minor
parties - Chondoist Chongu Party [RYU Mi Yong] (under KWP control),
Social Democratic Party [KIM Yong Dae] (under KWP control)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ARF, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IOC, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none; North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none; note - Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang represents the US as
consular protecting power
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue;
the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is
a white disk with a red five-pointed star; the broad red band
symbolizes revolutionary traditions; the narrow white bands stands
for purity, strength, and dignity; the blue bands signify
sovereignty, peace, and friendship; the red star represents socialism
National anthem:
name: "Aegukka" (Patriotic Song)
lyrics/music: PAK Se Yong/KIM Won Gyun
note: adopted 1947; both North Korea and South Korea's anthems share
the same name and have a vaguely similar melody but have different
lyrics; the North Korean anthem is also known as "Ach'imun pinnara"
(Let Morning Shine)
Economy ::Korea, North
Economy - overview:
North Korea, one of the world's most centrally directed and least
open economies, faces chronic economic problems. Industrial capital
stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of years of
underinvestment and shortages of spare parts. Large-scale military
spending draws off resources needed for investment and civilian
consumption. Industrial and power output have declined in parallel
from pre-1990 levels. Severe flooding in the summer of 2007
aggravated chronic food shortages caused by on-going systemic
problems, including a lack of arable land, collective farming
practices, and persistent shortages of tractors and fuel.
Large-scale international food aid deliveries have allowed the
people of North Korea to escape widespread starvation since famine
threatened in 1995, but the population continues to suffer from
prolonged malnutrition and poor living conditions. Since 2002, the
government has allowed private "farmers' markets" to begin selling a
wider range of goods. It also permitted some private farming - on an
experimental basis - in an effort to boost agricultural output. In
October 2005, the government tried to reverse some of these policies
by forbidding private sales of grains and reinstituting a
centralized food rationing system. By December 2005, the government
terminated most international humanitarian assistance operations in
North Korea (calling instead for developmental assistance only) and
restricted the activities of remaining international and
non-governmental aid organizations. In mid-2008, North Korea began
receiving food aid under a US program to deliver 500,000 metric tons
of food via the World Food Program and US nongovernmental
organizations; but Pyongyang stopped accepting the aid in March
2009. In December 2009, North Korea carried out a redenomination of
its currency, capping the amount of North Korean won that could be
exchanged for the new notes, and limiting the exchange to a one-week
window. A concurrent crackdown on markets and foreign currency use
yielded severe shortages and inflation, forcing Pyongyang to ease
the restrictions by February 2010. Nevertheless, firm political
control remains the Communist government's overriding concern, which
likely will inhibit changes to North Korea's current economic system.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$40 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
$40 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars;
North Korea does not publish reliable National Income Accounts data;
the data shown here are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP)
GDP estimates for North Korea that were made by Angus MADDISON in a
study conducted for the OECD; his figure for 1999 was extrapolated
to 2009 using estimated real growth rates for North Korea's GDP and
an inflation factor based on the US GDP deflator; the results were
rounded to the nearest $10 billion.
GDP (official exchange rate):
$28 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
3.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,800 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
$1,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20.9%
industry: 46.9%
services: 32.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
12.2 million
country comparison to the world: 41
note: estimates vary widely (2009 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 35%
industry and services: 65% (2008 est.)
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):
NA%
Agriculture - products:
rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs
Industries:
military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals;
mining (coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper,
zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food
processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
22.5 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Electricity - consumption:
18.8 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
118 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Oil - consumption:
16,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Oil - imports:
13,890 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Exports:
$1.997 billion (2009)
country comparison to the world: 131
$2.062 billion (2008)
Exports - commodities:
minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including
armaments), textiles, agricultural and fishery products
Exports - partners:
China 42%, South Korea 38%, India 5% (2008)
Imports:
$3.096 billion (2009)
country comparison to the world: 138
$3.574 billion (2008)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment, textiles, grain
Imports - partners:
China 57%, South Korea 25%, Russia 3%, Singapore 3% (2008)
Debt - external:
$12.5 billion (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Exchange rates:
North Korean won (KPW) per US dollar (market rate) 1,800 (December
2010), 3,630 (December 2008), 140 (2007), 141 (2006)
Communications ::Korea, North
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.18 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 70
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate system; nationwide fiber-optic network;
mobile-cellular service expanding beyond Pyongyang
domestic: fiber-optic links installed down to the county level;
telephone directories unavailable; mobile-cellular service,
initiated in 2002, suspended in 2004; Orascom Telecom, an Egyptian
company, launched mobile service on December 15, 2008 for the
Pyongyang area with plans to expand nationwide
international: country code - 850; satellite earth stations - 2 (1
Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Russian - Indian Ocean region); other
international connections through Moscow and Beijing (2009)
Broadcast media:
no independent media; radios and televisions are pre-tuned to
government stations; 4 government-owned television stations; the
Korean Workers' Party owns and operates the Korean Central
Broadcasting Station, and the state-run Voice of Korea operates an
external broadcast service; the government prohibits listening to
and jams foreign broadcasts (2008)
Internet country code:
.kp
Internet hosts:
3 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 227
Transportation ::Korea, North
Airports:
79 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 70
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 37
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 23
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 42
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 8 (2010)
Heliports:
22 (2010)
Pipelines:
oil 154 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 5,242 km
country comparison to the world: 35
standard gauge: 5,242 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified) (2009)
Roadways:
total: 25,554 km
country comparison to the world: 104
paved: 724 km
unpaved: 24,830 km (2006)
Waterways:
2,250 km; (most navigable only by small craft) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 39
Merchant marine:
total: 158
country comparison to the world: 42
by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 129, carrier 1, container 3,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 3, roll
on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 19 (Belgium 1, China 1, Nigeria 1, Romania 1,
Singapore 2, South Korea 1, Syria 6, UAE 6)
registered in other countries: 5 (Mongolia 1, Sierra Leone 1,
unknown 3) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Namp'o, Senbong, Songnim,
Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Wonsan
Military ::Korea, North
Military branches:
North Korean People's Army: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force; civil
security forces (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,132,987
females age 16-49: 6,119,405 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,127,999
females age 16-49: 4,522,707 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 184,631
female: 178,565 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues ::Korea, North
Disputes - international:
risking arrest, imprisonment, and deportation, tens of thousands of
North Koreans cross into China to escape famine, economic privation,
and political oppression; North Korea and China dispute the
sovereignty of certain islands in Yalu and Tumen rivers; Military
Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone has
separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents in
the Yellow Sea with South Korea which claims the Northern Limiting
Line as a maritime boundary; North Korea supports South Korea in
rejecting Japan's claim to Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima)
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: undetermined (flooding in mid-2007 and famine during
mid-1990s) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: North Korea is a source country for men, women,
and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and
commercial sexual exploitation; the most common form of trafficking
involves North Korean women and girls who cross the border into
China voluntarily; additionally, North Korean women and girls are
lured out of North Korea to escape poor social and economic
conditions by the promise of food, jobs, and freedom, only to be
forced into prostitution, marriage, or exploitative labor
arrangements once in China
tier rating: Tier 3 - North Korea does not fully comply with minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so; the government does not acknowledge
the existence of human rights abuses in the country or recognize
trafficking, either within the country or transnationally; North
Korea has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)
Illicit drugs:
for years, from the 1970s into the 2000s, citizens of the Democratic
People's Republic of (North) Korea (DPRK), many of them diplomatic
employees of the government, were apprehended abroad while
trafficking in narcotics, including two in Turkey in December 2004;
police investigations in Taiwan and Japan in recent years have
linked North Korea to large illicit shipments of heroin and
methamphetamine, including an attempt by the North Korean merchant
ship Pong Su to deliver 150 kg of heroin to Australia in April 2003
page last updated on January 18, 2011
======================================================================
@Korea, South (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Korea, South
Background:
An independent Korean state or collection of states has existed
almost continuously for several millennia. Between its initial
unification in the 7th century - from three predecessor Korean
states - until the 20th century, Korea existed as a single
independent country. In 1905, following the Russo-Japanese War,
Korea became a protectorate of imperial Japan, and in 1910 it was
annexed as a colony. Korea regained its independence following
Japan's surrender to the United States in 1945. After World War II,
a Republic of Korea (ROK) was set up in the southern half of the
Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was installed in
the north (the DPRK). During the Korean War (1950-53), US troops and
UN forces fought alongside soldiers from the ROK to defend South
Korea from DPRK attacks supported by China and the Soviet Union. An
armistice was signed in 1953, splitting the peninsula along a
demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. Thereafter, South
Korea achieved rapid economic growth with per capita income rising
to roughly 17 times the level of North Korea. In 1993, KIM Young-sam
became South Korea's first civilian president following 32 years of
military rule. South Korea today is a fully functioning modern
democracy. President LEE Myung-bak has pursued a policy of global
engagement since taking office in February 2008, highlighted by
Seoul's hosting of the G-20 summit in November 2010. Serious
tensions with North Korea have punctuated inter-Korean relations in
recent years, including the North's sinking of the South Korean
warship Cheonan in March 2010 and its artillery attack on South
Korean soldiers and citizens in November 2010.
Geography ::Korea, South
Location:
Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the
Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
Geographic coordinates:
37 00 N, 127 30 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 99,720 sq km
country comparison to the world: 108
land: 96,920 sq km
water: 2,800 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 238 km
border countries: North Korea 238 km
Coastline:
2,413 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the Korea Strait
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: not specified
Climate:
temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter
Terrain:
mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m
Natural resources:
coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential
Land use:
arable land: 16.58%
permanent crops: 2.01%
other: 81.41% (2005)
Irrigated land:
8,780 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
69.7 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 18.59 cu km/yr (36%/16%/48%)
per capita: 389 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic
activity common in southwest
volcanism: Halla (elev. 1,950 m, 6,398 ft) is considered
historically active although it has not erupted in many centuries
Environment - current issues:
air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the
discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: 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, 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:
strategic location on Korea Strait
People ::Korea, South
Population:
48,636,068 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.8% (male 4,278,581/female 3,887,516)
15-64 years: 72.3% (male 17,897,053/female 17,196,840)
65 years and over: 10.8% (male 2,104,589/female 3,144,393) (2010
est.)
Median age:
total: 37.9 years
male: 36.5 years
female: 39.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.258% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Birth rate:
8.72 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
Death rate:
6.15 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Urbanization:
urban population: 81% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.24 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 199
male: 4.46 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.81 years
country comparison to the world: 42
male: 75.56 years
female: 82.28 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.22 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
13,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Nationality:
noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups:
homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)
Religions:
Christian 26.3% (Protestant 19.7%, Roman Catholic 6.6%), Buddhist
23.2%, other or unknown 1.3%, none 49.3% (1995 census)
Languages:
Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 99.2%
female: 96.6% (2002)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 18 years
female: 16 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
4.2% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 100
Government ::Korea, South
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Korea
conventional short form: South Korea
local long form: Taehan-min'guk
local short form: Han'guk
abbreviation: ROK
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Seoul
geographic coordinates: 37 33 N, 126 59 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 7 metropolitan cities
(gwangyoksi, singular and plural)
provinces: Cheju-do, Cholla-bukto (North Cholla), Cholla-namdo
(South Cholla), Ch'ungch'ong-bukto (North Ch'ungch'ong),
Ch'ungch'ong-namdo (South Ch'ungch'ong), Kangwon-do, Kyonggi-do,
Kyongsang-bukto (North Kyongsang), Kyongsang-namdo (South Kyongsang)
metropolitan cities: Inch'on-gwangyoksi, Kwangju-gwangyoksi,
Pusan-gwangyoksi, Soul-t'ukpyolsi (Seoul), Taegu-gwangyoksi,
Taejon-gwangyoksi, Ulsan-gwangyoksi
Independence:
15 August 1945 (from Japan)
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)
Constitution:
17 July 1948; note - amended or rewritten many times; current
constitution approved on 29 October 1987
Legal system:
combines elements of continental European civil law systems,
Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
19 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President LEE Myung-bak (since 25 February 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister KIM Hwang-sik (since 1 October
2010)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime
minister's recommendation
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-year
term; election last held on 19 December 2007 (next to be held in
December 2012); prime minister appointed by president with consent
of National Assembly
election results: LEE Myung-bak elected president on 19 December
2007; percent of vote - LEE Myung-bak (GNP) 48.7%; CHUNG Dong-young
(UNDP) 26.1%); LEE Hoi-chang (independent) 15.1; others 10.1%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (299 seats; 245 members
elected in single-seat constituencies, 54 elected by proportional
representation; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 9 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
GNP 172, UDP 83, LFP 20, PPA 8, DLP 5, RKP 1, independents 9
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president with consent of
National Assembly); Constitutional Court (justices appointed by the
president based partly on nominations by National Assembly and Chief
Justice of the court)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party or DP [CHUNG Sye-kyun] (formerly the United
Democratic Party or UDP); Democratic Labor Party or DLP [KANG
Ki-kap]; Grand National Party or GNP [AHN Sang-soo]; Liberty Forward
Party or LFP [LEE Hoi-chang]; New Progressive Party or NPP [ROH
Hoe-chan]; Pro-Park Alliance or PPA [SUH Choung-won]; Renewal Korea
Party or RKP [SONG Yong-o]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Federation of Korean Industries; Federation of Korean Trade Unions;
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions; Korean National Council of
Churches; Korean Traders Association; Korean Veterans' Association;
National Council of Labor Unions; National Democratic Alliance of
Korea; National Federation of Farmers' Associations; National
Federation of Student Associations
International organization participation:
ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner),
Australia Group, BIS, CD, CICA, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF
(partner), SAARC (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador HAN Duck-soo
chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600
FAX: [1] (202) 387-0205
consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago,
Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kathleen STEPHENS
embassy: 32 Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710
mailing address: US Embassy Seoul, APO AP 96205-5550
telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114
FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845
Flag description:
white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center; there
is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of
Changes) in each corner of the white field; the Korean national flag
is called Taegukki; white is a traditional Korean color and
represents peace and purity; the blue section represents the
negative cosmic forces of the yin, while the red symbolizes the
opposite positive forces of the yang; each trigram (kwae) denotes
one of the four universal elements, which together express the
principle of movement and harmony
National anthem:
name: "Aegukga" (Patriotic Song)
lyrics/music: YUN Ch'i-Ho or AN Ch'ang-Ho/AHN Eaktay
note: adopted 1948, well known by 1910; both North Korea and South
Korea's anthems share the same name and have a vaguely similar
melody but have different lyrics
Economy ::Korea, South
Economy - overview:
Since the 1960s, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of
growth and global integration to become a high-tech industrialized
economy. Four decades ago, GDP per capita was comparable with levels
in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. In 2004, South Korea
joined the trillion dollar club of world economies, and currently is
among the world's 20 largest economies. Initially, a system of close
government and business ties, including directed credit and import
restrictions, made this success possible. The government promoted
the import of raw materials and technology at the expense of
consumer goods, and encouraged savings and investment over
consumption. The Asian financial crisis of 1997-98 exposed
longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's development model including
high debt/equity ratios and massive short-term foreign borrowing.
GDP plunged by 6.9% in 1998, and then recovered by 9% in 1999-2000.
Korea adopted numerous economic reforms following the crisis,
including greater openness to foreign investment and imports. Growth
moderated to about 4-5% annually between 2003 and 2007. With the
global economic downturn in late 2008, South Korean GDP growth
slowed to 0.2% in 2009. In the third quarter of 2009, the economy
began to recover, in large part due to export growth, low interest
rates, and an expansionary fiscal policy, and growth exceeded 6% in
2010. The South Korean economy's long term challenges include a
rapidly aging population, inflexible labor market, and
overdependence on manufacturing exports to drive economic growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.467 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
$1.383 trillion (2009 est.)
$1.38 trillion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$986.3 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
0.2% (2009 est.)
2.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$30,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$28,500 (2009 est.)
$28,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 39.4%
services: 57.6% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
24.62 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 7.3%
industry: 24.3%
services: 68.4% (2010 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
3.7% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
15% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 24.2% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31.4 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 104
35.8 (2000)
Investment (gross fixed):
28.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Public debt:
23.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
23.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
2.8% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 133
1.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.65% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
7.17% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$101.9 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 30
$82.54 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.346 trillion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 13
$1.132 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.057 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$935.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$836.5 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 17
$494.6 billion (31 December 2008)
$1.124 trillion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens,
milk, eggs; fish
Industries:
electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals,
shipbuilding, steel
Industrial production growth rate:
12.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Electricity - production:
417 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Electricity - consumption:
402 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2009)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2009)
Oil - production:
48,180 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Oil - consumption:
2.185 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Oil - exports:
907,100 bbl/day
country comparison to the world: 21
note: exports consist of oil derivatives (gasoline, light oil, and
diesel), not crude oil (2009)
Oil - imports:
3.074 million bbl/day (2009)
country comparison to the world: 5
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Natural gas - production:
651 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Natural gas - consumption:
34.09 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Natural gas - imports:
32.69 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Natural gas - proved reserves:
50 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Current account balance:
$36.35 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$42.67 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$466.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$373.6 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor
vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals
Exports - partners:
China 21.5%, US 10.9%, Japan 6.6%, Hong Kong 4.6% (2008)
Imports:
$417.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$317.5 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel,
transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics
Imports - partners:
China 17.7%, Japan 14%, US 8.9%, Saudi Arabia 7.8%, UAE 4.4%,
Australia 4.1% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$274.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$270 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$370.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$370.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$112.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$110.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$115.6 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 25
$74.6 billion (30 June 2008)
Exchange rates:
South Korean won (KRW) per US dollar - 1,153.77 (2010), 1,276.93
(2009), 1,101.7 (2008), 929.2 (2007), 954.8 (2006)
Communications ::Korea, South
Telephones - main lines in use:
19.289 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 15
Telephones - mobile cellular:
47.944 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 25
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international services
featuring rapid incorporation of new technologies
domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available
with a combined telephone subscribership of roughly 140 per 100
persons; rapid assimilation of a full range of telecommunications
technologies leading to a boom in e-commerce
international: country code - 82; numerous submarine cables provide
links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US;
satellite earth stations - 66
Broadcast media:
multiple national television networks with 2 of the 3 largest
networks publicly operated; the largest privately-owned network,
Seoul Broadcasting Service (SBS), has ties with other commercial TV
networks; cable and satellite TV subscription services are
available; publicly-operated radio broadcast networks and a large
number of privately-owned radio broadcasting networks, each with
multiple affiliates, and independent local stations (2008)
Internet country code:
.kr
Internet hosts:
291,329 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 58
Internet users:
39.4 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 11
Transportation ::Korea, South
Airports:
116 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 53
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 72
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 21
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 22 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 44
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 42 (2010)
Heliports:
510 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 1,423 km; refined products 827 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 3,381 km
country comparison to the world: 51
standard gauge: 3,381 km 1.435-m gauge (1,843 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 103,029 km
country comparison to the world: 41
paved: 80,642 km (includes 3,367 km of expressways)
unpaved: 22,387 km (2008)
Waterways:
1,608 km; (most navigable only by small craft) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 50
Merchant marine:
total: 819
country comparison to the world: 14
by type: bulk carrier 201, cargo 246, carrier 5, chemical tanker
132, container 69, liquefied gas 40, passenger 5, passenger/cargo
21, petroleum tanker 67, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 9,
vehicle carrier 9
foreign-owned: 33 (China 9, France 1, Japan 15, US 8)
registered in other countries: 438 (Cambodia 11, Ghana 1, Honduras
6, Hong Kong 3, Indonesia 1, Kiribati 2, Liberia 1, Malta 3,
Marshall Islands 25, North Korea 1, Panama 366, Philippines 1,
Russia 1, Singapore 9, Tuvalu 1, unknown 6) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Inch'on, P'ohang, Pusan, Ulsan, Yosu
Military ::Korea, South
Military branches:
Republic of Korea Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force
(2009)
Military service age and obligation:
20-30 years of age for compulsory military service, with middle
school education required; conscript service obligation - 21 months
(Army, Marines), 23 months (Navy), 24 months (Air Force); 18-26
years of age for voluntary military service; women, in service since
1950, admitted to 7 service branches, including infantry, but
excluded from artillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps; some
4,000 women serve as commissioned and noncommissioned officers,
approx. 2.3% of all officers; HIV-positive individuals are exempt
from military service (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 13,274,442
females age 16-49: 12,542,699 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 10,929,625
females age 16-49: 10,264,608 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 370,645
female: 321,765 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.7% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 53
Transnational Issues ::Korea, South
Disputes - international:
Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone
has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents
with North Korea in the Yellow Sea over the Northern Limit Line,
which South Korea claims as a maritime boundary; South Korea and
Japan claim Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima), occupied by South
Korea since 1954
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Kosovo (Europe)
Introduction ::Kosovo
Background:
Ethnic Serbs migrated to the territories of modern Kosovo in the 7th
century but did not fully incorporate them into the Serbian realm
until the early 13th century. During the medieval period, Kosovo
became the center of a Serbian Empire and saw the construction of
many important Serb religious sites, including many architecturally
significant Serbian Orthodox monasteries. The defeat of Serbian
forces at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 led to five centuries of
Ottoman rule during which large numbers of Turks and Albanians moved
to Kosovo. By the end of the 19th century, Albanians replaced the
Serbs as the dominant ethnic group in Kosovo. Serbia reacquired
control over Kosovo from the Ottoman Empire during the First Balkan
War of 1912. Kosovo became an autonomous province of Serbia with
status almost equivalent to that of a republic under the 1974
Constitution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Despite legislative concessions, Albanian nationalism increased in
the 1980s, which led to riots and calls for Kosovo's independence.
At the same time, Serb nationalist leaders, such as Slobodan
MILOSEVIC, exploited Kosovo Serb claims of maltreatment to secure
votes from supporters, many of whom viewed Kosovo as their cultural
heartland. Under MILOSEVIC's leadership, Serbia instituted a new
constitution in 1989 that revoked Kosovo's status as an autonomous
province of Serbia. Kosovo Albanian leaders responded in 1991 by
organizing a referendum that declared Kosovo independent. Under
MILOSEVIC, Serbia carried out repressive measures against the
Albanians in the early 1990s as the unofficial Kosovo government,
led by Ibrahim RUGOVA, used passive resistance in an attempt to try
to gain international assistance and recognition of an independent
Kosovo. Albanians dissatisfied with RUGOVA's passive strategy in the
1990s created the Kosovo Liberation Army and launched an insurgency.
Starting in 1998, Serbian military, police, and paramilitary forces
conducted a counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres
and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians. Approximately 800,000
Albanians were forced from their homes in Kosovo during this time.
International attempts to mediate the conflict failed, and
MILOSEVIC's rejection of a proposed settlement led to a three-month
NATO military campaign against Serbia beginning in March 1999 that
forced Serbia to agree to withdraw its military and police forces
from Kosovo. UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) placed
Kosovo under a transitional administration, the UN Interim
Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), pending a determination of
Kosovo's future status. A UN-led process began in late 2005 to
determine Kosovo's final status. The negotiations ran in stages
between 2006 and 2007, but ended without agreement between Belgrade
and Pristina. On 17 February 2008, the Kosovo Assembly declared
Kosovo independent. Since then, over sixty countries have recognized
Kosovo, and it has joined the International Monetary Fund and World
Bank. Serbia continues to reject Kosovo's independence and it
subsequently sought an advisory opinion from the International Court
of Justice (ICJ) on the legality under international law of Kosovo's
independence declaration. In July 2010 the ICJ ruled that Kosovo's
declaration of independence did not violate international law.
Geography ::Kosovo
Location:
Southeast Europe, between Serbia and Macedonia
Geographic coordinates:
42 35 N, 21 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 10,887 sq km
country comparison to the world: 168
land: 10,887 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Delaware
Land boundaries:
total: 702 km
border countries: Albania 112 km, Macedonia 159 km, Montenegro 79
km, Serbia 352 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
influenced by continental air masses resulting in relatively cold
winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns;
Mediterranean and alpine influences create regional variation;
maximum rainfall between October and December
Terrain:
flat fluvial basin with an elevation of 400-700 m above sea level
surrounded by several high mountain ranges with elevations of 2,000
to 2,500 m
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Drini i Bardhe/Beli Drim 297 m (located on the border
with Albania)
highest point: Gjeravica/Deravica 2,656 m
Natural resources:
nickel, lead, zinc, magnesium, lignite, kaolin, chrome, bauxite
People ::Kosovo
Population:
1,815,048 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.7% (male 260,678/female 239,779)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 617,890/female 567,939)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 50,463/female 68,089) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.3 years
male: 25.8 years
female: 26.8 years (2010 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.086 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Kosovar (Albanian), Kosovac (Serbian)
adjective: Kosovar (Albanian), Kosovski (Serbian)
note: Kosovan, a neutral term, is sometimes also used as a noun or
adjective
Ethnic groups:
Albanians 92%, other (Serb, Bosniak, Gorani, Roma, Turk, Ashkali,
Egyptian) 8% (2008)
Religions:
Muslim, Serbian Orthodox, Roman Catholic
Languages:
Albanian (official), Serbian (official), Bosnian, Turkish, Roma
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 96.6%
female: 87.5% (2007 Census)
Government ::Kosovo
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Kosovo
conventional short form: Kosovo
local long form: Republika e Kosoves (Republika Kosovo)
local short form: Kosova (Kosovo)
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Pristina (Prishtine, Prishtina)
geographic coordinates: 42 40 N, 21 10 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:
30 municipalities (komunat, singular - komuna in Albanian; opstine,
singular - opstina in Serbian); Decan (Decani), Dragash (Dragas),
Ferizaj (Urosevac), Fushe Kosove (Kosovo Polje), Gjakove (Dakovica),
Gjilan (Gnjilane), Gllogovc/Drenas (Glogovac), Istog (Istok),
Kacanik, Kamenice/Dardana (Kamenica), Kline (Klina), Leposaviq
(Leposavic), Lipjan (Lipljan), Malisheve (Malisevo), Mitrovice
(Mitrovica), Novoberde (Novo Brdo), Obiliq (Obilic), Peje (Pec),
Podujeve (Podujevo), Prishtine (Pristina), Prizren, Rahovec
(Orahovac), Shterpce (Strpce), Shtime (Stimlje), Skenderaj (Srbica),
Suhareke (Suva Reka), Viti (Vitina), Vushtrri (Vucitrn), Zubin
Potok, Zvecan
note - the Government of Kosovo has announced the establishment of
eight additional municipalities in accordance with UN Special Envoy
AHTISAARI's mandated decentralization process; the boundaries of
several municipalities are pending final approval; the
municipalities are: Gracanice (Gracanica), Hani i Elezit (Dzeneral
Jankovic), Junik, Kllokot-Verboc (Klokot-Vrbovac), Mamushe (Mamusa),
Partes, and Ranillug (Ranilug); in addition, the current Mitrovice
(Mitrovica) municipality is to be split into Mitrovice (Mitrovica)
North and Mitrovice (Mitrovica) South
Independence:
17 February 2008 (from Serbia)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 17 February (2008)
Constitution:
adopted by the Kosovo Assembly on 9 April 2008; effective 15 June
2008
Legal system:
evolving legal system based on terms of former UN Special Envoy
Martti AHTISAARI's Plan for Kosovo's supervised independence; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Acting President Jakup KRASNIQI (since 27 September
2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Hashim THACI (since 9 January
2008)
cabinet: ministers; elected by the Kosovo Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the president elected for a five-year term by the Kosovo
Assembly; election last held on 9 January 2008 (next to be held - a
special election in 2011); the prime minister elected by the Kosovo
Assembly
election results: Fatmir SEJDIU reelected president after three
rounds; note - resigned from the office of president on 27
Septermber 2010; Hashim THACI elected prime minister by the Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral national Assembly (120 seats; 100 seats directly elected,
10 seats guaranteed for ethnic Serbs, 10 seats guaranteed for other
ethnic minorities; members to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 17 November 2007 (next expected to be held
in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PDK 34.3%, LDK 22.6%,
AKR 12.3%, LDD 10.0%, AAK 9.6%, other 11.2%; seats by party - PDK
37, LDK 25, AKR 13, LDD 11, AAK 10, other 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; district courts; municipal courts
note: the Kosovo Constitution dictates that the Supreme Court of
Kosovo is the highest judicial authority, and provides for a Kosovo
Judicial Council (KJC) that proposes to the president candidates for
appointment or reappointment as judges and prosecutors; the KJC is
also responsible for decisions on the promotion and transfer of
judges and disciplinary proceedings against judges; at least 15
percent of Supreme Court and district court judges shall be from
non-majority communities
Political parties and leaders:
Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo or PShDK [Ton MARKU];
Alliance for a New Kosovo or AKR [Behgjet PACOLLI]; Alliance for the
Future of Kosovo or AAK [Ramush HARADINAJ]; Alliance of Independent
Social Democrats of Kosovo and Metohija or SDSKIM [Ljubisa ZIVIC];
Bosniak Vakat Coalition or DSV [Sadik IDRIZI]; Citizens' Initiative
of Gora or GIG [Murselj HALJILJI]; Democratic Action Party or SDA
[Numan BALIC]; Democratic League of Dardania or LDD [Nexhat DACI];
Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK [Fatmir SEJDIU]; Democratic Party
of Ashkali of Kosovo or PDAK [Berat QERIMI]; Democratic Party of
Bosniaks [Dzezair MURATI]; Democratic Party of Kosovo or PDK [Hashim
THACI]; Independent Liberal Party or SLS [Slobadan PETROVIC]; Kosovo
Democratic Turkish Party of KDTP [Mahir YAGCILAR]; New Democratic
Initiative of Kosovo or IRDK [Xhevdet NEZIRAJ]; New Democratic Party
or ND [Predrag JOVIC]; New Kosovo Alliance or AKR [Behxhet PACOLLI];
Reform Party Ora [Teuta SAHATCIA]; Serb National Party or SNS
[Mihailo SCEPANOVIC]; Serbian Democratic Party of Kosovo and
Metohija or SDS KiM [Slavisa PETKOVIC]; Serbian Kosovo and Metohija
Party or SKMS [Dragisa MIRIC]; Serbian National Council of Northern
Kosovo and Metohija or SNV [Milan IVANOVIC]; Social Democratic Party
of Kosovo or PSDK [Agim CEKU]; Socialist Party of Kosovo or PSK
[Emrush XHEMAJLI]; United Roma Party of Kosovo or PREBK [Haxhi Zylfi
MERXHA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedom (human rights);
Humanitarian Law Centre (human rights); Movement for
Self-Determination; Serb National Council (SNV)
International organization participation:
IBRD, IDA, IFC, IMF, ITUC, MIGA
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Avni SPAHIU
chancery: 1101 30th Street NW, Suites 330/340, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: 202-380-3581
FAX: 202-380-3628
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher William DELL
embassy: Arberia/Dragodan, Nazim Hikmet 30, Pristina, Kosovo
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [381] 38 59 59 3000
FAX: [381] 38 549 890
Flag description:
centered on a dark blue field is the geographical shape of Kosovo in
a gold color surmounted by six white, five-pointed stars arrayed in
a slight arc; each star represents one of the major ethnic groups of
Kosovo: Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Gorani, Roma, and Bosniaks
National anthem:
name: "Europe"
lyrics/music: none/Mendi MENGJIQI
note: adopted 2008; Kosovo chose to not include lyrics in its anthem
so as not to offend minority ethnic groups in the country
Economy ::Kosovo
Economy - overview:
Over the past few years Kosovo's economy has shown significant
progress in transitioning to a market-based system and maintaining
macroeconomic stability, but it is still highly dependent on the
international community and the diaspora for financial and technical
assistance. Remittances from the diaspora - located mainly in
Germany and Switzerland - are estimated to account for about 14% of
GDP, and donor-financed activities and aid for another 7.5%.
Kosovo's citizens are the poorest in Europe with an average annual
per capita income of only $2,500. Unemployment, around 40% of the
population, is a significant problem that encourages outward
migration and black market activity. Most of Kosovo's population
lives in rural towns outside of the capital, Pristina. Inefficient,
near-subsistence farming is common - the result of small plots,
limited mechanization, and lack of technical expertise. With
international assistance, Kosovo has been able to privatize 50% of
its state-owned enterprises (SOEs) by number, and over 90% of SOEs
by value. Minerals and metals - including lignite, lead, zinc,
nickel, chrome, aluminum, magnesium, and a wide variety of
construction materials - once formed the backbone of industry, but
output has declined because of ageing equipment and insufficient
investment. A limited and unreliable electricity supply due to
technical and financial problems is a major impediment to economic
development. Kosovo's Ministry of Energy and Mining has solicited
expressions of interest from private investors to develop a new
power plant in order to address Kosovo and the region's unmet and
growing demands for power. The official currency of Kosovo is the
euro, but the Serbian dinar is also used in Serb enclaves. Kosovo's
tie to the euro has helped keep core inflation low. Kosovo has one
of the most open economies in the region, and continues to work with
the international community on measures to improve the business
environment and attract foreign investment. Kosovo has kept the
government budget in balance as a result of efficient value added
tax (VAT) collection at the borders and inefficient budget
execution. In order to help integrate Kosovo into regional economic
structures, UNMIK signed (on behalf of Kosovo) its accession to the
Central Europe Free Trade Area (CEFTA) in 2006. However, Serbia and
Bosnia have refused to recognize Kosovo's customs stamp or extend
reduced tariff privileges for Kosovo products under CEFTA. In July
2008, Kosovo received pledges of $1.9 billion from 37 countries in
support of its reform priorities. In June 2009, Kosovo joined the
World Bank and International Monetary Fund, and Kosovo began
servicing its share of the former Yugoslavia's debt.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.3 billion (2008); $4.7 billion
country comparison to the world: 158
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.237 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,500 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 174
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.9%
industry: 22.6%
services: 64.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
NA (2009 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 16.5%
industry: NA
services: NA (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
16.6% (2009 est.); 14%
country comparison to the world: 157
Population below poverty line:
35% (2007 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30 (FY05/06)
Investment (gross fixed):
15.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Public debt:
NA% of GDP
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.09% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
13.79% (31 December 2008 est.)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, berries, potatoes, peppers
Industries:
mineral mining, construction materials, base metals, leather,
machinery, appliances
Electricity - production:
832 million kWh (2006)
country comparison to the world: 149
Electricity - consumption:
4.281 billion kWh (2006)
country comparison to the world: 115
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2007)
country comparison to the world: 158
Oil - consumption:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
NA bbl
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2007)
country comparison to the world: 169
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2007)
country comparison to the world: 123
Natural gas - proved reserves:
NA cu m
Current account balance:
-$2.716 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
-$2.408 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$527 million (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
mining and processed metal products, scrap metals, leather products,
machinery, appliances
Imports:
$2.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, wood, petroleum, chemicals, machinery and electrical
equipment
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA
Debt - external:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$21.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$21.32 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7338 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007)
Communications ::Kosovo
Telephones - main lines in use:
106,300 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 143
Telephones - mobile cellular:
562,000 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 157
Transportation ::Kosovo
Airports:
8 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 165
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
under 914 m: 4 (2010)
Heliports:
2 (2010)
Railways:
total: 430 km
country comparison to the world: 116
standard gauge: 430 km 1.435-m gauge (2007)
Roadways:
total: 1,926 km
country comparison to the world: 175
paved: 1,668 km
unpaved: 258 km (2009)
Military ::Kosovo
Military branches:
Kosovo Security Force (2010)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 429,645
females age 16-49: 389,071 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues ::Kosovo
Disputes - international:
Serbia with several other states protest the US and other states'
recognition of Kosovo's declaring itself as a sovereign and
independent state in February 2008; ethnic Serbian municipalities
along Kosovo's northern border challenge final status of
Kosovo-Serbia boundary; several thousand NATO-led KFOR peacekeepers
under UNMIK authority continue to keep the peace within Kosovo
between the ethnic Albanian majority and the Serb minority in
Kosovo; Kosovo and Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary
in September 2008
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDP's: 21,000 (2007)
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Kuwait (Middle East)
Introduction ::Kuwait
Background:
Britain oversaw foreign relations and defense for the ruling Kuwaiti
AL-SABAH dynasty from 1899 until independence in 1961. Kuwait was
attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Following several
weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led, UN coalition began a ground
assault on 23 February 1991 that liberated Kuwait in four days.
Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure
damaged during 1990-91. The AL-SABAH family has ruled since
returning to power in 1991 and reestablished an elected legislature
that in recent years has become increasingly assertive. The country
witnessed the historic election in May 2009 of four women to its
National Assembly.
Geography ::Kuwait
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi
Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
29 30 N, 45 45 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 17,818 sq km
country comparison to the world: 157
land: 17,818 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 462 km
border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Coastline:
499 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain:
flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 306 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 0.84%
permanent crops: 0.17%
other: 98.99% (2005)
Irrigated land:
130 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
0.02 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.44 cu km/yr (45%/2%/52%)
per capita: 164 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring heavy
rain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms
occur throughout the year but are most common between March and
August
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and
most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the
water; air and water pollution; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography - note:
strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
People ::Kuwait
Population:
2,789,132
country comparison to the world: 139
note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.4% (male 361,274/female 348,351)
15-64 years: 70.7% (male 1,219,674/female 683,494)
65 years and over: 3% (male 49,807/female 29,926) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.4 years
male: 28.2 years
female: 22.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.501%
country comparison to the world: 5
note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of
expatriates (2010 est.)
Birth rate:
21.64 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Death rate:
2.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224
Net migration rate:
15.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Urbanization:
urban population: 98% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.041 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.79 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.65 male(s)/female
total population: 1.54 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.75 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 159
male: 9.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.89 years
country comparison to the world: 51
male: 76.64 years
female: 79.18 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.7 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Kuwaiti(s)
adjective: Kuwaiti
Ethnic groups:
Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
Religions:
Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shia 30%), other (includes Christian, Hindu,
Parsi) 15%
Languages:
Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.3%
male: 94.4%
female: 91% (2005 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 118
Government ::Kuwait
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Kuwait
conventional short form: Kuwait
local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
local short form: Al Kuwayt
Government type:
constitutional emirate
Capital:
name: Kuwait City
geographic coordinates: 29 22 N, 47 58 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
6 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al
'Asimah, Al Farwaniyah, Al Jahra', Hawalli, Mubarak al Kabir
Independence:
19 June 1961 (from the UK)
National holiday:
National Day, 25 February (1950)
Constitution:
approved and promulgated 11 November 1962
Legal system:
civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal (adult); note - males in the military or
police are not allowed to vote; adult females were allowed to vote
as of 16 May 2005; all voters must have been citizens for 20 years
Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 29
January 2006); Crown Prince NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since
7 February 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister NASIR AL-MUHAMMAD al-Ahmad
al-Sabah (since 3 April 2007); First Deputy Prime Minister JABIR
AL-MUBAREK al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006); Deputy Prime
Minister MUHAMMAD AL-SABAH al-Salim al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and
approved by the amir
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: none; the amir is hereditary; the amir appoints the prime
minister and deputy prime ministers
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; all cabinet
ministers are also ex officio voting members of the National
Assembly)
elections: last held on 16 May 2009 (next election to be held in
2013)
election results: percent of vote by bloc - NA; seats by bloc -
tribal MPs 25 (all Sunni Muslims, and represented primarily by the
Al-Mutairi, Al-Azmi, Al-Ajmi, and Al-Rasheedi tribes), Shia Muslims
9, liberals 7, independents 6, Salafi (Sunni) Islamists 3
Judicial branch:
High Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
none; formation of political parties is in practice illegal but is
not forbidden by law
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: Islamists; merchants; political groups; secular liberals and
pro-governmental deputies; Shia activists; tribal groups
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, FAO,
G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, Paris Club (associate), PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador SALIM al-Abdallah al-Jabir al-Sabah
chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702
FAX: [1] (202) 364-2868
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Deborah K. JONES
embassy: Bayan 36302, Block 13, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near the
Bayan palace), Kuwait City
mailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat 13001 Kuwait; or PSC 1280 APO AE
09880-9000
telephone: [965] 2259-1001
FAX: [965] 2538-0282
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a
black trapezoid based on the hoist side; colors and design are based
on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I; green represents fertile
fields, white stands for purity, red denotes blood on Kuwaiti
swords, black signifies the defeat of the enemy
National anthem:
name: "Al-Nasheed Al-Watani" (National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Ahmad MUSHARI al-Adwani/Ibrahim Nasir al-SOULA
note: adopted 1978; the anthem is only used on formal occasions
Economy ::Kuwait
Economy - overview:
Kuwait has a geographically small, but wealthy, relatively open
economy with self-reported crude oil reserves of about 102 billion
barrels - about 9% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly
half of GDP, 95% of export revenues, and 95% of government income.
Kuwaiti officials have committed to increasing oil production to 4
million barrels per day by 2020. The rise in global oil prices
throughout 2010 is reviving government consumption and economic
growth as Kuwait experiences a 20% increase in government budget
revenue. Kuwait has done little to diversify its economy, in part,
because of this positive fiscal situation, and, in part, due to the
poor business climate and the acrimonious relationship between the
National Assembly and the executive branch, which has stymied most
movement on economic reforms. Nonetheless, the government in May
2010 passed a privatization bill that allows the government to sell
assets to private investors, and in January passed an economic
development plan that pledges to spend up to $130 billion in five
years to diversify the economy away from oil, attract more
investment, and boost private sector participation in the economy.
Increasing government expenditures by so large an amount during the
planned time frame may be difficult to accomplish.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$144.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
$139.8 billion (2009 est.)
$146.5 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$117.3 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
-4.6% (2009 est.)
8.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$51,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$51,900 (2009 est.)
$56,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.3%
industry: 48.1%
services: 51.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
2.154 million
country comparison to the world: 118
note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 60% of the labor force (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
2.2% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
13.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Public debt:
12.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
13.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 109
3.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.9% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 121
7.61% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$18.12 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 65
$16.38 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$88.71 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$86.53 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$96.71 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$90.71 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$95.94 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 33
$107.2 billion (31 December 2008)
$188 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
fish
Industries:
petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair, water
desalination, food processing, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:
2.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Electricity - production:
45.83 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Electricity - consumption:
40.21 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
2.494 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Oil - consumption:
320,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Oil - exports:
2.349 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Oil - proved reserves:
104 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Natural gas - production:
12.7 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Natural gas - consumption:
12.7 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Natural gas - imports:
300 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
note: Kuwait signed a deal with ?XX? to import 2 billion cu m per
year in 2010 and beyond (2009 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.798 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Current account balance:
$38.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$28.61 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$65.03 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$50.34 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil and refined products, fertilizers
Exports - partners:
Japan 17.9%, South Korea 17.31%, India 12.43%, Taiwan 9.07%, US
7.9%, China 7.55%, Singapore 5.48% (2009)
Imports:
$20.36 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$17.08 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing
Imports - partners:
US 11.18%, China 9.07%, Germany 7.63%, Japan 7.14%, Saudi Arabia
6.24%, Italy 5%, France 4.77%, India 4.09%, UK 4.02% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$22.42 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$20.38 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$56.81 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$55.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$1.281 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$1.081 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$44.31 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
$34.73 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar - 0.2888 (2010), 0.2877 (2009),
0.2679 (2008), 0.2844 (2007), 0.29 (2006)
Communications ::Kuwait
Telephones - main lines in use:
553,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 94
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.876 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 105
Telephone system:
general assessment: the quality of service is excellent
domestic: new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for new
subscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay,
coaxial cable, and open-wire and fiber-optic cable; a
mobile-cellular telephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the
country is well supplied with pay telephones
international: country code - 965; linked to international submarine
cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); linked to Bahrain,
Qatar, UAE via the Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG) cable; coaxial cable and
microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 6
(3 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 1 Inmarsat -
Atlantic Ocean, and 2 Arabsat)
Broadcast media:
state-owned TV broadcaster operates 4 networks and a satellite
channel; several private TV broadcasters have emerged since 2003;
satellite TV is available with pan-Arab TV stations especially
popular; state-owned Radio Kuwait broadcasts on a number of channels
in Arabic and English; first private radio station emerged in 2005;
transmissions of at least 2 international radio broadcasters are
available (2007)
Internet country code:
.kw
Internet hosts:
2,485 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 151
Internet users:
1.1 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 96
Transportation ::Kuwait
Airports:
7 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 168
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Heliports:
4 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 269 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 5,749 km
country comparison to the world: 150
paved: 4,887 km
unpaved: 862 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
total: 30
country comparison to the world: 83
by type: bulk carrier 1, carrier 3, container 6, liquefied gas 4,
petroleum tanker 16
registered in other countries: 47 (Bahamas 2, Bahrain 5, Comoros 1,
Libya 1, Malta 2, Panama 12, Qatar 7, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saudi
Arabia 4, UAE 10) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Az Zawr (Mina' Sa'ud), Mina' 'Abd
Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi
Military ::Kuwait
Military branches:
Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force
(Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya), Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG)
(2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for compulsory and 18-25 years of age for
voluntary military service; women age 18-30 may be subject to
compulsory military service; conscription suspended in 2001 (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,131,529
females age 16-49: 612,126 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 979,832
females age 16-49: 539,574 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 19,038
female: 19,787 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
5.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 14
Transnational Issues ::Kuwait
Disputes - international:
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue negotiating a joint maritime
boundary with Iran; no maritime boundary exists with Iraq in the
Persian Gulf
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Kuwait is a destination country for men and women
who migrate legally from South and Southeast Asia for domestic or
low-skilled labor, but are subjected to conditions of involuntary
servitude by employers in Kuwait including conditions of physical
and sexual abuse, non-payment of wages, confinement to the home, and
withholding of passports to restrict their freedom of movement;
Kuwait is reportedly a transit point for South and East Asian
workers recruited for low-skilled work in Iraq; some of these
workers are deceived as to the true location and nature of this
work, and others are subjected to conditions of involuntary
servitude in Iraq
tier rating: Tier 3 - Kuwaiti government has shown an inability to
define trafficking and has demonstrated insufficient political will
to address human trafficking adequately; much of the human
trafficking found in Kuwait involves domestic workers in private
residences and the government is reluctant to prosecute Kuwaiti
citizens; the government has not enacted legislation targeting human
trafficking nor established a permanent shelter for victims of
trafficking (2009)
page last updated on January 13, 2011
======================================================================
@Kyrgyzstan (Central Asia)
Introduction ::Kyrgyzstan
Background:
A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud
nomadic traditions, most of Kyrgyzstan was formally annexed to
Russia in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist
Empire in 1916 in which almost one-sixth of the Kyrgyz population
was killed. Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic in 1936 and achieved
independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved. Nationwide
demonstrations in the spring of 2005 resulted in the ouster of
President Askar AKAEV, who had run the country since 1990.
Subsequent presidential elections in July 2005 were won
overwhelmingly by former prime minister Kurmanbek BAKIEV. Over the
next few years, the new president manipulated the parliament to
accrue new powers for himself. In July 2009, after months of
harassment against his opponents and media critics, BAKIEV won
re-election in a presidential campaign that the international
community deemed flawed. In April 2010, nationwide protests led to
the resignation and expulsion of BAKIEV. He was replaced by
President Roza OTUNBAEVA who will serve as president until 31
December 2011 according to a presidential decree issued 19 May 2010.
Presidential elections are scheduled to be held in October 2011.
Continuing concerns include: endemic corruption, poor interethnic
relations, and terrorism.
Geography ::Kyrgyzstan
Location:
Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates:
41 00 N, 75 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 199,951 sq km
country comparison to the world: 86
land: 191,801 sq km
water: 8,150 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:
total: 3,051 km
border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,224 km, Tajikistan 870
km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan Mountains; subtropical in
southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
Terrain:
peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass
entire nation
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m
highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m
Natural resources:
abundant hydropower; significant deposits of gold and rare earth
metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other
deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc
Land use:
arable land: 6.55%
permanent crops: 0.28%
other: 93.17%
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural-growth walnut
forest (2005)
Irrigated land:
10,720 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
46.5 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 10.08 cu km/yr (3%/3%/94%)
per capita: 1,916 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
water pollution; many people get their water directly from
contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases
are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation
practices
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone
Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range;
94% of the country is 1,000 m above sea level with an average
elevation of 2,750 m; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude
lakes
People ::Kyrgyzstan
Population:
5,508,626 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.7% (male 822,128/female 789,425)
15-64 years: 64.5% (male 1,717,497/female 1,787,551)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 123,045/female 192,101) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.7 years
male: 23.8 years
female: 25.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.414% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Birth rate:
23.58 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Death rate:
6.85 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Net migration rate:
-2.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Urbanization:
urban population: 36% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.053 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 30.25 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 73
male: 35.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.74 years
country comparison to the world: 147
male: 65.74 years
female: 73.94 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.64 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
4,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Nationality:
noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective: Kyrgyzstani
Ethnic groups:
Kyrgyz 64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, Dungan 1.1%, Ukrainian 1%,
Uighur 1%, other 5.7% (1999 census)
Religions:
Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%
Languages:
Kyrgyz 64.7% (official), Uzbek 13.6%, Russian 12.5% (official),
Dungun 1%, other 8.2% (1999 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.7%
male: 99.3%
female: 98.1% (1999 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
6.6% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 29
Government ::Kyrgyzstan
Country name:
conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
local short form: Kyrgyzstan
former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Bishkek
geographic coordinates: 42 52 N, 74 36 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
7 provinces (oblastlar, singular - oblasty) and 1 city* (shaar);
Batken Oblasty, Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblasty (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad
Oblasty, Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty, Talas Oblasty, Ysyk-Kol Oblasty
(Karakol)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence:
31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 31 August (1991)
Constitution:
27 June 2010
Legal system:
based on French and Russian laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Roza OTUNBAEVA (since 19 May 2010); note -
OTUNBAEVA became acting president on 7 April 2010 following the
early April 2010 riots that overthrew President Kurmanbek BAKIEV;
she was appointed president through 31 December 2011 by a 19 May
2010 decree of the provisional government, which also prohibited her
from running in the next presidential election; she was officially
sworn in on 3 July 2010
head of government: Prime Minister Almazbek ATAMBAEV (since 17
December 2010); First Deputy Prime Minister - Omurbek BABANOV (since
17 December 2010); Deputy Prime Ministers - Shamil ATAKHANOV,
Ibragim JUNUSOV, Jantoro SATYBALDIEV (since 17 December 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers proposed by the prime minister,
appointed by the president; ministers in charge of defense and
security, are appointed solely by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: Kurmanbek BAKIEV reelected by popular vote for a
five-year term; election last held on 23 July 2009 (next scheduled
for 2011); prime minister nominated by the parliamentary party
holding more than 50% of the seats; if no such party exists, the
president selects the party that will form a coalition majority and
government
election results: Kurmanbek BAKIEV elected president; percent of
vote - Kurmanbek BAKIEV 76.1%, Almaz ATAMBAEV 8.4%, Temir SARIEV
6.7%, other candidates 8.8%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Supreme Council or Jogorku Kengesh (120 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 10 October 2007 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: Supreme Council - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - Ata-Jurt 28, SDPK 26, Ar-Namys 25, Respublika 23,
Ata-Meken 18
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (judges of both the Supreme and
Constitutional Courts are appointed for 10-year terms by the Jogorku
Kengesh on the recommendation of the president; their mandatory
retirement age is 70 years); Higher Court of Arbitration; Local
Courts (judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the National Council on Legal Affairs for a probationary period of
five years, then 10 years)
Political parties and leaders:
Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party [Feliks KULOV]; Ata-Jurt (Homeland)
[Kamchybek TASHIEV, Akhmat KELDIBEKOV]; Ata-Meken (Fatherland)
[Omurbek TEKEBAEV]; Butun Kyrgyzstan (All Kyrgyzstan) [Adakhan
MADUMAROV, Miroslav NIYAZOV]; Respublika [Omurbek BABANOV];
Social-Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK) [Almazbek ATAMBAEV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Adilet Legal Clinic [Cholpon JAKUPOVA]; Coalition for Democracy and
Civil Society [Dinara OSHURAKHUNOVA]; Interbilim [Asiya SASYKBAEVA]
International organization participation:
ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mukhtar JUMALIEV
chancery: 2360 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 449-9822
FAX: [1] (202) 386-7550
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tatiana GFOELLER
embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [996] (312) 551-241, (517) 777-217
FAX: [996] (312) 551-264
Flag description:
red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays
representing the 40 Kyrgyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run
counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the
sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized
representation of a "tunduk" - the crown of a traditional Kyrgyz
yurt; red symbolizes bravery and valor, the sun evinces peace and
wealth
National anthem:
name: "Kyrgyz Respublikasynyn Mamlekettik Gimni" (National Anthem of
the Kyrgyz Republic)
lyrics/music: Djamil SADYKOV and Eshmambet KULUEV/Nasyr DAVLESOV and
Kalyi MOLDOBASANOV
note: adopted 1992
Economy ::Kyrgyzstan
Economy - overview:
Kyrgyzstan is a poor, mountainous country with a dominant
agricultural sector. Cotton, tobacco, wool, and meat are the main
agricultural products, although only tobacco and cotton are exported
in any quantity. Industrial exports include gold, mercury, uranium,
natural gas, and electricity. The economy depends heavily on gold
exports - mainly from output at the Kumtor gold mine. Following
independence, Kyrgyzstan was progressive in carrying out market
reforms, such as an improved regulatory system and land reform.
Kyrgyzstan was the first Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. Much of
the government's stock in enterprises has been sold. Drops in
production had been severe after the breakup of the Soviet Union in
December 1991, but by mid-1995, production began to recover and
exports began to increase. In 2005, the BAKIEV government and
international financial institutions initiated a comprehensive
medium-term poverty reduction and economic growth strategy. Bishkek
agreed to pursue much needed tax reform and, in 2006, became
eligible for the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative.
The government made steady strides in controlling its substantial
fiscal deficit, nearly closing the gap between revenues and
expenditures in 2006, before boosting expenditures more than 20% in
2007-08. GDP grew about 8% annually in 2007-08, partly due to higher
gold prices internationally, but slowed to 2.3% in 2009. The
overthrow of President BAKIEV in April, 2010 and subsequent ethnic
clashes left hundreds dead and damaged infrastructure. Shrinking
trade and agricultural production, as well as political instability,
caused GDP to contract about 3.5% in 2010. The fiscal deficit
widened to 12% of GDP, reflecting significant increases in
crisis-related spending, including both rehabilitation of damaged
infrastructure and bank recapitalization. Progress in
reconstruction, fighting corruption, restructuring domestic
industry, and attracting foreign aid and investment are key to
future growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$11.85 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
$12.28 billion (2009 est.)
$12 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.444 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-3.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
2.3% (2009 est.)
8.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
$2,300 (2009 est.)
$2,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 24.6%
industry: 25%
services: 50.4% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
2.344 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 111
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 48%
industry: 12.5%
services: 39.5% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
18% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Population below poverty line:
40% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 25.9% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30.3 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 111
29 (2001)
Investment (gross fixed):
26.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
6.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
9.07% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 18
15.11% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
23.03% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
19.86% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$714.9 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 148
$826.4 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
$1.247 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$505.4 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
$572.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$71.84 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 112
$93.79 million (31 December 2008)
$121 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries;
sheep, goats, cattle, wool
Industries:
small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, sawn
logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth
metals
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Electricity - production:
15.96 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Electricity - consumption:
9 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Electricity - exports:
2.379 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
979 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Oil - consumption:
15,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Oil - exports:
1,890 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Oil - imports:
12,850 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Oil - proved reserves:
40 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Natural gas - production:
30 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Natural gas - consumption:
750 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Natural gas - imports:
720 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Natural gas - proved reserves:
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Current account balance:
-$210 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
$184 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.682 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
$1.726 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas,
hydropower; machinery; shoes
Exports - partners:
Switzerland 25.96%, Russia 25.88%, Uzbekistan 15.72%, Kazakhstan
12.47% (2009)
Imports:
$3.075 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
$2.987 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
oil and gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
China 57.03%, Russia 19.34%, Kazakhstan 5.9% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.615 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
$1.585 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.738 billion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 119
$3.467 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
soms (KGS) per US dollar - 46.337 (2010), 42.905 (2009), 36.108
(2008), 37.746 (2007), 40.149 (2006)
Communications ::Kyrgyzstan
Telephones - main lines in use:
498,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 97
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.487 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 100
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications infrastructure is being
upgraded; loans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD) are being used to install a digital network,
digital radio-relay stations, and fiber-optic links
domestic: fixed-line penetration remains low and concentrated in
urban areas; multiple mobile-cellular service providers with growing
coverage; mobile-cellular subscribership exceeded 80 per 100 persons
in 2009
international: country code - 996; connections with other CIS
countries by landline or microwave radio relay and with other
countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway
switch and by satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 (1
Intersputnik, 1 Intelsat); connected internationally by the
Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line
Broadcast media:
state-run television broadcaster operates 2 nationwide networks and
6 regional stations; roughly 20 private TV stations operating with
most rebroadcasting other channels; state-run radio broadcaster
operates 2 networks; about 20 private radio stations operating (2007)
Internet country code:
.kg
Internet hosts:
97,976 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 78
Internet users:
2.195 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 74
Transportation ::Kyrgyzstan
Airports:
28 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 119
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 18
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 8 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 254 km; oil 16 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 470 km
country comparison to the world: 115
broad gauge: 470 km 1.520-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 18,500 km
country comparison to the world: 115
paved: 16,909 km (includes 140 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,591 km (2003)
Waterways:
600 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 79
Ports and terminals:
Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)
Military ::Kyrgyzstan
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Air Force (includes Air Defense Forces), National
Guard (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory male military service in the armed
forces or Interior Ministry; service obligation 1 year; women may
volunteer at age 19; 16-17 years of age for military cadets, who
cannot take part in military operations (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,439,750
females age 16-49: 1,455,806 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,101,709
females age 16-49: 1,243,904 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 56,269
female: 54,004 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 162
Transnational Issues ::Kyrgyzstan
Disputes - international:
Kyrgyzstan has yet to ratify the 2001 boundary delimitation with
Kazakhstan; disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of
delimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation of 130 km of border with
Uzbekistan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other
areas
Illicit drugs:
limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy for CIS
markets; limited government eradication of illicit crops; transit
point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of
Europe; major consumer of opiates
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Laos (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Laos
Background:
Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan
Xang, established in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For 300
years Lan Xang had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and
Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos. After centuries
of gradual decline, Laos came under the domination of Siam
(Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century
when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty
of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the
Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government ending a
six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime
closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual, limited return to private
enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began
in 1988. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997. In late 2009,
Thailand returned to Laos about 3,000 Hmong residing in refugee
camps.
Geography ::Laos
Location:
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:
18 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 236,800 sq km
country comparison to the world: 83
land: 230,800 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Utah
Land boundaries:
total: 5,083 km
border countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km,
Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season
(December to April)
Terrain:
mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m
highest point: Phu Bia 2,817 m
Natural resources:
timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Land use:
arable land: 4.01%
permanent crops: 0.34%
other: 95.65% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,750 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
333.6 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 3 cu km/yr (4%/6%/90%)
per capita: 507 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
floods, droughts
Environment - current issues:
unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the
population does not have access to potable water
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested;
the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with
Thailand
People ::Laos
Population:
6,368,162 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40.8% (male 1,399,674/female 1,386,526)
15-64 years: 56.2% (male 1,900,638/female 1,938,165)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 90,144/female 119,198) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.7 years
male: 20.4 years
female: 21 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.712% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Birth rate:
26.57 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Death rate:
8.28 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Net migration rate:
-1.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 160
Urbanization:
urban population: 31% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 5.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 61.19 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 35
male: 67.36 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 54.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62 years
country comparison to the world: 181
male: 60.14 years
female: 63.94 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.22 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
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
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)
(2009)
Nationality:
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
adjective: Lao or Laotian
Ethnic groups:
Lao 55%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 8%, other (over 100 minor ethnic groups)
26% (2005 census)
Religions:
Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005
census)
Languages:
Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73%
male: 83%
female: 63% (2005 Census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
2.3% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 164
Government ::Laos
Country name:
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic
conventional short form: Laos
local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
local short form: Pathet Lao (unofficial)
Government type:
Communist state
Capital:
name: Vientiane (Viangchan)
geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 capital city*
(nakhon luang, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai,
Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphrabang,
Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*,
Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
Independence:
19 July 1949 (from France)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Constitution:
promulgated 14 August 1991; amended in 2003
Legal system:
based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and
socialist practice; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 8 June
2006); Vice President BOUN-GNANG Volachit (since 8 June 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister THONGSING Thammavong (since 24
December 2010); Deputy Prime Ministers Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since
May 2002), Lt. Gen. DOUANGCHAI Phichit (since 8 June 2006), SOMSAVAT
Lengsavat (since 26 February 1998), and THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 27
March 2001)
cabinet: Ministers appointed by president, approved by National
Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected by National Assembly
for five-year terms; election last held on 8 June 2006 (next to be
held in 2011); prime minister nominated by the president and elected
by the National Assembly for five-year term
election results: CHOUMMALI Saignason elected president; BOUN-GNANG
Volachit elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote -
100%; BOUASONE Bouphavanh elected prime minister; percent of
National Assembly vote - 97%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (115 seats; members elected by popular
vote from a list of candidates selected by the Lao People's
Revolutionary Party to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 30 on April 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
LPRP 113, independents 2
Judicial branch:
People's Supreme Court (the president of the People's Supreme Court
is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the
National Assembly Standing Committee; the vice president of the
People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National
Assembly Standing Committee)
Political parties and leaders:
Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [CHOUMMALI Saignason];
other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ADB, ARF, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU,
MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador SENG Soukhathivong
chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416
FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Karen B. STEWART
embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, That Dam, Vientiane
mailing address: American Embassy Vientiane, APO AP 96546
telephone: [856] 21-26-7000
FAX: [856] 21-26-7190
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red
with a large white disk centered in the blue band; the red bands
recall the blood shed for liberation; the blue band represents the
Mekong River and prosperity; the white disk symbolizes the full moon
against the Mekong River, but also signifies the unity of the people
under the Pathet Lao, as well as the country's bright future
National anthem:
name: "Pheng Xat Lao" (Hymn of the Lao People)
lyrics/music: SISANA Sisane/THONGDY Sounthonevichit
note: music adopted 1945, lyrics adopted 1975; the anthem's lyrics
were changed following the 1975 Communist revolution that overthrew
the monarchy
Economy ::Laos
Economy - overview:
The government of Laos, one of the few remaining one-party Communist
states, began decentralizing control and encouraging private
enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low
base, were striking - growth averaged 6% per year from 1988-2008
except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial
crisis that began in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laos
remains a country with an underdeveloped infrastructure,
particularly in rural areas. It has a rudimentary, but improving,
road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications.
Electricity is available in urban areas and in many rural districts.
Subsistence agriculture, dominated by rice cultivation in lowland
areas, accounts for about 30% of GDP and provides 80% of total
employment. The government in FY08/09 received $560 million from
international donors. Economic growth has reduced official poverty
rates from 46% in 1992 to 26% in 2009. The economy has benefited
from high foreign investment in hydropower, mining, and
construction. Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US
in 2004, and is taking steps required to join the World Trade
Organization, such as reforming import licensing. Related trade
policy reforms will improve the business environment. On the fiscal
side, Laos launched an effort to ensure the collection of taxes in
2009 as the global economic slowdown reduced revenues from mining
projects. Simplified investment procedures and expanded bank credits
for small farmers and small entrepreneurs will improve Lao's
economic prospects. The government appears committed to raising the
country's profile among investors. The World Bank has declared that
Laos's goal of graduating from the UN Development Program's list of
least-developed countries by 2020 is achievable. According Laotian
officials, the 7th Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2011-15 will
outline efforts to achieve Millennium Development Goals.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$15.42 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
$14.41 billion (2009 est.)
$13.53 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$6.341 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
6.5% (2009 est.)
7.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
$2,300 (2009 est.)
$2,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 29.8%
industry: 31.7%
services: 38.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
3.65 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
2.4% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
26% (2009 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 28.5% (2002)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34.6 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 88
37 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
0% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.3% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 108
4% (31 December 2009)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
26% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 83
11% (30 November 2009)
Stock of narrow money:
$630 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 150
$691.1 million (31 December 2009)
Stock of broad money:
$1.818 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
$1.549 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.562 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
$1.095 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Agriculture - products:
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco,
cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Industries:
copper, tin, gold, and gypsum mining; timber, electric power,
agricultural processing, construction, garments, cement, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
12% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Electricity - production:
1.656 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Electricity - consumption:
1.798 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Electricity - exports:
230 million kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
819.5 million kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Oil - consumption:
3,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Oil - imports:
3,080 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Oil - proved reserves:
NA bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Current account balance:
-$23 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
-$356 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.215 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
$1.104 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
wood products, coffee, electricity, tin, copper, gold
Exports - partners:
Thailand 29.18%, China 15.04%, Vietnam 14.96%, UK 4.29% (2009)
Imports:
$1.504 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
$1.308 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Thailand 66.2%, China 11.45%, Vietnam 5.3% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$756 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$712.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.085 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
$3.179 billion (2006 est.)
Exchange rates:
kips (LAK) per US dollar - 8,320.27 (2010), 8,516.04 (2009),
8,760.69 (2008), 9,658 (2007), 10,235 (2006)
Communications ::Laos
Telephones - main lines in use:
132,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 137
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.235 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 111
Telephone system:
general assessment: service to general public is poor but improving;
the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate
with remote areas
domestic: multiple service providers; mobile cellular usage growing
very rapidly
international: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1
Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) and a second to be developed by
China (2008)
Broadcast media:
2 television stations operating out of Vientiane - 1
government-operated and the other jointly-owned by the government
and a Thai company; roughly 15 provincial stations operating with
nearly all programming relayed via satellite from the
government-operated station in Vientiane; relays from Hanoi provide
access to a Vietnamese television station; broadcasts available from
stations in Thailand and Vietnam in border areas; multi-channel
satellite and cable TV systems provide access to a wide range of
foreign stations; state-controlled radio with state-operated Lao
National Radio (LNR) broadcasting on 5 frequencies - 1 AM, 2 SW, and
2 FM; LNR's AM and FM programs are relayed via satellite
constituting a large part of the programming schedules of the
provincial radio stations; Thai radio broadcasts available in border
areas and transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are
also accessible (2008)
Internet country code:
.la
Internet hosts:
1,468 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 161
Internet users:
300,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 130
Transportation ::Laos
Airports:
41 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 102
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 32
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 21 (2010)
Pipelines:
refined products 540 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 36,831 km
country comparison to the world: 93
paved: 4,811 km
unpaved: 32,020 km (2007)
Waterways:
4,600 km
country comparison to the world: 24
note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,900 additional km are
intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2010)
Merchant marine:
total: 1
country comparison to the world: 157
by type: cargo 1 (2008)
Military ::Laos
Military branches:
Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA; includes
Riverine Force), Air Force (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; minimum 18-month
conscript service obligation (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,633,725
females age 16-49: 1,654,235 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,056,050
females age 16-49: 1,121,640 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 77,910
female: 77,761 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 164
Military - note:
serving one of the world's least developed countries, the Lao
People's Armed Forces (LPAF) is small, poorly funded, and
ineffectively resourced; its mission focus is border and internal
security, primarily in countering ethnic Hmong insurgent groups;
together with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the
government, the Lao People's Army (LPA) is the third pillar of state
machinery, and as such is expected to suppress political and civil
unrest and similar national emergencies, but the LPA also has
upgraded skills to respond to avian influenza outbreaks; there is no
perceived external threat to the state and the LPA maintains strong
ties with the neighboring Vietnamese military (2008)
Transnational Issues ::Laos
Disputes - international:
Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check
the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation
with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong River;
concern among Mekong Commission members that China's construction of
dams on the Mekong River will affect water levels
Illicit drugs:
estimated opium poppy cultivation in 2008 was 1,900 hectares, about
a 73% increase from 2007; estimated potential opium production in
2008 more than tripled to 17 metric tons; unsubstantiated reports of
domestic methamphetamine production; growing domestic
methamphetamine problem (2007)
page last updated on January 13, 2011
======================================================================
@Latvia (Europe)
Introduction ::Latvia
Background:
The name "Latvia" originates from the ancient Latgalians, one of
four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the
Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region
subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and
finally, Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I,
but it was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized
by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its
independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the
Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to
Moscow. Latvia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.
Geography ::Latvia
Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and
Lithuania
Geographic coordinates:
57 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 64,589 sq km
country comparison to the world: 123
land: 62,249 sq km
water: 2,340 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,382 km
border countries: Belarus 171 km, Estonia 343 km, Lithuania 576 km,
Russia 292 km
Coastline:
498 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain:
low plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Gaizina Kalns 312 m
Natural resources:
peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 28.19%
permanent crops: 0.45%
other: 71.36% (2005)
Irrigated land:
200 sq km
note: land in Latvia is often too wet and in need of drainage not
irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land
has been improved by drainage (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
49.9 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.25 cu km/yr (55%/33%/12%)
per capita: 108 cu m/yr (2003)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service
industries after the country regained independence; the main
environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality
and sewage system, household, and hazardous waste management, as
well as reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU
accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full
enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, 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:
most of the country is composed of fertile low-lying plains with
some hills in the east
People ::Latvia
Population:
2,217,969 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.3% (male 152,472/female 145,161)
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 756,469/female 797,505)
65 years and over: 17% (male 124,432/female 255,464) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.4 years
male: 37.4 years
female: 43.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.602% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225
Birth rate:
9.9 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Death rate:
13.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Net migration rate:
-2.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Urbanization:
urban population: 68% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.054 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.59 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 161
male: 10.41 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.42 years
country comparison to the world: 121
male: 67.27 years
female: 77.84 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.31 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
10,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Latvian(s)
adjective: Latvian
Ethnic groups:
Latvian 59.3%, Russian 27.8%, Belarusian 3.6%, Ukrainian 2.5%,
Polish 2.4%, Lithuanian 1.3%, other 3.1% (2009)
Religions:
Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other 0.4%,
unspecified 63.7% (2006)
Languages:
Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3%
(2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 17 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 67
Government ::Latvia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Latvia
conventional short form: Latvia
local long form: Latvijas Republika
local short form: Latvija
former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Riga
geographic coordinates: 56 57 N, 24 06 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:
109 municipalities (novadi, singular-novads) and 9 cities*: Adazu
Novads, Aglonas Novads, Aizkraukles Novads, Aizputes Novads,
Aknistes Novads, Alojas Novads, Alsungas Novads, Aluksnes Novads,
Amatas Novads, Apes Novads, Auces Novads, Babites Novads, Baldones
Novads, Baltinavas Novads, Balvu Novads, Bauskas Novads, Beverinas
Novads, Brocenu Novads, Burtnieku Novads, Carnikavas Novads, Cesu
Novads, Cesvaines Novads, Ciblas Novads, Dagdas Novads, Daugavpils*,
Daugavpils Novads, Dobeles Novads, Dundagas Novads, Durbes Novads,
Engures Novads, Erglu Novads, Garkalnes Novads, Grobinas Novads,
Gulbenes Novads, Iecavas Novads, Ikskiles Novads, Ilukstes Novads,
Incukalna Novads, Jaunjelgavas Novads, Juanpiebalgas Novads,
Jaunpils Novads, Jekabpils*, Jekabpils Novads, Jelgava*, Jelgavas
Novads, Jurmala*, Kandavas Novads, Karsavas Novads, Keguma Novads,
Kekavas Novads, Kocenu Novads, Kokneses Novads, Kraslavas Novads,
Krimuldas Novads, Krustpils Novads, Kuldigas Novads, Lielvardes
Novads, Liepaja*, Ligatnes Novads, Limbazu Novads, Livanu Novads,
Lubanas Novads, Ludzas Novads, Madonas Novads, Malpils Novads,
Marupes Novads, Mazsalacas Novads, Nauksenu Novads, Neretas Novads,
Nicas Novads, Ogres Novads, Olaines Novads, Ozolnieku Novads,
Pargaujas Novads, Pavilostas Novads, Plavinu Novads, Preilu Novads,
Priekules Novads, Priekulu Novads, Raunas Novads, Rezekne*, Rezeknes
Novads, Riebinu Novads, Riga*, Rojas Novads, Ropazu Novads, Rucavas
Novads, Rugaju Novads, Rujienas Novads, Rundales Novads, Salacgrivas
Novads, Salas Novads, Salaspils Novads, Saldus Novads, Saulkrastu
Novads, Sejas Novads, Siguldas Novads, Skriveru Novads, Skrundas
Novads, Smiltenes Novads, Stopinu Novads, Strencu Novads, Talsu
Novads, Tervetes Novads, Tukuma Novads, Vainodes Novads, Valkas
Novads, Valmiera*, Varaklanu Novads, Varkavas Novads, Vecpiebalgas
Novads, Vecumnieku Novads, Ventspils*, Ventspils Novads, Viesites
Novads, Vilakas Novads, Vilanu Novads, Zilupes Novads
Independence:
18 November 1918 (from the Soviet Russia)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was
the date Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia; 4
May 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence; 21 August
1991 was the date of de facto independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:
15 February 1922; restored to force by the Constitutional Law of the
Republic of Latvia adopted by the Supreme Council on 21 August 1991;
multiple amendments since
Legal system:
based on civil law system with traces of Socialist legal traditions
and practices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Valdis ZATLERS (since 8 July 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Valdis DOMBROVSKIS (since 12
March 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
appointed by Parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 31 May 2007
(next to be held in 2011); prime minister appointed by the
president, confirmed by Parliament
election results: Valdis ZATLERS elected president; parliamentary
vote - Valdis ZATLERS 58, Aivars ENDZINS 39
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members elected by
proportional representation from party lists by popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 2 October 2010 (next to be held in October
2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - Unity bloc 31.2%, SC
26%, ZZS 19.7%, National Alliance 7.7%, For a Good Latvia bloc 7.7%;
seats by party - Unity Coalition 33, SC 29, ZZS 22, National
Alliance 8, For a Good Latvia 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by parliament);
Constitutional Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by
parliament)
Political parties and leaders:
All For Latvia! [Irnants PARADNIEKS, Raivis DZINTARS]; Civic Union
[Sandra KALNIETE, Girts Valdis KRISTOVSKIS]; First Party of
Latvia/Latvia's Way or LPP/LC [Ainars SLESERS]; For a Good Latvia
(alliance of TP, LPP/LC); For Human Rights in a United Latvia or
PCTVL [Jakovs PLINERS, Tatjana ZDANOKA]; For the Fatherland and
Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement or TB/LNNK [Roberts
ZILE, Maris GRINBLATS]; Harmony Center or SC [Nils USAKOVS, Janis
URBANOVICS]; National Alliance (alliance of TB/LNNK, All For
Latvia!); New Era Party or JL [Solvita ABOLTINA, Dzintars ZAKIS];
People's Party or TP [Andris SKELE]; Society for Different Politics
or SCP [Aigars STOKENBERGS; Artis PABRIKS]; The Union of Latvian
Greens and Farmers Party or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS]; Unity bloc
(alliance of Civic Union, New Era, SCP)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia [Peteris KRIGERS],
Employers' Confederation of Latvia [Elina EGLE], Farmers' Parliament
[Juris LAZDINS]
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO,
NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen
Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Andrejs PILDEGOVICS
chancery: 2306 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-2840
FAX: [1] (202) 328-2860
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Judith G. GARBER
embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510
mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE
09723
telephone: [371] 670-36200
FAX: [371] 678-20047
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and
maroon; the flag is one of the older banners in the world; a
medieval chronicle mentions a red standard with a white stripe being
used by Latvian tribes in about 1280
National anthem:
name: "Dievs, sveti Latviju!" (God Bless Latvia)
lyrics/music: Karlis BAUMANIS
note: adopted 1920, restored 1990; the song was first performed in
1873 while Latvia was a part of Russia; the anthem was banned during
the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990
Economy ::Latvia
Economy - overview:
Latvia's economy experienced GDP growth of more than 10% per year
during 2006-07 but entered a severe recession in 2008 as a result of
an unsustainable current account deficit and large debt exposure
amid the softening world economy. GDP plunged 18% in 2009 - the
three former Soviet Baltic republics had the world's worst declines
that year - and another 1.8% in 2010. The IMF, EU, and other donors
provided assistance to Latvia as part of an agreement to defend the
currency's peg to the euro and reduce the fiscal deficit to about 5%
of GDP over time. DOMBROVSKIS' government enacted major speding cuts
to reduce the fiscal deficit to 7.8% of GDP in 2010, and plans to
cut the deficit further in 2011. The majority of companies, banks,
and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds
sizable stakes in a few large enterprises. Latvia officially joined
the World Trade Organization in February 1999. EU membership, a top
foreign policy goal, came in May 2004.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$32.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
$32.79 billion (2009 est.)
$39.99 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$23.39 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
-18% (2009 est.)
-4.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
$14,700 (2009 est.)
$17,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.2%
industry: 20.6%
services: 75.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.178 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 12.1%
industry: 25.8%
services: 61.8% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
19.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
17.1% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 27.4% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 84
32 (1999)
Investment (gross fixed):
15.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Public debt:
46.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
36.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-1.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
3.5% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 75
6% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
16.23% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
11.85% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$5.769 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 84
$5.893 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$11.17 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
$11.46 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$27.59 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$27.76 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.824 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 98
$1.609 billion (31 December 2008)
$3.111 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs;
fish
Industries:
pharmaceuticals, plastics, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery,
fertilizers, soaps, paints, rubber, processed foods, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
-1.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Electricity - production:
4.62 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Electricity - consumption:
6.822 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Electricity - exports:
2.123 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
4.643 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Oil - consumption:
40,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Oil - exports:
5,873 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Oil - imports:
43,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Natural gas - consumption:
2.05 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Natural gas - imports:
2.05 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Current account balance:
$1.62 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
$2.53 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$7.894 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
$7.223 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles,
foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Lithuania 15.19%, Estonia 13.57%, Russia 13.17%, Germany 8.13%,
Sweden 5.7% (2009)
Imports:
$9.153 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
$8.906 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles
Imports - partners:
Lithuania 16.36%, Germany 11.34%, Russia 10.68%, Poland 8.11%,
Estonia 7.69% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$7.17 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$6.907 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$37.28 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
$41.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$11.71 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
$11.61 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.097 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$1.037 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
lati (LVL) per US dollar - 0.5422 (2010), 0.5056 (2009), 0.4701
(2008), 0.5162 (2007), 0.5597 (2006)
Communications ::Latvia
Telephones - main lines in use:
644,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 91
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.243 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 128
Telephone system:
general assessment: recent efforts focused on bringing competition
to the telecommunications sector; the number of fixed lines is
decreasing as mobile-cellular telephone service expands
domestic: number of telecommunications operators has grown rapidly
since the fixed-line market opened to competition in 2003; combined
fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 125 per 100
persons
international: country code - 371; the Latvian network is now
connected via fiber optic cable to Estonia, Finland, and Sweden
(2008)
Broadcast media:
several national and regional commercial TV stations are
foreign-owned, 2 national TV stations are publicly-owned; system
supplemented by privately-owned regional and local TV stations;
cable and satellite multi-channel TV services with domestic and
foreign broadcasts are available; publicly-owned broadcaster
operates 4 radio networks with dozens of stations throughout the
country; dozens of private broadcasters also operate radio stations
(2007)
Internet country code:
.lv
Internet hosts:
289,478 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 59
Internet users:
1.504 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 81
Transportation ::Latvia
Airports:
42 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 101
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 7 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 23
under 914 m: 23 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 948 km; refined products 415 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,298 km
country comparison to the world: 68
broad gauge: 2,265 km 1.520-m gauge
narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 73,074 km
country comparison to the world: 65
paved: 14,459 km
unpaved: 58,615 km (2010)
Waterways:
300 km (navigable year round) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 93
Merchant marine:
total: 13
country comparison to the world: 107
by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum
tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 4 (Estonia 4)
registered in other countries: 90 (Antigua and Barbuda 16, Belize
10, Cambodia 1, Comoros 1, Cook Islands 1, Dominica 1, Georgia 1,
Liberia 9, Malta 11, Marshall Islands 18, Panama 4, Saint Kitts and
Nevis 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 15) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Riga, Ventspils
Military ::Latvia
Military branches:
National Armed Forces (Nacionalo Brunoto Speku): Ground Forces, Navy
(Latvijas Juras Speki; includes Coast Guard (Latvijas Kara Flotes)),
Latvian Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), Border Guard, Latvian Home
Guard (Latvijas Zemessardze) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary male and female military service;
conscription abolished January 2007; under current law, every
citizen is entitled to serve in the armed forces for life (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 554,943
females age 16-49: 550,700 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 406,592
females age 16-49: 456,071 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 11,536
female: 11,058 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Transnational Issues ::Latvia
Disputes - international:
Russia demands better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in
Latvia; as of January 2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with
Belarus was complete and mapped with final ratification
documentation in preparation; the Latvian parliament has not
ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily
due to concerns over oil exploration rights; as a member state that
forms part of the EU's external border, Latvia has implemented the
strict Schengen border rules with Russia
Illicit drugs:
transshipment and destination point for cocaine, synthetic drugs,
opiates, and cannabis from Southwest Asia, Western Europe, Latin
America, and neighboring Balkan countries; despite improved
legislation, vulnerable to money laundering due to nascent
enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of
offshore companies and the gaming industry; CIS organized crime
(including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and
prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds
page last updated on January 25, 2011
======================================================================
@Lebanon (Middle East)
Introduction ::Lebanon
Background:
Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern
portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French
separated out the region of Lebanon in 1920, and granted this area
independence in 1943. A lengthy civil war (1975-1990) devastated the
country, but Lebanon has since made progress toward rebuilding its
political institutions. Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for
national reconciliation - the Lebanese established a more equitable
political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater voice in
the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions
in the government. Since the end of the war, Lebanon has conducted
several successful elections. Most militias have been reduced or
disbanded, with the exception of Hizballah, designated by the US
State Department as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, and
Palestinian militant groups. During Lebanon's civil war, the Arab
League legitimized in the Ta'if Accord Syria's troop deployment,
numbering about 16,000 based mainly east of Beirut and in the Bekaa
Valley. Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 2000 and
the passage in September 2004 of UNSCR 1559 - a resolution calling
for Syria to withdraw from Lebanon and end its interference in
Lebanese affairs - encouraged some Lebanese groups to demand that
Syria withdraw its forces as well. The assassination of former Prime
Minister Rafiq HARIRI and 22 others in February 2005 led to massive
demonstrations in Beirut against the Syrian presence ("the Cedar
Revolution"), and Syria withdrew the remainder of its military
forces in April 2005. In May-June 2005, Lebanon held its first
legislative elections since the end of the civil war free of foreign
interference, handing a majority to the bloc led by Sa'ad HARIRI,
the slain prime minister's son. In July 2006, Hizballah kidnapped
two Israeli soldiers leading to a 34-day conflict with Israel in
which approximately 1,200 Lebanese civilians were killed. UNSCR 1701
ended the war in August 2006, and Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)
deployed throughout the country for the first time in decades,
charged with securing Lebanon's borders against weapons smuggling
and maintaining a weapons-free zone in south Lebanon with the help
of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The LAF in
May-September 2007 battled Sunni extremist group Fatah al-Islam in
the Nahr al-Barid Palestinian refugee camp, winning a decisive
victory, but destroying the camp and displacing 30,000 Palestinian
residents. Lebanese politicians in November 2007 were unable to
agree on a successor to Emile LAHUD when he stepped down as
president, creating a political vacuum until the election of LAF
Commander Gen. Michel SULAYMAN in May 2008 and the formation of a
new unity government in July 2008. Legislative elections in June
2009 again produced victory for the bloc led by Sa'ad HARIRI, but a
period of prolonged negotiation over the composition of the cabinet
ensued. A national unity government was finally formed in November
2009 and approved by the National Assembly the following month. In
January 2010, Lebanon assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security
Council for the 2010-11 term.
Geography ::Lebanon
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and
Syria
Geographic coordinates:
33 50 N, 35 50 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 10,400 sq km
country comparison to the world: 169
land: 10,230 sq km
water: 170 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 454 km
border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km
Coastline:
225 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers;
Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and
Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Qornet es Saouda 3,088 m
Natural resources:
limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit
region, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 16.35%
permanent crops: 13.75%
other: 69.9% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,040 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
4.8 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.38 cu km/yr (33%/1%/67%)
per capita: 385 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in
Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes;
pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life
Conservation
Geography - note:
Nahr el Litani is the only major river in Near East not crossing an
international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate,
protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion,
clan, and ethnicity
People ::Lebanon
Population:
4,125,247 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.8% (male 528,047/female 506,838)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,294,485/female 1,399,047)
65 years and over: 7.2% (male 130,148/female 158,530) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.4 years
male: 28.3 years
female: 30.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.621% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Birth rate:
15.1 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Death rate:
6.46 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Net migration rate:
-2.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 179
Urbanization:
urban population: 87% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.4 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 115
male: 16.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.79 years
country comparison to the world: 90
male: 73.28 years
female: 76.36 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.78 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Nationality:
noun: Lebanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Lebanese
Ethnic groups:
Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
note: many Christian Lebanese do not identify themselves as Arab but
rather as descendents of the ancient Canaanites and prefer to be
called Phoenicians
Religions:
Muslim 59.7% (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri),
Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic,
Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian
Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant),
other 1.3%
note: 17 religious sects recognized
Languages:
Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.4%
male: 93.1%
female: 82.2% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2009)
Education expenditures:
2% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 169
Government ::Lebanon
Country name:
conventional long form: Lebanese Republic
conventional short form: Lebanon
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
local short form: Lubnan
former: Greater Lebanon
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Beirut
geographic coordinates: 33 52 N, 35 30 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 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Beqaa, Beyrouth
(Beirut), Liban-Nord, Liban-Sud, Mont-Liban, Nabatiye
note: two new governorates - Aakar and Baalbek-Hermel - have been
legislated but not yet implemented
Independence:
22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French
administration)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Constitution:
23 May 1926; amended a number of times, most recently in 1990 to
include changes necessitated by the Charter of Lebanese National
Reconciliation (Ta'if Accord) of October 1989
Legal system:
mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law;
the constitutional court reviews laws only after they have been
passed; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at
age 21 with elementary education; excludes military personnel
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Michel SULAYMAN (since 25 May 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Najib MIQATI (since 25 January
2011)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with
the president and members of the National Assembly; note - the
Cabinet resigned on 12 January 2010 following the resignation of
over a third of the ministers
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year
term (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held on 25 May
2008 (next to be held in 2014); the prime minister and deputy prime
minister appointed by the president in consultation with the
National Assembly
election results: Michel SULAYMAN elected president; National
Assembly vote - 118 for, 6 abstentions, 3 invalidated; 1 seat
unfilled due to death of incumbent
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Nuwab (Arabic) or
Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular
vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held on 7 June 2009 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by group - March 8 Coalition
54.7%, March 14 Coalition 45.3%; seats by group - March 14 Coalition
71; March 8 Coalition 57
Judicial branch:
four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial
cases and one court for criminal cases); Constitutional Council
(called for in Ta'if Accord - rules on constitutionality of laws);
Supreme Council (hears charges against the president and prime
minister as needed)
Political parties and leaders:
14 March Coalition: Democratic Left [Ilyas ATALLAH]; Democratic
Renewal Movement [Nassib LAHUD]; Future Movement Bloc [Sa'ad
al-HARIRI]; Kataeb Party [Amine GEMAYEL]; Lebanese Forces [Samir
JA'JA]; Tripoli Independent Bloc
8 March Coalition: Development and Resistance Bloc [Nabih BERRI,
leader of Amal Movement]; Free Patriotic Movement [Michel AWN];
Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc [Mohammad RA'AD] (includes Hizballah
[Hassan NASRALLAH]); Nasserite Popular Movement [Usama SAAD];
Popular Bloc [Elias SKAFF]; Syrian Ba'th Party [Sayez SHUKR]; Syrian
Social Nationalist Party [Ali QANSO]; Tashnaq [Hovig MEKHITIRIAN]
Independent: Democratic Gathering Bloc [Walid JUNBLATT, leader of
Progressive Socialist Party]; Metn Bloc [Michel MURR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Maronite Church [Patriarch Nasrallah SFAYR]
other: note - most sects retain militias and a number of militant
groups operate in Palestinian refugee camps
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA,
UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Antoine CHEDID
chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300
FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324
consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Maura CONNELLY
embassy: Awkar, Lebanon (Awkar facing the Municipality)
mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Antelias, Lebanon; from US: US
Embassy Beirut, 6070 Beirut Place, Washington, DC 20521-6070
telephone: [961] (4) 542600, 543600
FAX: [961] (4) 544136
Flag description:
three horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white (middle,
double width), and red (bottom) with a green cedar tree centered in
the white band; the red bands symbolize blood shed for liberation,
the white band denotes peace, the snow of the mountains, and purity;
the green cedar tree is the symbol of Lebanon and represents
eternity, steadiness, happiness, and prosperity
National anthem:
name: "Kulluna lil-watan" (All Of Us, For Our Country!)
lyrics/music: Rachid NAKHLE/Wadih SABRA
note: adopted 1927; the anthem was chosen following a nationwide
competition
Economy ::Lebanon
Economy - overview:
Lebanon has a free-market economy and a strong laissez-faire
commercial tradition. The government does not restrict foreign
investment; however, the investment climate suffers from red tape,
corruption, arbitrary licensing decisions, high taxes, tariffs, and
fees, archaic legislation, and weak intellectual property rights.
The Lebanese economy is service-oriented; main growth sectors
include banking and tourism. The 1975-90 civil war seriously damaged
Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and
all but ended Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and
banking hub. In the years since, Lebanon has rebuilt much of its
war-torn physical and financial infrastructure by borrowing heavily
- mostly from domestic banks. In an attempt to reduce the ballooning
national debt, the Rafiq HARIRI government in 2000 began an
austerity program, reining in government expenditures, increasing
revenue collection, and passing legislation to privatize state
enterprises, but economic and financial reform initiatives stalled
and public debt continued to grow despite receipt of more than $2
billion in bilateral assistance at the 2002 Paris II Donors
Conference. The Israeli-Hizballah conflict in July-August 2006
caused an estimated $3.6 billion in infrastructure damage, and
prompted international donors to pledge nearly $1 billion in
recovery and reconstruction assistance. Donors met again in January
2007 at the Paris III Donor Conference and pledged more than $7.5
billion to Lebanon for development projects and budget support,
conditioned on progress on Beirut's fiscal reform and privatization
program. An 18-month political stalemate and sporadic sectarian and
political violence hampered economic activity, particularly tourism,
retail sales, and investment, until the new government was formed in
July 2008. Political stability following the Doha Accord of May 2008
helped boost tourism and, together with a strong banking sector,
enabled real GDP growth of 7% per year in 2009-10 despite a slowdown
in the region.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$58.65 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
$54.71 billion (2009 est.)
$51.18 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$39.15 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
6.9% (2009 est.)
9.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$13,300 (2009 est.)
$12,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.1%
industry: 15.9%
services: 79% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.481 million
country comparison to the world: 132
note: in addition, there are as many as 1 million foreign workers
(2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
28% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
30.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Public debt:
150.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
154.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
1.2% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
10% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 35
12% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.57% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
9.96% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$3.692 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 104
$3.21 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$92.01 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$82.07 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$62.68 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
$56.98 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$12.89 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 67
$9.641 billion (31 December 2008)
$10.86 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives,
tobacco; sheep, goats
Industries:
banking, tourism, food processing, wine, jewelry, cement, textiles,
mineral and chemical products, wood and furniture products, oil
refining, metal fabricating
Industrial production growth rate:
2.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Electricity - production:
10.41 billion kWh (2009)
country comparison to the world: 90
Electricity - consumption:
9.793 billion kWh (2009)
country comparison to the world: 88
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
1.114 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Oil - consumption:
90,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009)
country comparison to the world: 186
Oil - imports:
86,750 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Current account balance:
-$6.972 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
-$7.555 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$5.187 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
$4.716 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
jewelry, base metals, chemicals, miscellaneous consumer goods, fruit
and vegetables, tobacco, construction minerals, electric power
machinery and switchgear, textile fibers, paper
Exports - partners:
Switzerland 22%, UAE 10%, Iraq 8%, Saudi Arabia 7% (2009)
Imports:
$17.97 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$15.9 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, cars, medicinal products, clothing, meat and
live animals, consumer goods, paper, textile fabrics, tobacco,
electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners:
US 11%, France 10%, China 9%, Italy 8%, Germany 8%, Turkey 4%,
Ukraine 4.55%, Turkey 4.5% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$41.57 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$39.16 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$34.45 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$31.89 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Lebanese pounds (LBP) per US dollar - 1,507.5 (2010), 1,507.5
(2009), 1,507.5 (2008), 1,507.5 (2007), 1,507.5 (2006)
Communications ::Lebanon
Telephones - main lines in use:
750,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 88
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.526 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 138
Telephone system:
general assessment: repair of the telecommunications system,
severely damaged during the civil war, now complete
domestic: two mobile-cellular networks provide good service;
combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 55
per 100 persons
international: country code - 961; submarine cable links to Cyprus,
Egypt, and Syria; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian
Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean); coaxial cable to Syria (2009)
Broadcast media:
7 TV stations in operation, 1 of which is state-owned; more than 30
radio stations, 1 of which is state-owned; satellite and cable TV
services are available; transmissions of at least 2 international
broadcasters are accessible through partner stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.lb
Internet hosts:
51,451 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 87
Internet users:
1 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 101
Transportation ::Lebanon
Airports:
7 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 169
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 43 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 401 km
country comparison to the world: 118
standard gauge: 319 km 1.435 m
narrow gauge: 82 km 1.050 m
note: rail system unusable because of the damage done during
fighting in the 1980s and in 2006 (2008)
Roadways:
total: 6,970 km (includes 170 km of expressways) (2005)
country comparison to the world: 148
Merchant marine:
total: 29
country comparison to the world: 85
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 12, carrier 11, refrigerated cargo 1,
vehicle carrier 2
foreign-owned: 3 (Syria 3)
registered in other countries: 40 (Barbados 2, Cambodia 6, Comoros
3, Egypt 1, Georgia 1, Honduras 2, Liberia 1, Malta 7, Moldova 1,
Panama 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Syria 2, Togo 6,
unknown 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Beirut, Tripoli
Military ::Lebanon
Military branches:
Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): Army ((Al Jaysh al Lubnaniya) includes
Navy (Al Quwwat al Bahiriyya al Lubnaniya), Air Force (Al Quwwat al
Jawwiya al Lubnaniya)) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,075,503
females age 16-49: 1,112,139 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 917,404
females age 16-49: 940,238 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 37,856
female: 36,072 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Transnational Issues ::Lebanon
Disputes - international:
lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the boundary,
portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with several
sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shab'a Farms
area in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights; the roughly 2,000-strong
UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been in place since 1978
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 405,425 (Palestinian refugees
(UNRWA)); 50,000-60,000 (Iraq)
IDPs: 17,000 (1975-90 civil war, Israeli invasions); 200,000
(July-August 2006 war) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
cannabis cultivation dramatically reduced to 2,500 hectares in 2002
despite continued significant cannabis consumption; opium poppy
cultivation minimal; small amounts of Latin American cocaine and
Southwest Asian heroin transit country on way to European markets
and for Middle Eastern consumption; money laundering of drug
proceeds fuels concern that extremists are benefiting from drug
trafficking
page last updated on January 25, 2011
======================================================================
@Lesotho (Africa)
Introduction ::Lesotho
Background:
Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from
the UK in 1966. The Basuto National Party ruled for the first two
decades. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990, but returned to Lesotho
in 1992 and was reinstated in 1995. Constitutional government was
restored in 1993 after seven years of military rule. In 1998,
violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious
election prompted a brief but bloody intervention by South African
and Botswana military forces under the aegis of the Southern African
Development Community. Subsequent constitutional reforms restored
relative political stability. Peaceful parliamentary elections were
held in 2002, but the National Assembly elections of February 2007
were hotly contested and aggrieved parties continue to dispute how
the electoral law was applied to award proportional seats in the
Assembly.
Geography ::Lesotho
Location:
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Geographic coordinates:
29 30 S, 28 30 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 30,355 sq km
country comparison to the world: 141
land: 30,355 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 909 km
border countries: South Africa 909 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain:
mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m
highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Natural resources:
water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building
stone
Land use:
arable land: 10.87%
permanent crops: 0.13%
other: 89% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
5.2 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.05 cu km/yr (40%/40%/20%)
per capita: 28 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in
overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion;
desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and
redirects water to South Africa
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, 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, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more
than 80% of the country is 1,800 m above sea level
People ::Lesotho
Population:
1,919,552
country comparison to the world: 146
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.8% (male 373,159/female 368,271)
15-64 years: 60.2% (male 629,346/female 654,054)
65 years and over: 5% (male 42,074/female 63,915) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.6 years
male: 22.6 years
female: 22.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.277% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Birth rate:
27.17 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Death rate:
15.71 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Net migration rate:
-8.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Urbanization:
urban population: 25% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 56.42 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 40
male: 60.78 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 51.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.67 years
country comparison to the world: 212
male: 50.58 years
female: 50.76 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
23.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
270,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
18,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Nationality:
noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)
adjective: Basotho
Ethnic groups:
Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,
Religions:
Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Languages:
Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.8%
male: 74.5%
female: 94.5% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 10 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
12.4% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 3
Government ::Lesotho
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
conventional short form: Lesotho
local long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
local short form: Lesotho
former: Basutoland
Government type:
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Maseru
geographic coordinates: 29 19 S, 27 29 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's
Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Independence:
4 October 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Constitution:
2 April 1993
Legal system:
based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of
legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996); note - King
LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne from November 1990 to
February 1995 while his father was in exile
head of government: Prime Minister Pakalitha MOSISILI (since 23 May
1998)
cabinet: Cabinet
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: according to the constitution, the leader of the majority
party in the Assembly automatically becomes prime minister; the
monarchy is hereditary, but, under the terms of the constitution
that came into effect after the March 1993 election, the monarch is
a "living symbol of national unity" with no executive or legislative
powers; under traditional law the college of chiefs has the power to
depose the monarch, determine who is next in the line of succession,
or who shall serve as regent in the event that the successor is not
of mature age
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members - 22
principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party)
and the Assembly (120 seats, 80 by popular vote and 40 by
proportional vote; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held on 17 February 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
LCD 61, NIP 21, ABC 17, LWP 10, ACP 4, BNP 3, other 4
Judicial branch:
High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch acting on the
advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts;
customary or traditional court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of Congress Parties or ACP (including the Lesotho People's
Congress or LCP [Kelebone MAOPE], the Basotholand African Congress
or BAC [Khauhelo RALITAPOLE], and a faction of the Basotho Congress
Party or BCP [Ntsukunyane MPHANYA]); All Basotho Convention or ABC
[Thomas THABANE]; Basotho Batho Democratic Party or BBDP; Basotho
Congress Party or BCP; Basotho Democratic National Party or BDNP
[Thabang NYEOE]; Basotho National Party or BNP [Maj. Gen. Justin
Metsing LEKHANYA]; Basotholand African National Congress or BANC;
Christian Democratic Party or CDP [Enerst RAMOKOENA]; Lesotho
Congress for Democracy or LCD [Pakalitha MOSISILI] (the governing
party); Lesotho Workers Party or LWP [Macaefa BILLY]; National
Independent Party or NIP [Anthony MANYELI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Media Institute of Southern Africa, Lesotho chapter [Thabang
MATJAMA] (pushes for media freedom)
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David Mohlomi RANTEKOA
chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536
FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert NOLAN
embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section)
mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho
telephone: [266] 22 312666
FAX: [266] 22 310116
Flag description:
three horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green in the
proportions of 3:4:3; the colors represent rain, peace, and
prosperity respectively; centered in the white stripe is a black
Basotho hat representing the indigenous people; the flag was
unfurled in October 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence
National anthem:
name: "Lesotho fatse la bo ntat'a rona" (Lesotho, Land of Our
Fathers)
lyrics/music: Francois COILLARD/Ferdinand-Samuel LAUR
note: adopted 1967; the anthem's music derives from an 1823 Swiss
songbook
Economy ::Lesotho
Economy - overview:
Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho relies on remittances
from miners employed in South Africa, customs duties from the
Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU), and export revenue for the
majority of government revenue. However, the government has recently
strengthened its tax system to reduce dependency on customs duties.
Completion of a major hydropower facility in January 1998 permitted
the sale of water to South Africa and generated royalties for
Lesotho. Lesotho produces about 90% of its own electrical power
needs. As the number of mineworkers has declined steadily over the
past several years, a small manufacturing base has developed based
on farm products that support the milling, canning, leather, and
jute industries, as well as an apparel-assembly sector. Despite
Lesotho's market-based economy being heavily tied to its neighbor
South Africa, the US is an important trade partner because of the
export sector's heavy dependence on apparel exports. Exports have
grown significantly because of the trade benefits contained in the
Africa Growth and Opportunity Act. The economy is still primarily
based on subsistence agriculture, especially livestock, although
drought has decreased agricultural activity. The extreme inequality
in the distribution of income remains a major drawback. Lesotho has
signed an Interim Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility with the
IMF. In July 2007, Lesotho signed a Millennium Challenge Account
Compact with the US worth $362.5 million. Economic growth dropped in
2009, due mainly to the effects of the global economic crisis as
demand for the country's exports declined and SACU revenue fell
precipitously when South Africa - the primary contributor to the
SACU revenue pool - went into recession, but growth returned to 3.5%
in 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.31 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
$3.198 billion (2009 est.)
$3.148 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.799 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
1.6% (2009 est.)
3.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
$1,700 (2009 est.)
$1,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.1%
industry: 34.6%
services: 58.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
854,600 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence
agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in
South Africa
industry and services: 14% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
45% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 189
Population below poverty line:
49% (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 39.4% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
63.2 (1995)
country comparison to the world: 3
56 (1986-87)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
7.2% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
10.66% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 24
14.05% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
16.19% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$653.3 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 149
$509.5 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.057 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
$876 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$177.7 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
$147.3 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Agriculture - products:
corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Industries:
food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts,
construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Electricity - production:
502 million kWh
country comparison to the world: 159
note: electricity supplied by South Africa (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
516.9 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
50 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2008
est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Oil - consumption:
2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Oil - imports:
1,553 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Current account balance:
-$125 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
$194 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$985 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
$821 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and
mohair, food and live animals
Exports - partners:
US 58.9%, Belgium 37%, Madagascar 1.2% (2008)
Imports:
$1.766 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
$1.572 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum
products
Imports - partners:
China 26.3%, Taiwan 20.1%, Hong Kong 16.4%, South Korea 14.1%, India
9.2% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$893 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
$988 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$647 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
$671 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
maloti (LSL) per US dollar - 7.9 (2010), 8.4737 (2009), 7.75 (2008),
7.25 (2007), 6.85 (2006)
Communications ::Lesotho
Telephones - main lines in use:
40,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 168
Telephones - mobile cellular:
661,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 153
Telephone system:
general assessment: rudimentary system consisting of a modest number
of landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a small
radiotelephone communication system; mobile-cellular telephone
system is expanding
domestic: privatized in 2001, Telecom Lesotho was tasked with
providing an additional 50,000 fixed-line connections within five
years, a target not met; mobile-cellular service dominates the
market and is expanding with a subscribership exceeding 30 per 100
persons in 2009; rural services are scant
international: country code - 266; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
1 state-owned TV station and 2 state-owned radio stations;
government controls most private broadcast media; satellite TV
subscription service is available; transmissions of multiple
international broadcasters are obtainable (2008)
Internet country code:
.ls
Internet hosts:
632 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 175
Internet users:
76,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 167
Transportation ::Lesotho
Airports:
26 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 128
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 18 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 7,091 km
country comparison to the world: 147
paved: 1,404 km
unpaved: 5,687 km (2003)
Military ::Lesotho
Military branches:
Lesotho Defense Force (LDF): Army (includes Air Wing) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-24 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription;
women serve as commissioned officers (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 469,509
females age 16-49: 505,707 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 267,825
females age 16-49: 273,348 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 19,435
female: 20,400 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 56
Military - note:
Lesotho's declared policy is maintenance of its independent
sovereignty and preservation of internal security; in practice,
external security is guaranteed by South Africa; restructuring of
the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) and Ministry of Defense and Public
Service over the past five years has focused on subordinating the
defense apparatus to civilian control and restoring the LDF's
cohesion; the restructuring has considerably improved capabilities
and professionalism, but the LDF is disproportionately large for a
small, poor country; the government has outlined a reduction to a
planned 1,500-man strength, but these plans have met with vociferous
resistance from the political opposition and from inside the LDF
(2008)
Transnational Issues ::Lesotho
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Liberia (Africa)
Introduction ::Liberia
Background:
Settlement of freed slaves from the US in what is today Liberia
began in 1822; by 1847, the Americo-Liberians were able to establish
a republic. William TUBMAN, president from 1944-71, did much to
promote foreign investment and to bridge the economic, social, and
political gaps between the descendents of the original settlers and
the inhabitants of the interior. In 1980, a military coup led by
Samuel DOE ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule. In December
1989, Charles TAYLOR launched a rebellion against DOE's regime that
led to a prolonged civil war in which DOE himself was killed. A
period of relative peace in 1997 allowed for elections that brought
TAYLOR to power, but major fighting resumed in 2000. An August 2003
peace agreement ended the war and prompted the resignation of former
president Charles TAYLOR, who faces war crimes charges in The Hague
related to his involvement in Sierra Leone's civil war. After two
years of rule by a transitional government, democratic elections in
late 2005 brought President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF to power. The UN
Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) maintains a strong presence throughout
the country, but the security situation is still fragile and the
process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of this
war-torn country continues.
Geography ::Liberia
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote
d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates:
6 30 N, 9 30 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 111,369 sq km
country comparison to the world: 103
land: 96,320 sq km
water: 15,049 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total: 1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone
306 km
Coastline:
579 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold
nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and
low mountains in northeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m
Natural resources:
iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 3.43%
permanent crops: 1.98%
other: 94.59% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
232 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.11 cu km/yr (27%/18%/55%)
per capita: 34 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)
Environment - current issues:
tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of
biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw
sewage
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, Tropical Timber
83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life
Conservation
Geography - note:
facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by
lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland
grassy plateau supports limited agriculture
People ::Liberia
Population:
3,685,076 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.1% (male 760,989/female 758,554)
15-64 years: 53% (male 904,770/female 920,704)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 47,013/female 49,760) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.4 years
male: 18.3 years
female: 18.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.782% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Birth rate:
38.14 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Death rate:
10.88 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Net migration rate:
0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Urbanization:
urban population: 60% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 5.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 76.43 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 18
male: 80.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 71.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.58 years
country comparison to the world: 194
male: 55.05 years
female: 58.14 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.24 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.7% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
35,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,300 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian
Ethnic groups:
Kpelle 20.3%, Bassa 13.4%, Grebo 10%, Gio 8%, Mano 7.9%, Kru 6%,
Lorma 5.1%, Kissi 4.8%, Gola 4.4%, other 20.1% (2008 Census)
Religions:
Christian 85.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Traditional 0.6%, other 0.2%, none
1.4% (2008 Census)
Languages:
English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages few of which
can be written or used in correspondence
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.5%
male: 73.3%
female: 41.6% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 13 years
female: 9 years (2000)
Education expenditures:
2.7% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 157
Government ::Liberia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Monrovia
geographic coordinates: 6 18 N, 10 48 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount,
Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba,
River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe
Independence:
26 July 1847
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Constitution:
6 January 1986
Legal system:
dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for
the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal
practices for indigenous sector; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (since 16 January
2006); note - the President is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (since 16
January 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the
Senate
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 November 2005
(next to be held in October 2011)
election results: Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF elected president; percent
of vote, second round - Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF 59.6%, George WEAH
40.4%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (30 seats; note -
number of seats changed in 11 October 2005 elections; members
elected by popular vote to serve nine-year terms) and the House of
Representatives (64 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
six-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 11 October 2005 (next to be held in
October 2011); House of Representatives - last held on 11 October
2005 (next to be held in October 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - COTOL 7, NPP 4, CDC 3, LP 3, UP 3, APD 3, other 7; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CDC 15, LP 9, COTOL 8, UP 8, APD 5, NPP 4, other 15; note - the UP
now holds 13 out of 30 senate seats and 16 out of 64 house seats
following a merger with several smaller parties in 2009
note: junior senators - those who received the second most votes in
each county in the 11 October 2005 election - will only serve a
six-year first term because the Liberian constitution mandates
staggered Senate elections to ensure continuity of government; all
senators will be eligible for nine-year terms thereafter
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD [Togba-na TIPOTEH];
Coalition for the Transformation of Liberia or COTOL [H. Varney
SHERMAN]; Congress for Democratic Change or CDC [George WEAH];
Liberty Party or LP [Charles BRUMSKINE]; National Patriotic Party or
NPP [Roland MASSAQUOI]; Unity Party or UP [Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: demobilized former military officers
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Edwin F.
SELE
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437
FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Linda THOMAS-GREENFIELD
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 98, Mamba Point, 1000
Monrovia, 10
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [231] 7-705-4826
FAX: [231] 7-701-0370
Flag description:
11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with
white; a white five-pointed star appears on a blue square in the
upper hoist-side corner; the stripes symbolize the signatories of
the Liberian Declaration of Independence; the blue square represents
the African mainland, and the star represents the freedom granted to
the ex-slaves; according to the constitution, the blue color
signifies liberty, justice, and fidelity, the white color purity,
cleanliness, and guilelessness, and the red color steadfastness,
valor, and fervor
note: the design is based on the US flag
National anthem:
name: "All Hail, Liberia Hail!"
lyrics/music: Daniel Bashiel WARNER/Olmstead LUCA
note: lyrics adopted 1847, music adopted 1860; the anthem's author
would become the third president of Liberia
Economy ::Liberia
Economy - overview:
Liberia is a low income country heavily reliant on foreign
assistance for revenue. Civil war and government mismanagement
destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure
in and around the capital, Monrovia. Many businesses fled the
country, taking capital and expertise with them, but with the
conclusion of fighting and the installation of a
democratically-elected government in 2006, several have returned.
Liberia has the distinction of having the highest ratio of direct
foreign investment to GDP in the world. Richly endowed with water,
mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture,
Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products,
primarily raw timber and rubber and is reviving those sectors. Local
manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope.
President JOHNSON SIRLEAF, a Harvard-trained banker and
administrator, has taken steps to reduce corruption, build support
from international donors, and encourage private investment.
Embargos on timber and diamond exports have been lifted, opening new
sources of revenue for the government and Liberia shipped its first
major timber exports to Europe in 2010. The country reached its
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative completion point in 2010
and nearly $5 billion of international debt was permanently
eliminated. This new status will enable Liberia to estabilish a
sovereign credit rating and issue bonds. Liberia's Paris Club
creditors agreed to cancel Liberia's debt as well. Rebuilding
infrastructure and raising incomes will depend on generous financial
and technical assistance from donor countries and foreign investment
in key sectors, such as infrastructure and power generation.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.76 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
$1.66 billion (2009 est.)
$1.587 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$977 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
4.6% (2009 est.)
8.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 226
$500 (2009 est.)
$500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 76.9%
industry: 5.4%
services: 17.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.372 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 134
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 70%
industry: 8%
services: 22% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
85% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Population below poverty line:
80% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 30.1% (2007)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.4% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 45
15.05% (31 December 2007)
Stock of narrow money:
$206.9 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 174
$145.6 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of broad money:
$NA (31 December 2009)
$NA (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.202 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 145
$1.157 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane,
bananas; sheep, goats; timber
Industries:
rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
350 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Electricity - consumption:
325.5 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Oil - exports:
23 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Oil - imports:
4,263 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Current account balance:
-$224 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 92
Exports:
$1.197 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 148
Exports - commodities:
rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee
Exports - partners:
Germany 27.92%, Poland 17.12%, South Africa 15.83%, India 10.48%,
Greece 7.09%, US 6.23%, Norway 5.24% (2009)
Imports:
$7.143 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 102
Imports - commodities:
fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured
goods; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
South Korea 28.29%, Singapore 19.06%, Japan 17.06%, China 14.58%,
Taiwan 4.02% (2009)
Debt - external:
$3.2 billion (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 59.43 (2006),
53.098 (2005), 54.906 (2004), 59.379 (2003)
Communications ::Liberia
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 224
Telephones - mobile cellular:
842,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 148
Telephone system:
general assessment: the limited services available are found almost
exclusively in the capital Monrovia; fixed-line service stagnant and
extremely limited; telephone coverage extended to a number of other
towns and rural areas by four mobile-cellular network operators
domestic: mobile-cellular subscription base growing and teledensity
reached 25 per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 231; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
3 private TV stations; satellite TV service is available; 1
state-owned radio station; about 15 independent radio stations
broadcasting in Monrovia, with another 25 local stations operating
in other areas; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters are
available (2007)
Internet country code:
.lr
Internet hosts:
8 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 224
Internet users:
20,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 193
Transportation ::Liberia
Airports:
29 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 115
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 14 (2010)
Railways:
total: 429 km
country comparison to the world: 117
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 84 km 1.067-m gauge
note: most sections of the railway are inoperable because of damage
suffered during the civil wars from 1980 to 2003 (2008)
Roadways:
total: 10,600 km
country comparison to the world: 135
paved: 657 km
unpaved: 9,943 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 2,512
country comparison to the world: 2
by type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 507, cargo 136, carrier 1,
chemical tanker 232, combination ore/oil 6, container 875, liquefied
gas 93, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 509,
refrigerated cargo 109, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 10,
vehicle carrier 25
foreign-owned: 2,356 (Angola 1, Argentina 3, Australia 2, Belgium 1,
Bermuda 4, Brazil 20, Canada 4, Chile 7, China 10, Croatia 2, Cyprus
7, Denmark 4, Finland 2, Germany 1049, Gibraltar 5, Greece 454, Hong
Kong 47, India 1, Indonesia 4, Isle of Man 19, Israel 31, Italy 48,
Japan 102, Latvia 9, Lebanon 1, Monaco 10, Netherlands 35, Nigeria
4, Norway 42, Poland 13, Qatar 5, Romania 3, Russia 108, Saudi
Arabia 24, Singapore 27, Slovenia 5, South Korea 1, Sweden 10,
Switzerland 17, Syria 1, Taiwan 88, Turkey 15, UAE 27, UK 25,
Ukraine 16, Uruguay 1, US 39, Vietnam 3) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Buchanan, Monrovia
Military ::Liberia
Military branches:
Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Navy, Air Force
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 797,084
females age 16-49: 808,017 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 510,337
females age 16-49: 527,737 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 33,411
female: 35,264 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Transnational Issues ::Liberia
Disputes - international:
although civil unrest continues to abate with the assistance of
18,000 UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) peacekeepers, as of January
2007, Liberian refugees still remain in Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire,
Sierra Leone, and Ghana; Liberia, in turn, shelters refugees fleeing
turmoil in Cote d'Ivoire; despite the presence of over 9,000 UN
forces (UNOCI) in Cote d'Ivoire since 2004, ethnic conflict
continues to spread into neighboring states who can no longer send
their migrant workers to Ivorian cocoa plantations; UN sanctions ban
Liberia from exporting diamonds and timber
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 12,600 (Cote d'Ivoire)
IDPs: 13,000 (civil war from 1990-2004; IDP resettlement began in
November 2004) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and
South American cocaine for the European and US markets; corruption,
criminal activity, arms-dealing, and diamond trade provide
significant potential for money laundering, but the lack of
well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a
major money-laundering center
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Libya (Africa)
Introduction ::Libya
Background:
The Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks in the area around Tripoli
in 1911 and did not relinquish their hold until 1943 when defeated
in World War II. Libya then passed to UN administration and achieved
independence in 1951. Following a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar
Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI began to espouse his own political system, the
Third Universal Theory. The system is a combination of socialism and
Islam derived in part from tribal practices and is supposed to be
implemented by the Libyan people themselves in a unique form of
"direct democracy." QADHAFI has always seen himself as a
revolutionary and visionary leader. He used oil funds during the
1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology outside Libya, supporting
subversives and terrorists abroad to hasten the end of Marxism and
capitalism. In addition, beginning in 1973, he engaged in military
operations in northern Chad's Aozou Strip - to gain access to
minerals and to use as a base of influence in Chadian politics - but
was forced to retreat in 1987. UN sanctions in 1992 isolated QADHAFI
politically following the downing of Pan AM Flight 103 over
Lockerbie, Scotland. During the 1990s, QADHAFI began to rebuild his
relationships with Europe. UN sanctions were suspended in April 1999
and finally lifted in September 2003 after Libya accepted
responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing. In December 2003, Libya
announced that it had agreed to reveal and end its programs to
develop weapons of mass destruction and to renounce terrorism.
QADHAFI has made significant strides in normalizing relations with
Western nations since then. He has received various Western European
leaders as well as many working-level and commercial delegations,
and made his first trip to Western Europe in 15 years when he
traveled to Brussels in April 2004. The US rescinded Libya's
designation as a state sponsor of terrorism in June 2006. In January
2008, Libya assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council
for the 2008-09 term. In August 2008, the US and Libya signed a
bilateral comprehensive claims settlement agreement to compensate
claimants in both countries who allege injury or death at the hands
of the other country, including the Lockerbie bombing, the LaBelle
disco bombing, and the UTA 772 bombing. In October 2008, the US
Government received $1.5 billion pursuant to the agreement to
distribute to US national claimants, and as a result effectively
normalized its bilateral relationship with Libya. The two countries
then exchanged ambassadors for the first time since 1973 in January
2009. Libya in May 2010 was elected to its first three-year seat on
the UN Human Rights Council, prompting protests from international
non-governmental organizations and human rights campaigners.
Geography ::Libya
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and
Tunisia
Geographic coordinates:
25 00 N, 17 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1,759,540 sq km
country comparison to the world: 17
land: 1,759,540 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 4,348 km
border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,115 km,
Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km
Coastline:
1,770 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north
exclusive fishing zone: 62 nm
Climate:
Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Terrain:
mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Land use:
arable land: 1.03%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 98.78% (2005)
Irrigated land:
4,700 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
0.6 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 4.27 cu km/yr (14%/3%/83%)
per capita: 730 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four
days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues:
desertification; limited natural fresh water resources; the Great
Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the
world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the
Sahara to coastal cities
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert
People ::Libya
Population:
6,461,454
country comparison to the world: 101
note: includes 166,510 non-nationals (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 1,065,606/female 1,020,102)
15-64 years: 62.6% (male 2,036,780/female 1,923,566)
65 years and over: 4.4% (male 136,224/female 142,079) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.2 years
male: 24.3 years
female: 24.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.117% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Birth rate:
24.58 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Death rate:
3.4 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 93
Urbanization:
urban population: 78% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.87 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 99
male: 22.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.47 years
country comparison to the world: 57
male: 75.18 years
female: 79.88 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.01 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
10,000 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Libyan(s)
adjective: Libyan
Ethnic groups:
Berber and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Greeks, Maltese, Italians,
Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians)
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 97%, other 3%
Languages:
Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major
cities
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.6%
male: 92.4%
female: 72% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2003)
Education expenditures:
2.7% of GDP (1999)
country comparison to the world: 159
Government ::Libya
Country name:
conventional long form: Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya
conventional short form: Libya
local long form: Al Jamahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah
al Ishtirakiyah al Uthma
local short form: none
Government type:
Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the
populace through local councils; in practice, an authoritarian state
Capital:
name: Tripoli (Tarabulus)
geographic coordinates: 32 53 N, 13 10 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
22 states (shabiyat, singular - shabiyat); Al Butnan, Al Jabal al
Akhdar, Al Jabal Al Gharbi, Al Jafarah, Al Jafrah, Al Kafrah, Al
Maraj, Al Marqab, Al Murzuq, Al Wahat, An Nuqat al Khams, Az
Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghat, Misratah, Nalut, Sibha, Surt,
Tarabulus, Wadi al Hayat, Wadi ash Shati
Independence:
24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
Constitution:
none; note - following the September 1969 military overthrow of the
Libyan government, the Revolutionary Command Council replaced the
existing constitution with the Constitutional Proclamation in
December 1969; in March 1977, Libya adopted the Declaration of the
Establishment of the People's Authority
Legal system:
based on Italian and French civil law systems and Islamic law;
separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial
review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and technically compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar
al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title,
but is de facto chief of state
head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee
(Prime Minister) al-Baghdadi Ali al-MAHMUDI (since 5 March 2006)
cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General
People's Congress
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of
people's committees; head of government elected by the General
People's Congress; election last held in March 2010 (next elections
expected in early 2011)
election results: NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral General People's Congress (760 seats; members elected
indirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: anti-QADHAFI Libyan exile movement; Islamic elements
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC,
OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ali Suleiman AUJALI
chancery: 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 944-9601
FAX: [1] (202) 944-9060
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gene A. CRETZ
embassy: off Jaraba Street, behind the Libyan-Swiss clinic, Ben
Ashour
mailing address: US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC
20521-8850
telephone: [218] 91-220-3239
Flag description:
plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state
religion)
National anthem:
name: "Allahu Akbar" (God Is Greatest)
lyrics/music: Mahmoud el-SHERIF/Abdalla Shams el-DIN
note: adopted 1969; the anthem was originally a battle song for the
Egyptian Army in the 1956 Suez War
Economy ::Libya
Economy - overview:
The Libyan economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil
sector, which contribute about 95% of export earnings, 25% of GDP,
and 80% of government revenue. The weakness in world hydrocarbon
prices in 2009 reduced Libyan government tax income and constrained
economic growth. Substantial revenues from the energy sector coupled
with a small population give Libya one of the highest per capita
GDPs in Africa, but little of this income flows down to the lower
orders of society. Libyan officials in the past five years have made
progress on economic reforms as part of a broader campaign to
reintegrate the country into the international fold. This effort
picked up steam after UN sanctions were lifted in September 2003 and
as Libya announced in December 2003 that it would abandon programs
to build weapons of mass destruction. The process of lifting US
unilateral sanctions began in the spring of 2004; all sanctions were
removed by June 2006, helping Libya attract greater foreign direct
investment, especially in the energy sector. Libyan oil and gas
licensing rounds continue to draw high international interest; the
National Oil Corporation (NOC) set a goal of nearly doubling oil
production to 3 million bbl/day by 2012. In November 2009, the NOC
announced that that target may slip to as late as 2017. Libya faces
a long road ahead in liberalizing the socialist-oriented economy,
but initial steps - including applying for WTO membership, reducing
some subsidies, and announcing plans for privatization - are laying
the groundwork for a transition to a more market-based economy. The
non-oil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for
more than 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly
agricultural products to include the production of petrochemicals,
iron, steel, and aluminum. Climatic conditions and poor soils
severely limit agricultural output, and Libya imports about 75% of
its food. Libya's primary agricultural water source remains the
Great Manmade River Project, but significant resources are being
invested in desalinization research to meet growing water demands.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$89.03 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$86.19 billion (2009 est.)
$86.77 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$77.91 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
-0.7% (2009 est.)
2.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$13,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
$13,600 (2009 est.)
$14,000 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.6%
industry: 63.8%
services: 33.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.729 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 23%
services: 59% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
30% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Population below poverty line:
NA
note: About one-third of Libyans live at or below the national
poverty line
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
13.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Public debt:
3.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
3.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
2.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 87
5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.41% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 137
6% (31 December 2007)
Stock of narrow money:
$29.85 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 56
$29.82 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$35.98 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$36.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$55.03 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$41.13 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans;
cattle
Industries:
petroleum, petrochemicals, aluminum, iron and steel, food
processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
2.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Electricity - production:
23.98 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Electricity - consumption:
22.17 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Electricity - exports:
104 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
77 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
1.79 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Oil - consumption:
280,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Oil - exports:
1.542 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Oil - imports:
575 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Oil - proved reserves:
47 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Natural gas - production:
15.9 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Natural gas - consumption:
5.5 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Natural gas - exports:
10.4 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.539 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Current account balance:
$15.53 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$10.06 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$44.89 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$37.16 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals
Exports - partners:
Italy 37.65%, Germany 10.11%, France 8.44%, Spain 7.94%, Switzerland
5.93%, US 5.27% (2009)
Imports:
$24.47 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$22.01 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, semi-finished goods, food, transport equipment, consumer
products
Imports - partners:
Italy 18.9%, China 10.54%, Turkey 9.92%, Germany 9.78%, France
5.63%, Tunisia 5.25%, South Korea 4.02% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$107.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
$104.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$6.378 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
$5.891 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$18.64 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$15.56 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$15.32 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$13.92 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar - 1.2648 (2010), 1.2535 (2009),
1.2112 (2008), 1.2604 (2007), 1.3108 (2006)
Communications ::Libya
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.101 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 74
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.004 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 95
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications system is state-owned and
service is poor, but investment is being made to upgrade; state
retains monopoly in fixed-line services; mobile-cellular telephone
system became operational in 1996
domestic: multiple providers for a mobile telephone system that is
growing rapidly; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
is approaching 100 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 218; satellite earth stations - 4
Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cable to France
and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric
scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (2009)
Broadcast media:
state controls broadcast media; state-owned terrestrial TV station
and about a half-dozen state-owned satellite stations broadcast;
some provinces operate local TV stations; a single, non-state-owned
TV station launched in 2007; pan-Arab satellite TV stations are
available; state-owned radio broadcasts on a number of frequencies,
some of which carry regional programming; Voice of Africa, Libya's
external radio service, can also be heard; a single, non-state-owned
radio station broadcasting (2007)
Internet country code:
.ly
Internet hosts:
12,432 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 120
Internet users:
353,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 124
Transportation ::Libya
Airports:
137 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 42
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 59
over 3,047 m: 24
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 78
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 42
under 914 m: 17 (2010)
Heliports:
2 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 776 km; gas 2,860 km; oil 6,987 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 100,024 km
country comparison to the world: 43
paved: 57,214 km
unpaved: 42,810 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 27
country comparison to the world: 89
by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 4, liquefied gas 3, petroleum
tanker 13, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 5 (Kuwait 1, Norway 1, Syria 2, UK 1)
registered in other countries: 5 (Hong Kong 1, Malta 4) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Marsa al Burayqah, Ra's Lanuf, Tripoli
Military ::Libya
Military branches:
Armed Peoples on Duty (APOD, Army), Libyan Arab Navy, Libyan Arab
Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriya al-Arabia al-Libyya,
LAAF), Libyan Coast Guard (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,746,512
females age 16-49: 1,683,390 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,490,011
females age 16-49: 1,436,613 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 59,842
female: 57,357 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Transnational Issues ::Libya
Disputes - international:
Libya has claimed more than 32,000 sq km in southeastern Algeria and
about 25,000 sq km in the Tommo region of Niger in a currently
dormant dispute; various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside
in southern Libya
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 8,000 (Palestinian Territories) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Libya is a transit and destination country for
men and women from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia trafficked for the
purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Libya is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to address
trafficking in persons in 2007 when compared to 2006, particularly
in the area of investigating and prosecuting trafficking offenses;
Libya did not publicly release any data on investigations or
punishment of any trafficking offenses (2008)
page last updated on January 25, 2011
======================================================================
@Liechtenstein (Europe)
Introduction ::Liechtenstein
Background:
The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy
Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops
during the Napoleonic wars, it became a sovereign state in 1806 and
joined the Germanic Confederation in 1815. Liechtenstein became
fully independent in 1866 when the Confederation dissolved. Until
the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the
economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to
enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since
World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the
country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. In
2000, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in
concerns about the use of financial institutions for money
laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money-laundering
legislation and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US that
went into effect in 2003.
Geography ::Liechtenstein
Location:
Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates:
47 16 N, 9 32 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 160 sq km
country comparison to the world: 218
land: 160 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 76 km
border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km
Coastline:
0 km (doubly landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool
to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain:
mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources:
hydroelectric potential, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries
in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
People ::Liechtenstein
Population:
35,002 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.6% (male 2,877/female 2,901)
15-64 years: 69.4% (male 11,917/female 12,220)
65 years and over: 13.9% (male 2,085/female 2,761) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 41.4 years
male: 40.8 years
female: 41.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.683% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Birth rate:
9.69 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Death rate:
7.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Net migration rate:
4.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Urbanization:
urban population: 14% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.006 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 201
male: 5.45 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.19 years
country comparison to the world: 24
male: 76.73 years
female: 83.66 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.53 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups:
Liechtensteiner 65.6%, other 34.4% (2000 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June
2002)
Languages:
German (official), Alemannic dialect
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 16 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Liechtenstein
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Vaduz
geographic coordinates: 47 08 N, 9 31 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:
11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen,
Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen,
Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence:
23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July
1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)
National holiday:
Assumption Day, 15 August
Constitution:
5 October 1921; amended 15 September 2003
Legal system:
local civil and penal codes based on civil law system; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed
executive powers on 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS, son
of the monarch (born 11 June 1968); note - on 15 August 2004, HANS
ADAM transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS,
but HANS ADAM retains status of chief of state
head of government: Head of Government Klaus TSCHUETSCHER (since 25
March 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party in the Landtag usually
appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of
the largest minority party in the Landtag usually appointed the
deputy head of government by the monarch if there is a coalition
government
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members elected by
popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year
terms)
elections: last held on 8 February 2009 (next to be held in February
2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - VU 47.6%, FBP 43.5%, FL
8.9%; seats by party - VU 13, FBP 11, FL 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or Obergericht
Political parties and leaders:
Die Freie Liste (The Free List) or FL [Wolfgang MARXER];
Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei (Progressive Citizens' Party) or FBP
[Alexander BATLINER]; Vaterlaendische Union (Fatherland Union) or VU
[Adolf HEEB]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention (de facto member),
UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE
chancery: 2900 K Street, NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590
FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador
to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown
on the hoist side of the blue band; the colors may derive from the
blue and red livery design used in the principality's household in
the 18th century; the prince's crown was introduced in 1937 to
distinguish the flag from that of Haiti
National anthem:
name: "Oben am jungen Rhein" (High Above the Young Rhine)
lyrics/music: Jakob Joseph JAUCH/unknown
note: adopted 1850, revised 1963; the anthem uses the tune of "God
Save the Queen"
Economy ::Liechtenstein
Economy - overview:
Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein
has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized,
free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and
the highest per capita income in the world. The Liechtenstein
economy is widely diversified with a large number of small
businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% - and
easy incorporation rules have induced many holding companies to
establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein providing 30% of state
revenues. The country participates in a customs union with
Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It
imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has
been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving
as a bridge between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and
the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its
economic policies with those of an integrated Europe. In 2008,
Liechtenstein came under renewed international pressure -
particularly from Germany - to improve transparency in its banking
and tax systems. In December 2008, Liechtenstein signed a Tax
Information Exchange Agreement with the US. Upon Liechtenstein's
conclusion of 12 bilateral information-sharing agreements, the OECD
in October 2009 removed the principality from its "grey list" of
countries that had yet to implement the organization's Model Tax
Convention.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.16 billion (2007)
country comparison to the world: 168
$4.035 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.603 billion (2007)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$122,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 39%
services: 54% (2007)
Labor force:
32,440 of whom 16,200 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany
to work each day (2008)
country comparison to the world: 202
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1.7%
industry: 43.5%
services: 55.4% (December 2006)
Unemployment rate:
1.5% (31 December 2007)
country comparison to the world: 8
1.3% (September 2002)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.5% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 12
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Industries:
electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics,
pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism,
optical instruments
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Exports:
$3.92 billion (2008)
country comparison to the world: 117
Exports - commodities:
small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for
motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs,
electronic equipment, optical products
Imports:
$2.59 billion (2008)
country comparison to the world: 145
Imports - commodities:
agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery,
metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Debt - external:
$0 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 196
Exchange rates:
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.0723 (2010), 1.0881 (2009),
1.0774 (2008), 1.1973 (2007), 1.2539 (2006)
Communications ::Liechtenstein
Telephones - main lines in use:
19,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 195
Telephones - mobile cellular:
35,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 200
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic telephone system
domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available;
combined telephone service subscribership exceeds 150 per 100 persons
international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable
and microwave radio relay (2008)
Broadcast media:
relies on foreign terrestrial and satellite broadcasters for most
broadcast media services; first Liechtenstein-based television
station established August 2008; Radio Liechtenstein operates
multiple radio stations; a Swiss-based broadcaster operates several
radio stations in Liechtenstein (2008)
Internet country code:
.li
Internet hosts:
9,418 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 124
Internet users:
23,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 190
Transportation ::Liechtenstein
Pipelines:
gas 20 km (2009)
Railways:
9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and
Switzerland (2008)
Roadways:
total: 380 km
country comparison to the world: 200
paved: 380 km (2010)
Waterways:
28 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 107
Military ::Liechtenstein
Military branches:
no regular military forces (constitutionally prohibited);
Principality of Liechtenstein National Police (Landespolizei, LP)
(2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,041 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,559
females age 16-49: 6,782 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 209
female: 208 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
Liechtenstein has no military forces but is interested in European
security policy and is an active member of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Transnational Issues ::Liechtenstein
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
has strengthened money laundering controls, but money laundering
remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore
financial services sector
page last updated on January 3, 2011
======================================================================
@Lithuania (Europe)
Introduction ::Lithuania
Background:
Lithuanian lands were united under MINDAUGAS in 1236; over the next
century, through alliances and conquest, Lithuania extended its
territory to include most of present-day Belarus and Ukraine. By the
end of the 14th century Lithuania was the largest state in Europe.
An alliance with Poland in 1386 led the two countries into a union
through the person of a common ruler. In 1569, Lithuania and Poland
formally united into a single dual state, the Polish-Lithuanian
Commonwealth. This entity survived until 1795 when its remnants were
partitioned by surrounding countries. Lithuania regained its
independence following World War I but was annexed by the USSR in
1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other
countries. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first of the
Soviet republics to declare its independence, but Moscow did not
recognize this proclamation until September of 1991 (following the
abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993.
Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy for integration into
Western European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in the
spring of 2004.
Geography ::Lithuania
Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 65,300 sq km
country comparison to the world: 122
land: 62,680 sq km
water: 2,620 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,574 km
border countries: Belarus 680 km, Latvia 576 km, Poland 91 km,
Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km
Coastline:
90 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate
winters and summers
Terrain:
lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Aukstojas 294 m
Natural resources:
peat, arable land, amber
Land use:
arable land: 44.81%
permanent crops: 0.9%
other: 54.29% (2005)
Irrigated land:
70 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
24.5 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 3.33 cu km/yr (78%/15%/7%)
per capita: 971 cu m/yr (2003)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and
chemicals at military bases
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
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:
fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are
ancient glacial deposits
People ::Lithuania
Population:
3,545,319 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.2% (male 258,423/female 245,115)
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 1,214,743/female 1,261,413)
65 years and over: 16.2% (male 198,714/female 376,771) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.7 years
male: 37.1 years
female: 42.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.276% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
Birth rate:
9.21 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Death rate:
11.25 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Net migration rate:
-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Urbanization:
urban population: 67% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.057 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.37 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 173
male: 7.61 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.12 years
country comparison to the world: 87
male: 70.23 years
female: 80.29 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.24 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic groups:
Lithuanian 84%, Polish 6.1%, Russian 4.9%, Belarusian 1.1%, other or
unspecified 3.9% (2009)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 79%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Protestant (including
Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) 1.9%, other or
unspecified 5.5%, none 9.5% (2001 census)
Languages:
Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other and
unspecified 4.4% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.6% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 17 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
4.7% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 85
Government ::Lithuania
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania
conventional short form: Lithuania
local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
local short form: Lietuva
former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Vilnius
geographic coordinates: 54 41 N, 25 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:
10 counties (apskritys, singular - apskritis); Alytaus, Kauno,
Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages, Telsiu,
Utenos, Vilniaus
Independence:
11 March 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet
Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 was
the date Lithuania declared its independence from Soviet Russia and
established its statehood; 11 March 1990 was the date it declared
its independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:
adopted 25 October 1992; last amended 13 July 2004
Legal system:
based on civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the
constitutional court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE (since 12 July 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Andrius KUBILIUS (since 27
November 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
nomination of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 May 2009
(next to be held in May 2014); prime minister appointed by the
president on the approval of the Parliament
election results: Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE elected president; percent of
vote - Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE 69.1%, Algirdas BUTKEVICIUS 11.8%,
Valentinas MAZURONIS 6.2%, others 12.9%; Andrius KUBILIUS'
government approved by Parliament 83-40 with 5 abstentions
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats; 71 members elected by
popular vote, 70 elected by proportional representation; members to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 12 and 26 October 2008 (next to be held in
October 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - TS-LKD 19.7%, TPP
15.1%, TT 12.7%, LSDP 11.7%, KDP+J 9%, LRLS 5.7%, LCS 5.3%, LLRA
4.8%, LVLS 3.7%, NS 3.6%, other 8.7%; seats by faction - TS-LKD 44,
LSDP 26, TPP 16, TT 15, LRLS 11, KDP+J 10, LCS 8, LLRA 3, LVLS 3, NS
1, independent 4; note - seats by faction as of 15 March 2010 -
TS-LKD 46, LSDP 25, TT 18, Christian Party 12, LS 11, DP 10, LCS 7,
TPP 7, unaffiliated 5; note - TS-LKD, LS, LCS, and TPP form the
ruling coalition
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judges for all
courts appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders:
Christian party [Gediminas VAGNORIUS]; Civil Democracy Party or PDP
[Algimantas MATULEVICIUS]; Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles or
LLRA [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI]; Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian
Democrats or TS-LKD [Andrius KUBILIUS]; Labor Party or DP [Viktor
USPASKICH]; Liberal and Center Union or LCS [Gintautas BABRAVICIUS];
Liberal Movement or LS or LRLS [Eligijus MASIULIS]; Lithuanian
Farmers' Union or LVLS or VLS [ Ramunas KARBAUSKIS]; Lithuanian
People's Party (not yet officially established) [Kazimiera
PRUNSKIENE]; National Revival or TPP [Arunas VALINSKAS]; New Union
(Social Liberal) or NS [Arturas PAULAUSKAS]; Order and Justice Party
or TT [Rolandas PAKSAS]; Social Democratic Party or LSDP [Algirdas
BUTKEVICIUS]
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS
(observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Zygimantas PAVILIONIS
chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860
FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anne E. DERSE
embassy: Akmenu gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106
mailing address: American Embassy, Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius LT-03106
telephone: [370] (5) 266 5500
FAX: [370] (5) 266 5510
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red; yellow
symbolizes golden fields, as well as the sun, light, and goodness;
green represents the forests of the countryside, in addition to
nature, freedom, and hope; red stands for courage and the blood
spilled in defense of the homeland
National anthem:
name: "Tautiska giesme" (The National Song)
lyrics/music: Vincas KUDIRKA
note: adopted 1918, restored 1990; the anthem was written in 1898
while Lithuania was a part of Russia; it was banned during the
Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990
Economy ::Lithuania
Economy - overview:
Lithuania gained membership in the World Trade Organization and
joined the EU in May 2004. Despite Lithuania's EU accession,
Lithuania's trade with its Central and Eastern European neighbors,
and Russia in particular, accounts for a growing percentage of total
trade. Privatization of the large, state-owned utilities is nearly
complete. Foreign government and business support have helped in the
transition from the old command economy to a market economy.
Lithuania's economy grew on average 8% per year for the four years
prior to 2008 driven by exports and domestic demand. However, GDP
plunged nearly 15% in 2009 - during the 2008-09 crisis the three
former Soviet Baltic republics had the world's worst economic
declines. In 2009, the government launched a high-profile campaign,
led by Prime Minister KUBILIUS, to attract foreign investment and to
develop export markets. The current account deficit, which had risen
to roughly 15% of GDP in 2007-08, recovered to a surplus of 4% 2009
and 3.5% in 2010 in the wake of a cutback in imports to almost half
the 2008 level. Nevertheless, economic growth was flat and
unemployment continued upward to 16% in 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$56.22 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
$55.99 billion (2009 est.)
$65.72 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$35.73 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
-14.8% (2009 est.)
2.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$15,700 (2009 est.)
$18,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.3%
industry: 27.6%
services: 68.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.633 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 29.1%
services: 56.9% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
16% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
13.7% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
4% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 27.4% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 85
34 (1999)
Investment (gross fixed):
15.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Public debt:
36.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
29.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
4.5% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (February 2010)
country comparison to the world: 105
4.73% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.39% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
8.41% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$8.917 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 73
$8.896 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$17.26 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$17.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$25.35 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$25.85 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.477 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 84
$3.625 billion (31 December 2008)
$10.13 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs;
fish
Industries:
metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets,
refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small
ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers,
agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components,
computers, amber jewelry
Industrial production growth rate:
2.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Electricity - production:
12.09 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Electricity - consumption:
9.612 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Electricity - exports:
6.606 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
5.649 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
6,333 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Oil - consumption:
74,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Oil - exports:
137,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Oil - imports:
204,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Oil - proved reserves:
12 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Natural gas - consumption:
3.53 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Natural gas - imports:
3.53 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Current account balance:
$1.231 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$1.492 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$19.29 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$16.48 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
mineral products 22%, machinery and equipment 10%, chemicals 9%,
textiles 7%, foodstuffs 7%, plastics 7%
Exports - partners:
Russia 13.2%, Latvia 10%, Germany 9.6%, Poland 7.1%, Estonia 7.1%,
Belarus 4.7%, UK 4.3% (2009)
Imports:
$20.34 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$17.56 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral products, machinery and equipment, transport equipment,
chemicals, textiles and clothing, metals
Imports - partners:
Russia 30.1%, Germany 11.1%, Poland 9.9%, Latvia 6.3% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$6.418 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$6.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$27.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$28.69 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$14.11 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$13.81 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$2.507 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$2.307 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
litai (LTL) per US dollar - 2.6637 (2010), 2.4787 (2009), 2.3251
(2008), 2.5362 (2007), 2.7498 (2006)
Communications ::Lithuania
Telephones - main lines in use:
747,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 89
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.962 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 96
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate; being modernized to provide improved
international capability and better residential access
domestic: rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services has resulted
in a steady decline in the number of fixed-line connections;
mobile-cellular teledensity stands at about 140 per 100 persons
international: country code - 370; major international connections
to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway by submarine cable for further
transmission by satellite; landline connections to Latvia and Poland
(2008)
Broadcast media:
public broadcaster operates 3 channels with the third channel - a
satellite channel - introduced in 2007; various privately-owned
commercial TV broadcasters operate national and multiple regional
channels; large number of privately-owned local TV stations;
multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available;
publicly-owned broadcaster operates 3 radio networks; large number
of privately-owned commercial broadcasters, many with repeater
stations in various regions throughout the country (2007)
Internet country code:
.lt
Internet hosts:
1.17 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 40
Internet users:
1.964 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 75
Transportation ::Lithuania
Airports:
81 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 69
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 13 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 55
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 51 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 1,695 km; refined products 114 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 1,768 km
country comparison to the world: 78
broad gauge: 1,746 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)
standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge (2009)
Roadways:
total: 81,030 km
country comparison to the world: 58
paved: 71,563 km (includes 309 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,467 km (2008)
Waterways:
441 km (navigable year round) (2007)
country comparison to the world: 88
Merchant marine:
total: 42
country comparison to the world: 75
by type: cargo 22, container 1, passenger/cargo 6, refrigerated
cargo 11, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 8 (Denmark 8)
registered in other countries: 29 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Belize 2,
Comoros 3, Cook Islands 2, Norway 1, Panama 4, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 10, unknown 3) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Butinge, Klaipeda
Military ::Lithuania
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces (Karines Oro Pajegos, KOP),
National Defense Volunteer Forces (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
19-26 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age
for volunteers; 12-month conscript service obligation; male
registration required at age 16 (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 900,746
females age 16-49: 887,843 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 674,265
females age 16-49: 734,806 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 21,606
female: 20,536 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.2% of GDP (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Transnational Issues ::Lithuania
Disputes - international:
Lithuania and Russia committed to demarcating their boundary in 2006
in accordance with the land and maritime treaty ratified by Russia
in May 2003 and by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania operates a
simplified transit regime for Russian nationals traveling from the
Kaliningrad coastal exclave into Russia, while still conforming, as
a EU member state having an external border with a non-EU member, to
strict Schengen border rules; the Latvian parliament has not
ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily
due to concerns over potential hydrocarbons; as of January 2007,
ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and
mapped with final ratification documents in preparation
Illicit drugs:
transshipment and destination point for cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy,
and opiates from Southwest Asia, Latin America, Western Europe, and
neighboring Baltic countries; growing production of high-quality
amphetamines, but limited production of cannabis, methamphetamines;
susceptible to money laundering despite changes to banking
legislation
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Luxembourg (Europe)
Introduction ::Luxembourg
Background:
Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and an
independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half of
its territory to Belgium in 1839 but gained a larger measure of
autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germany
in both world wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it entered
into the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the following
year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries
of the European Economic Community (later the European Union), and
in 1999 it joined the euro currency area.
Geography ::Luxembourg
Location:
Western Europe, between France and Germany
Geographic coordinates:
49 45 N, 6 10 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 2,586 sq km
country comparison to the world: 178
land: 2,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
total: 359 km
border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrain:
mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands
to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle
flood plain in the southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Moselle River 133 m
highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m
Natural resources:
iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
Land use:
arable land: 27.42%
permanent crops: 0.69%
other: 71.89% (includes Belgium) (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
1.6 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.06 cu km/yr (42%/45%/13%)
per capita: 121 cu m/yr (1999)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
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
Geography - note:
landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world
People ::Luxembourg
Population:
497,538 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.5% (male 46,918/female 44,052)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 165,342/female 162,681)
65 years and over: 14.8% (male 29,839/female 42,943) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.3 years
male: 38.3 years
female: 40.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.158% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Birth rate:
11.7 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Death rate:
8.46 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Net migration rate:
8.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Urbanization:
urban population: 82% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.066 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.49 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 194
male: 4.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.48 years
country comparison to the world: 35
male: 76.22 years
female: 82.95 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.78 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Nationality:
noun: Luxembourger(s)
adjective: Luxembourg
Ethnic groups:
Luxembourger 63.1%, Portuguese 13.3%, French 4.5%, Italian 4.3%,
German 2.3%, other EU 7.3%, other 5.2% (2000 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 87%, other (includes Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim)
13% (2000)
Languages:
Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrative language),
French (administrative language)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3.7% of GDP (2001)
country comparison to the world: 125
Government ::Luxembourg
Country name:
conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
conventional short form: Luxembourg
local long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg
local short form: Luxembourg
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Luxembourg
geographic coordinates: 49 36 N, 6 07 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:
3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Independence:
1839 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday:
National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June; note -
the actual date of birth was 23 January 1896, but the festivities
were shifted by five months to allow observance during a more
favorable time of year
Constitution:
17 October 1868; occasional revisions
Legal system:
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000); Heir
Apparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch, born 11 November 1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 20
January 1995); Deputy Prime Minister Jean ASSELBORN (since 31 July
2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister and
appointed by the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following popular elections
to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majority party or the
leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by
the monarch; the deputy prime minister appointed by the monarch;
they are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies
note: government coalition - CSV and LSAP
Legislative branch:
unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 7 June 2009 (next to be held by June 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - CSV 38%, LSAP 21.6%, DP
15%, Green Party 11.7%, ADR 8.1%, The Left 3.3%, other 2.3%; seats
by party - CSV 26, LSAP 13, DP 9, Green Party 7, ADR 4, The Left 1
note: there is also a Council of State that serves as an advisory
body to the Chamber of Deputies; the Council of State has 21 members
appointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime minister
Judicial branch:
judicial courts and tribunals (three Justices of the Peace, two
district courts, and one Supreme Court of Appeals); administrative
courts and tribunals (State Prosecutor's Office, administrative
courts and tribunals, and the Constitutional Court); judges for all
courts are appointed for life by the monarch
Political parties and leaders:
Alternative Democratic Reform Party or ADR [Robert MEHLEN];
Christian Social People's Party or CSV [Michel WOLTER]; dei Lenk/la
Gauche (the Left); Democratic Party or DP [Claude MEISCH]; Green
Party [Francois BAUSCH]; Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP
[Alex BODRY]; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
ABBL (bankers' association); ALEBA (financial sector trade union);
Centrale Paysanne (federation of agricultural producers); CEP
(professional sector chamber); CGFP (trade union representing civil
service); Chambre de Commerce (Chamber of Commerce); Chambre des
Metiers (Chamber of Artisans); FEDIL (federation of industrialists);
Greenpeace (environment protection); LCGP (center-right trade
union); Mouvement Ecologique (protection of ecology); OGBL
(center-left trade union)
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD,
EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jean-Paul SENNINGER
chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171 through 72
FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270
consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia STROUM
embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City
mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE
09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box
9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail)
telephone: [352] 46 01 23
FAX: [352] 46 14 01
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue;
similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and
is shorter; the coloring is derived from the Grand Duke's coat of
arms (a red lion on a white and blue striped field)
National anthem:
name: "Ons Heemecht" (Our Motherland); "De Wilhelmus" (The William)
lyrics/music: Michel LENTZ/Jean-Antoine ZINNEN; Nikolaus
WELTER/unknown
note: "Ons Heemecht," adopted 1864, is the national anthem, while
"De Wilhelmus," adopted 1919, serves as a royal anthem for use when
members of the grand ducal family enter or exit a ceremony in
Luxembourg
Economy ::Luxembourg
Economy - overview:
This small, stable, high-income economy - benefiting from its
proximity to France, Belgium, and Germany - has historically
featured solid growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. The
industrial sector, initially dominated by steel, has become
increasingly diversified to include chemicals, rubber, and other
products. Growth in the financial sector, which now accounts for
about 28% of GDP, has more than compensated for the decline in
steel. Most banks are foreign owned and have extensive foreign
dealings, but Luxembourg has lost some of its advantages as a tax
haven because of OECD and EU pressure. The economy depends on
foreign and cross-border workers for about 60% of its labor force.
Luxembourg, like all EU members, suffered from the global economic
crisis that began in late 2008, but unemployment has trended below
the EU average. Following strong expansion from 2004 to 2007,
Luxembourg's economy contracted and 3.4% in 2009, but rebounded 2.6%
in 2010. The country continues to enjoy an extraordinarily high
standard of living - GDP per capita ranks third in the world, after
Liechtenstein and Qatar, and is the highest in the EU. Turmoil in
the world financial markets and lower global demand during 2008-09
prompted the government to inject capital into the banking sector
and implement stimulus measures to boost the economy. Government
stimulus measures and support for the banking sector, however, led
to a 5% government budget deficit in 2009, however, the deficit was
cut below 3% in 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$40.81 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
$39.55 billion (2009 est.)
$41.07 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$52.43 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
-3.7% (2009 est.)
1.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$81,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
$80,700 (2009 est.)
$84,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.4%
industry: 13.6%
services: 86% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
206,000 of whom 125,400 are foreign cross-border workers commuting
primarily from France, Belgium, and Germany (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 17.2%
services: 80.6% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
5.7% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.5%
highest 10%: 23.8% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 132
Investment (gross fixed):
16.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Public debt:
16.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
14.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
0.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 128
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Stock of narrow money:
$120.8 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 28
$121 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro
area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating
within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$255.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$231.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$395.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$369.6 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$105.6 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 45
$66.46 billion (31 December 2008)
$166.1 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
grapes, barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits; dairy and livestock
products
Industries:
banking and financial services, iron and steel, information
technology, telecommunications, cargo transportation, food
processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass,
aluminum, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
1.7% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Electricity - production:
2.696 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Electricity - consumption:
6.525 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Electricity - exports:
2.483 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
6.83 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Oil - consumption:
50,720 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Oil - exports:
63 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Oil - imports:
59,210 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Natural gas - consumption:
1.268 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Natural gas - imports:
1.263 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Current account balance:
$3.396 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$2.985 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$17.82 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$15.5 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber products,
glass
Exports - partners:
Germany 19.78%, France 15.87%, Belgium 11.07%, UK 7.96%, Italy
7.49%, Netherlands 4.31% (2009)
Imports:
$23.67 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$19.76 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Belgium 27.22%, Germany 23.14%, China 18.62%, France 8.85%,
Netherlands 5.06% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$810 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.892 trillion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 11
$2.02 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA (31 December 2009 est.)
$11.21 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Luxembourg
Telephones - main lines in use:
273,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 119
Telephones - mobile cellular:
719,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 152
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed, completely automated and
efficient system, mainly buried cables
domestic: fixed line teledensity over 50 per 100 persons; nationwide
mobile-cellular telephone system with market for mobile-cellular
phones virtually saturated
international: country code - 352 (2008)
Broadcast media:
Luxembourg has a long tradition of operating radio and TV services
to pan-European audiences and is home to Europe's largest
privately-owned broadcast media group, the RTL group, which operates
45 television stations and 31 radio stations in Europe; also home to
Europe's largest satellite operator, Societe Europeenne des
Satellites (SES); domestically, the RTL group operates TV and radio
networks; other domestic private radio and TV operators and French
and German stations are available; satellite and cable TV services
are accessible (2008)
Internet country code:
.lu
Internet hosts:
244,225 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 63
Internet users:
424,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 121
Transportation ::Luxembourg
Airports:
2 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 197
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 155 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 275 km
country comparison to the world: 124
standard gauge: 275 km 1.435-m gauge (243 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 5,227 km
country comparison to the world: 152
paved: 5,227 km (includes 147 km of expressways) (2008)
Waterways:
37 km (on Moselle River) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 106
Merchant marine:
total: 47
country comparison to the world: 72
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 3, chemical tanker 16, container 10,
passenger 3, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 10
foreign-owned: 45 (Belgium 9, France 16, Germany 9, Netherlands 2,
Switzerland 1, UK 5, US 3)
registered in other countries: 16 (Italy 12, Malta 3, Panama 1)
(2010)
Ports and terminals:
Mertert
Military ::Luxembourg
Military branches:
Army (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
17-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service;
soldiers under 18 are not deployed into combat or with peacekeeping
missions; no conscription; Luxembourg citizen or EU citizen with
3-year residence in Luxembourg (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 117,892
females age 16-49: 116,517 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 96,585
females age 16-49: 95,519 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 3,211
female: 3,057 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Transnational Issues ::Luxembourg
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Macau (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Macau
Background:
Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was the first
European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreement signed
by China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became the Macau
Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of
China on 20 December 1999. In this agreement, China promised that,
under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist
economic system would not be practiced in Macau, and that Macau
would enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign
and defense affairs for the next 50 years.
Geography ::Macau
Location:
Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates:
22 10 N, 113 33 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 28.2 sq km
country comparison to the world: 236
land: 28.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
less than one-sixth the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 0.34 km
regional border: China 0.34 km
Coastline:
41 km
Maritime claims:
not specified
Climate:
subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain:
generally flat
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Coloane Alto 172 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
typhoons
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution
(associate member)
Geography - note:
essentially urban; an area of land reclaimed from the sea measuring
5.2 sq km and known as Cotai now connects the islands of Coloane and
Taipa; the island area is connected to the mainland peninsula by
three bridges
People ::Macau
Population:
567,957 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 47,853/female 42,019)
15-64 years: 76.2% (male 199,593/female 227,010)
65 years and over: 7.7% (male 20,245/female 23,126) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 35.6 years
male: 36.3 years
female: 35 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.89% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Birth rate:
8.98 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Death rate:
3.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Net migration rate:
3.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Urbanization:
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 217
male: 3.36 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 84.38 years
country comparison to the world: 2
male: 81.42 years
female: 87.49 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
0.91 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Chinese
adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups:
Chinese 94.3%, other 5.7% (includes Macanese - mixed Portuguese and
Asian ancestry) (2006 census)
Religions:
Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none or other 35% (1997 est.)
Languages:
Cantonese 85.7%, Hokkien 4%, Mandarin 3.2%, other Chinese dialects
2.7%, English 1.5%, Tagalog 1.3%, other 1.6% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.3%
male: 95.3%
female: 87.8% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 15 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
2.2% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 166
Government ::Macau
Country name:
conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Region
conventional short form: Macau
local long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao
Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)
local short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)
Dependency status:
special administrative region of China
Government type:
limited democracy
Administrative divisions:
none (special administrative region of the People's Republic of
China)
Independence:
none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday:
National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic
of China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December 1999 is celebrated
as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Constitution:
Basic Law, approved on 31 March 1993 by China's National People's
Congress, is Macau's charter
Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage:
direct election 18 years of age for some non-executive positions,
universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past seven
years; indirect election limited to organizations registered as
"corporate voters" (257 are currently registered) and a 300-member
Election Committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal
organizations, and central government bodies
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)
head of government: Chief Executive Fernando CHUI Sai-on (since 20
December 2009)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of 1 government secretary, 3
legislators, 4 businessmen, 1 pro-Beijing unionist, and 1
pro-Beijing educator
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: chief executive chosen by a 300-member Election Committee
for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last
held on 26 July 2009 (next to be held in July 2014)
election results: Fernando CHUI Sai-on elected in 2009 with 282
votes, took office on 20 December 2009
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (29 seats; 12 members elected by
popular vote, 10 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the chief
executive; members to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 20 September 2009 (next to be held in
September 2013)
election results: percent of vote - UPD 14.9%, ACUM 12%, APMD 11.6%,
NUDM 9.9%, UPP 9.9%, ANMD 7.8%, UMG 7.3%, MUDAR 5.5%, others 21.1%;
seats by political group - UPD 2, ACUM 2, APMD 2, NUMD 1, UPP 1,
ANMD 1, UMG 1, MUDAR 1; 10 seats filled by professional and business
groups; 7 members appointed by the chief executive
Judicial branch:
Court of Final Appeal in Macau Special Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Change or MUDAR; Macau Development Alliance or NUDM
[Angela LEONG On-kei]; Macau-Guangdong Union or UNG; Macau United
Citizens' Association or ACUM [CHAN Meng-kam]; New Democratic Macau
Association or APMD [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong]; New Hope or NE [Jose
Maria Pereira COUTINHO]; Union for Promoting Progress or UPP [LEONG
Heng-teng]
note: there is no political party ordinance, so there are no
registered political parties; politically active groups register as
societies or companies
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Civic Power [Agnes LAM Lok-fong]; Macau New Chinese Youth
Association [LEONG Sin-man]; Macau Society of Tourism and
Entertainment or STDM [Stanley HO]; Macau Worker's Union [HO
Heng-kuok]; Union for Democracy Development [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong]
International organization participation:
IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), ISO
(correspondent), UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (special administrative region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US has no offices in Macau; US Consulate General in Hong Kong is
accredited to Macau
Flag description:
green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water in
white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large in
the center of the arc and two smaller on either side; the lotus is
the floral emblem of Macau, the three petals represent the peninsula
and two islands that make up Macau; the five stars echo those on the
flag of China
National anthem:
note: as a Special Administrative Region of China, "Yiyonggjun
Jinxingqu" is official (see China)
Economy ::Macau
Economy - overview:
Macau's economy slowed dramatically in 2009 as a result of the
global economic slowdown, but strong growth resumed in 2010, largely
on the back of strong tourism and gaming sectors. After opening up
its locally-controlled casino industry to foreign competition in
2001, the territory attracted tens of billions of dollars in foreign
investment, transforming Macau into one of the world's largest
gaming center. Macau's gaming and tourism businesses were fueled by
China's decision to relax travel restrictions on Chinese citizens
wishing to visit Macau. By 2006, Macau's gaming revenue surpassed
that of the Las Vegas strip, and gaming-related taxes accounted for
more than 70% of total government revenue. In 2008, Macau introduced
measures to cool the rapidly developing sector. This city of nearly
570,000 hosted more than 21 million visitors in 2009. Almost 51%
came from mainland China. Macau's traditional manufacturing industry
has virtually disappeared since the termination of the Multi-Fiber
Agreement in 2005. In 2009, total exports were less than US$1
billion, while gaming receipts were almost US$15 billion. By October
2010, gross gaming revenue had already reached US$19 billion for the
year. The Macau government plans to tighten control over the opening
of new casinos and strengthen supervision of local casino operations
in 2011 and has introduced measures to diversify the economy. The
Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Macau and
mainland China that came into effect on 1 January 2004 offers
Macau-made products tariff-free access to the mainland;
nevertheless, China remains Macau's third largest goods export
market, behind Hong Kong and the United States. Macau's currency,
the Pataca, is closely tied to the Hong Kong dollar, which is also
freely accepted in the territory.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$18.47 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
$18.14 billion (2008 est.)
$14.4 billion (2006)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$22.1 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
12.9% (2008)
26% (2007)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$33,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 41
$31,800 (2008)
$28,400 (2006)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 2.8%
services: 97.1% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
322,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Labor force - by occupation:
manufacturing: 4.9%
construction: 9.3%
transport and communications: 5.2%
wholesale and retail trade: 12.6%
restaurants and hotels: 13.6%
gambling: 14.2%
public sector: 6.6%
financial services: 2.1%
other services and agriculture: 31.5% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.6% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 30
3% (2008)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.2% (December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 26
8.6% (2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
5.43% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$3.831 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 101
$3.099 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$26.56 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$23.78 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.717 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
$847 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$2.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$413.1 million (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:
only 2% of land area is cultivated, mainly by vegetable growers;
fishing, mostly for crustaceans, is important; some of the catch is
exported to Hong Kong
Industries:
tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.424 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Electricity - consumption:
3.474 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
2.215 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Oil - consumption:
16,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Oil - imports:
9,294 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Natural gas - consumption:
91.3 million cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 103
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Natural gas - imports:
97.8 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Natural gas - proved reserves:
300,000 cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Current account balance:
$NA
Exports:
$950 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
$2 billion (2008); note - includes reexports
Exports - commodities:
clothing, textiles, footwear, toys, electronics, machinery and parts
Exports - partners:
Hong Kong 38.7%, US 17.9%, China 14.4%, Germany 4% (2009)
Imports:
$4.5 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$5.4 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, consumer goods
(foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco), capital goods, mineral fuels and
oils
Imports - partners:
China 31.1%, Hong Kong 10.8%, Japan 8.1%, France 8%, US 6.2% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA
Debt - external:
$0 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 198
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$13.6 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$11.1 billion (#REF! est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$980 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$1 billion (2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
patacas (MOP) per US dollar - 7.985 (2009), 7.983 (2008), 8.011
(2007), 8.0015 (2006)
Communications ::Macau
Telephones - main lines in use:
168,903 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 131
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.109 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 144
Telephone system:
general assessment: fairly modern communication facilities
maintained for domestic and international services
domestic: termination of monopoly over mobile-cellular telephone
services in 2001 spurred sharp increase in subscriptions with
mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 200 per 100 persons in 2010;
fixed-line subscribership appears to have peaked and is now in
decline
international: country code - 853; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, the Middle
East, and Europe; HF radiotelephone communication facility;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2010)
Broadcast media:
local government dominates broadcast media; 2 television stations
operated by the government with one broadcasting in Portuguese and
the other in Cantonese and Mandarin; cable and satellite TV services
are available; 3 radio stations broadcasting, of which 2 are
government-operated (2008)
Internet country code:
.mo
Internet hosts:
252 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 189
Internet users:
270,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 134
Transportation ::Macau
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 218
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
2 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 413 km
country comparison to the world: 198
paved: 413 km (2009)
Ports and terminals:
Macau
Military ::Macau
Military branches:
no regular military forces
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 150,712 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 124,074
females age 16-49: 149,799 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 4,488
female: 3,900 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of China
Transnational Issues ::Macau
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for drugs going into mainland China; consumer of
opiates and amphetamines
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Macedonia (Europe)
Introduction ::Macedonia
Background:
Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in
1991. Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it
considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international
recognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of
"the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted
a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize
relations. The United States began referring to Macedonia by its
constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, in 2004 and negotiations
continue between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name issue.
Some ethnic Albanians, angered by perceived political and economic
inequities, launched an insurgency in 2001 that eventually won the
support of the majority of Macedonia's Albanian population and led
to the internationally-brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which
ended the fighting by establishing a set of new laws enhancing the
rights of minorities. Fully implementing the Framework Agreement and
stimulating economic growth and development continue to be
challenges for Macedonia, although progress has been made on both
fronts over the past several years.
Geography ::Macedonia
Location:
Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Geographic coordinates:
41 50 N, 22 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 25,713 sq km
country comparison to the world: 149
land: 25,433 sq km
water: 280 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries:
total: 766 km
border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km,
Kosovo 159 km, Serbia 62 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with heavy
snowfall
Terrain:
mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three
large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by
the Vardar River
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Vardar River 50 m
highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m
Natural resources:
low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel,
tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 22.01%
permanent crops: 1.79%
other: 76.2% (2005)
Irrigated land:
550 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
6.4 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.27
per capita: 1,118 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
high seismic risks
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from metallurgical plants
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, 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; major transportation corridor from Western and Central
Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
People ::Macedonia
Population:
2,072,086 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.2% (male 206,054/female 191,354)
15-64 years: 69.4% (male 722,823/female 710,830)
65 years and over: 11.4% (male 102,231/female 133,426) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 35.4 years
male: 34.4 years
female: 36.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.257% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Birth rate:
11.92 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Death rate:
8.87 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Net migration rate:
-0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Urbanization:
urban population: 67% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.077 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.76 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 158
male: 8.98 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.92 years
country comparison to the world: 89
male: 72.4 years
female: 77.64 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.58 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Nationality:
noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian
Ethnic groups:
Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma (Gypsy) 2.7%,
Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 census)
Religions:
Macedonian Orthodox 64.7%, Muslim 33.3%, other Christian 0.37%,
other and unspecified 1.63% (2002 census)
Languages:
Macedonian (official) 66.5%, Albanian (official) 25.1%, Turkish
3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.1%
male: 98.2%
female: 94.1% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
3.5% of GDP (2002)
country comparison to the world: 133
Government ::Macedonia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Macedonia
conventional short form: Macedonia
local long form: Republika Makedonija
local short form: Makedonija
note: the provisional designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO is
the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM)
former: People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of
Macedonia
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Skopje
geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 21 26 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:
84 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aerodrom (Skopje),
Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica,
Butel (Skopje), Cair (Skopje), Caska, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa,
Cesinovo, Cucer Sandevo, Debar, Debarca, Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Demir
Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Dorce Petrov (Gjorce Petrov) (Skopje),
Drugovo, Gazi Baba (Skopje), Gevgelija, Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden,
Jegunovce, Karbinci, Karpos (Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kisela Voda
(Skopje), Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani,
Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski
Brod, Mavrovo i Rostusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid,
Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis,
Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Saraj (Skopje), Sopiste, Staro Nagoricane,
Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Suto Orizari (Skopje), Sveti
Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica,
Vranestica, Vrapciste, Zajas, Zelenikovo, Zelino, Zrnovci
note: the 10 municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses
collectively constitute the larger Skopje Municipality
Independence:
8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed
independence from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 8 September (1991); also known as National Day
Constitution:
adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended
November 2001, 2005 and in 2009
note: amended November 2001 by a series of new constitutional
amendments strengthening minority rights, in 2005 with amendments
related to the judiciary, and in 2009 with amendments related to the
threshold required to elect the president
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Gjorge IVANOV (since 12 May 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Nikola GRUEVSKI (since 26 August
2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all
the deputies in the Assembly; note - current cabinet formed by the
government coalition parties VMRO/DPMNE, BDI/DUI, and several small
parties
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); two-round election: first round held
on 22 March 2009, second round held on 5 April 2009 (next to be held
in March 2014); prime minister elected by the Assembly following
legislative elections
election results: Gjorge IVANOV elected president on second-round
ballot; percent of vote - Gjorge IVANOV 63.1%, Ljubomir FRCKOSKI
36.9%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (120 seats; members elected by
popular vote from party lists based on the percentage of the overall
vote the parties gain in each of six electoral districts; members
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 1 June and 15 June 2008 (next to be held by
July 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - VMRO-DPMNE-led block
49%, SDSM-led block 24%, BDI/DUI 13%, PDSh/DPA 8%, other 6%; seats
by party - VMRO-DPMNE-led block 63, SDSM-led block 27, BDI/DUI 18,
PDSh/DPA 11, PEI 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; Republican Judicial Council
note: the Assembly appoints the judges
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Alliance or DS [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic Party of
Serbs in Macedonia [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]; Democratic Party of the
Albanians or PDSh/DPA [Menduh THACI]; Democratic Party of Turks in
Macedonia [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Union for Integration or
BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization--Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity
(VMRO-DPMNE) [Nikola GRUEVSKI]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP
[Jovan MANSIJEVSKI]; Liberal Party [Borce STOJANOVSKI]; Movement for
Reconstruction of Macedonia or DOM [Liljana POPOVSKA]; New
Alternative [Gjorgji OROVCANEC]; New Democracy or DR [Imer SELMANI];
New Social-Democratic Party or NSDP [Tito PETKOVSKI]; Party for
Democratic Action in Macedonia or SDAM [Avdija PEPIC]; Party for
European Future or PEI [Fijat CANOSKI]; Social-Democratic Union of
Macedonia or SDSM [Branko CRVENKOVSKI]; Socialist Party or SP
[Ljubisav IVANOV-ZINGO]; Union of Roma of Macedonia [Amdi BAJRAM];
United for Macedonia or OM [Ljube BOSKOVSKI]; VMRO-Macedonian
[Borislav STOJMENOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Federation of Free Trade Unions [Svetlana PETROVIC]; Federation of
Trade Unions [Vanco MURATOVSKI]; Trade Union of Education, Science
and Culture [Dojcin CVETANOSKI]
International organization participation:
BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP,
SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Zoran JOLEVSKI
chancery: 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-0501
FAX: [1] (202) 667-2131
consulate(s) general: Southfield (Michigan), Chicago
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Philip T. REEKER
embassy: Str. Samolilova, Nr. 21, 1000 Skopje
mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, US Department of State,
7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
telephone: [389] 2 310-2000
FAX: [389] 2 310-2499
Flag description:
a yellow sun (the Sun of Liberty) with eight broadening rays
extending to the edges of the red field; the red and yellow colors
have long been associated with Macedonia
National anthem:
name: "Denes Nad Makedonija" (Today Over Macedonia)
lyrics/music: Vlado MALESKI/Todor SKALOVSKI
note: adopted 1991; the song, written in 1943, previously served as
the anthem of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia while part of
Yugoslavia
Economy ::Macedonia
Economy - overview:
Having a small, open economy makes Macedonia vulnerable to economic
developments in Europe and dependent on regional integration and
progress toward EU membership for continued economic growth. At
independence in September 1991, Macedonia was the least developed of
the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of the total federal
output of goods and services. The collapse of Yugoslavia ended
transfer payments from the central government and eliminated
advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence
of infrastructure, UN sanctions on the downsized Yugoslavia, and a
Greek economic embargo over a dispute about the country's
constitutional name and flag hindered economic growth until 1996.
Since then, Macedonia has maintained macroeconomic stability with
low inflation, but it has so far lagged the region in attracting
foreign investment and creating jobs, despite making extensive
fiscal and business sector reforms. Official unemployment remains
high at 33%, but may be overstated based on the existence of an
extensive gray market, estimated to be more than 20% of GDP, that is
not captured by official statistics. In the wake of the global
economic downturn, Macedonia has experienced decreased foreign
direct investment, lowered credit, and a large trade deficit, but
the financial system remained sound. Macroeconomic stability was
maintained by a prudent monetary policy, which kept the domestic
currency at the pegged level against the euro, at the expense of
raising interest rates. As a result, GDP fell in 2009. but returned
to positive in 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$19.46 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
$19.18 billion (2009 est.)
$19.31 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars; Macedonia has a large informal
sector
GDP (official exchange rate):
$9.58 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
-0.7% (2009 est.)
4.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$9,300 (2009 est.)
$9,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.1%
industry: 29.6%
services: 58.3% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
942,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 18.6%
industry: 29.5%
services: 51.9% (September 2009)
Unemployment rate:
33.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
32.2% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
28.7% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 29.6% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 68
Investment (gross fixed):
22.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Public debt:
25.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
32.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
-0.8% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 62
6.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.07% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
9.68% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.146 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 137
$1.184 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$4.134 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
$4.217 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$4.001 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$4.055 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$2.859 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 100
$823.5 million (31 December 2008)
$2.715 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
grapes, tobacco, vegetables, fruits; milk, eggs
Industries:
food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel,
cement, energy, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:
1.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - production:
6.162 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Electricity - consumption:
7.797 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
1.635 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Oil - consumption:
20,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Oil - exports:
4,672 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Oil - imports:
20,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Natural gas - consumption:
80 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Natural gas - imports:
82 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Current account balance:
-$328 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
-$645.6 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$3.171 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
$2.686 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
food, beverages, tobacco; textiles, miscellaneous manufactures, iron
and steel
Exports - partners:
Germany 20.31%, Greece 13.09%, Italy 11.08%, Bulgaria 10.61%,
Croatia 7.74% (2009)
Imports:
$5.113 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
$4.842 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels, food products
Imports - partners:
Germany 15.11%, Greece 14.88%, Bulgaria 9.08%, Italy 7.68%, Turkey
7.59%, Slovenia 6.26%, Hungary 4.31% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.127 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
$2.292 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$5.52 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
$5.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$3.528 billion (31 October 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
$3.357 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar - 47.601 (2010), 44.1 (2009),
41.414 (2008), 44.732 (2007), 48.978 (2006)
Communications ::Macedonia
Telephones - main lines in use:
442,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 100
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.943 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 135
Telephone system:
general assessment: competition from the mobile-cellular segment of
the telecommunications market has led to a drop in fixed-line
telephone subscriptions
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone
subscribership about 115 per 100 persons
international: country code - 389 (2009)
Broadcast media:
public television broadcaster operates 3 national channels and a
satellite network; 5 privately-owned TV channels broadcast
nationally; roughly 50 local commercial TV stations broadcasting;
large number of cable operators offering domestic and international
programming; public radio broadcaster operates over multiple
stations; 3 privately-owned radio stations broadcast nationally;
roughly 65 local commercial radio stations functioning (2007)
Internet country code:
.mk
Internet hosts:
60,533 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 84
Internet users:
1.057 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 97
Transportation ::Macedonia
Airports:
14 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 149
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 699 km
country comparison to the world: 104
standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (234 km electrified) (2009)
Roadways:
total: 13,736 km (includes 216 km of expressways) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 126
Military ::Macedonia
Military branches:
Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM): Joint Operational Command,
with subordinate Air Wing (Makedonsko Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo, MVV);
Special Operations Regiment; Logistic Support Command; Training
Command (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 530,966
females age 16-49: 511,534 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 442,953
females age 16-49: 425,981 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 15,338
female: 14,445 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
6% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Transnational Issues ::Macedonia
Disputes - international:
Kosovo and Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary in
September 2008; Greece continues to reject the use of the name
Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: fewer than 1,000 (ethnic conflict in 2001) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish;
minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe;
although not a financial center and most criminal activity is
thought to be domestic, money laundering is a problem due to a
mostly cash-based economy and weak enforcement
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Madagascar (Africa)
Introduction ::Madagascar
Background:
Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony
in 1896 but regained independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free
presidential and National Assembly elections were held ending 17
years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential
race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was
returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was
contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc
RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In
April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the
winner. RAVALOMANANA achieved a second term following a landslide
victory in the generally free and fair presidential elections of
2006. In early 2009, protests over increasing restrictions on
opposition press and activities resulted in RAVALOMANANA stepping
down and the presidency was conferred to the mayor of Antananarivo,
Andry RAJOELINA. Following negotiations in July and August of 2009,
a power-sharing agreement with a 15-month transitional period was
established, but has not yet been implemented.
Geography ::Madagascar
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 47 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 587,041 sq km
country comparison to the world: 46
land: 581,540 sq km
water: 5,501 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
4,828 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath
Climate:
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
Natural resources:
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt,
quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 5.03%
permanent crops: 1.02%
other: 93.95% (2005)
Irrigated land:
10,860 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
337 cu km (1984)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 14.96 cu km/yr (3%/2%/96%)
per capita: 804 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestation
volcanism: Madagascar's volcanoes have not erupted in historical
times
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing;
desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and
other organic wastes; several endangered species of flora and fauna
unique to the island
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique
Channel
People ::Madagascar
Population:
21,281,844 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.5% (male 4,523,033/female 4,460,473)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 5,483,684/female 5,557,098)
65 years and over: 3% (male 280,677/female 348,591) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.1 years
male: 17.8 years
female: 18.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.993% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Birth rate:
37.89 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Death rate:
7.97 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 92
Urbanization:
urban population: 29% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 52.84 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 47
male: 57.69 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 47.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.26 years
country comparison to the world: 175
male: 61.27 years
female: 65.3 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.09 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
14,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, malaria, and plague
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective: Malagasy
Ethnic groups:
Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed
African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka,
Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages:
French (official), Malagasy (official), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.9%
male: 75.5%
female: 62.5% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 10 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
2.9% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 152
Government ::Madagascar
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form: Madagascar
local long form: Republique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara
local short form: Madagascar/Madagasikara
former: Malagasy Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Antananarivo
geographic coordinates: 18 55 S, 47 31 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa,
Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Independence:
26 June 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Constitution:
passed by referendum 17 November 2010; promulgated 11 December 2010
(2010)
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Andry RAJOELINA (since 18 March 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Albert Camille VITAL (since 18
December 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 December 2006
(next to be held on 4 May 2011); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: percent of vote - Marc RAVALOMANANA 54.8%, Jean
LAHINIRIKO 11.7%, Roland RATSIRAKA 10.1%, Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO 9.1%,
Norbert RATSIRAHONANA 4.2%, Ny Hasina ANDRIAMANJATO 4.2%, Elia
RAVELOMANANTSOA 2.6%, Pety RAKOTONIAINA 1.7%, other 1.6%; note -
RAVALOMANANA stepped down on 17 March 2009
note:: on 17 March 2009, democratically elected President Marc
RAVALOMANANA stepped down handing the government over to the
military, which in turn conferred the presidency on opposition
leader and Antananarivo mayor Andry RAJOELINA, who will head the
High Transition Authority; a power-sharing agreement reached in
August 2009 established a 15-month transition period, concluding in
general elections in 2010; as of December 2009 the agreement had not
been fully implemented
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of a Senate or Senat (100 seats;
two-thirds of the members appointed by regional assemblies; the
remaining one-third appointed by the president; members to serve
four-year terms) and a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (127
seats - reduced from 160 seats by an April 2007 national referendum;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held on 23 September 2007 (next
to be held on 16 March 2011); note - a power-sharing agreement in
the summer of 2009 established a 15-month transition, concluding in
general elections
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - TIM 106, LEADER/Fanilo 1, independents 20
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or Haute
Cour Constitutionnelle
Political parties and leaders:
Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [Pierrot
RAJAONARIVELO]; Democratic Party for Union in Madagascar or PSDUM
[Jean LAHINIRIKO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for
National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana
Party or FP [Guy-Willy RAZANAMASY]; I Love Madagascar or TIM [Marc
RAVALOMANANA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD
[Evariste MARSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Committee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR; Committee
for National Reconciliation or CRN [Albert Zafy]; National Council
of Christian Churches or FFKM
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Eulalie N.
RAVELOSOA
chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525 through 5526
FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador R. Niels MARQUARDT
embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101
mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
telephone: [261] (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56
FAX: [261] (20) 22-345-39
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical
white band of the same width on hoist side; by tradition, red stands
for sovereignty, green for hope, white for purity
National anthem:
name: "Ry Tanindraza nay malala o" (Oh, Our Beloved Fatherland)
lyrics/music: Pasteur RAHAJASON/Norbert RAHARISOA
note: adopted 1959
Economy ::Madagascar
Economy - overview:
After discarding socialist economic policies in the mid-1990s,
Madagascar followed a World Bank- and IMF-led policy of
privatization and liberalization that has been undermined since the
start of the political crisis. This strategy placed the country on a
slow and steady growth path from an extremely low level.
Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the
economy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP and employing
80% of the population. Exports of apparel have boomed in recent
years primarily due to duty-free access to the US. However,
Madagascar's failure to comply with the requirements of the African
Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) led to the termination of the
country's duty-free access in January 2010. Deforestation and
erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the primary source of
fuel, are serious concerns. Former President RAVALOMANANA worked
aggressively to revive the economy following the 2002 political
crisis, which triggered a 12% drop in GDP that year. The current
political crisis which began in early 2009 has dealt additional
blows to the economy. Tourism dropped more than 50% in 2009,
compared with the previous year, and many investors are wary of
entering the uncertain investment environment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$20.73 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$20.42 billion (2009 est.)
$20.63 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$8.33 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
-1% (2009 est.)
7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
$1,000 (2009 est.)
$1,000 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 26.5%
industry: 16.7%
services: 56.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
9.504 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 51
Population below poverty line:
50% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 41.5% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
47.5 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 32
38.1 (1999)
Investment (gross fixed):
34.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA%
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
45% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
45% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.233 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 133
$1.228 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$2.012 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
$1.994 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.02 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
$997.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca),
beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Industries:
meat processing, seafood, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar,
textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper,
petroleum, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Electricity - production:
1.045 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Electricity - consumption:
971.4 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Oil - consumption:
21,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Oil - exports:
365 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Oil - imports:
16,940 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Current account balance:
-$600 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
-$561 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.412 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
$1.309 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth, chromite, petroleum
products
Exports - partners:
France 28.9%, US 20.49%, Germany 5.89%, China 4.36% (2009)
Imports:
$1.958 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
$1.893 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food
Imports - partners:
China 12.99%, Thailand 11.93%, Bahrain 7.1%, France 6.89%, US 4.13%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.038 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
$1.136 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.973 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
$2.261 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Malagasy ariary (MGA) per US dollar - 2,062.5 (2010), 1,956.21
(2009), 1,654.78 (2008), 1,880 (2007), 2,161.4 (2006)
Communications ::Madagascar
Telephones - main lines in use:
181,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 127
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.997 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 86
Telephone system:
general assessment: system is above average for the region;
Antananarivo's main telephone exchange modernized in the late 1990s,
but the rest of the analogue-based telephone system is poorly
developed; have been adding fixed line connections since 2005
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about
30 per 100 persons
international: country code - 261; SEACOM undersea fiber-optic cable
and the Lion undersea cable connecting to Reunion and Mauritius;
satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1
Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-owned Radio Nationale Malagasy (RNM) and Television Malagasy
(TVM) have an extensive national network reach; privately-owned
radio and TV broadcasters in cities and major towns; state-run radio
predominates in rural areas; relays of 2 international broadcasters
are available in Antananarivo (2007)
Internet country code:
.mg
Internet hosts:
27,606 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 99
Internet users:
319,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 127
Transportation ::Madagascar
Airports:
84 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 67
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 27
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 57
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 35
under 914 m: 20 (2010)
Railways:
total: 854 km
country comparison to the world: 98
narrow gauge: 854 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 65,663 km
country comparison to the world: 70
paved: 7,617 km
unpaved: 58,046 km (2003)
Waterways:
600 km
country comparison to the world: 80
note: 432 km navigable (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 8
country comparison to the world: 124
by type: cargo 4, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara (Tulear)
Military ::Madagascar
Military branches:
People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, and
Aeronaval Force (navy and air); National Gendarmerie
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for male-only voluntary military service; no
conscription; service obligation - 18 months (either military or
equivalent civil service); 20-30 years of age for National
Gendarmerie recruits (35 years of age for those with military
experience) (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,745,274
females age 16-49: 4,750,188 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,268,291
females age 16-49: 3,541,256 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 242,334
female: 241,359 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 134
Transnational Issues ::Madagascar
Disputes - international:
claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de
Nova Island (all administered by France); the vegetated drying cays
of Banc du Geyser, which were claimed by Madagascar in 1976, also
fall within the EEZ claims of the Comoros and France (Glorioso
Islands, part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used
mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Malawi (Africa)
Introduction ::Malawi
Background:
Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland became
the independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three decades of
one-party rule under President Hastings Kamuzu BANDA the country
held multiparty elections in 1994, under a provisional constitution
that came into full effect the following year. Current President
Bingu wa MUTHARIKA, elected in May 2004 after a failed attempt by
the previous president to amend the constitution to permit another
term, struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor and
subsequently started his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party
(DPP) in 2005. As president, MUTHARIKA has overseen economic
improvement but because of political deadlock in the legislature,
his minority party has been unable to pass significant legislation,
and anti-corruption measures have stalled. Population growth,
increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and the
spread of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi. MUTHARIKA was
reelected to a second term in May 2009.
Geography ::Malawi
Location:
Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Geographic coordinates:
13 30 S, 34 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 118,484 sq km
country comparison to the world: 99
land: 94,080 sq km
water: 24,404 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 2,881 km
border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to
November)
Terrain:
narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some
mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary
with Mozambique 37 m
highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m
Natural resources:
limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium,
coal, and bauxite
Land use:
arable land: 20.68%
permanent crops: 1.18%
other: 78.14% (2005)
Irrigated land:
560 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
17.3 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.01 cu km/yr (15%/5%/80%)
per capita: 78 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural
runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds
endangers fish populations
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most
prominent physical feature
People ::Malawi
Population:
15,447,500
country comparison to the world: 64
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45.4% (male 3,419,711/female 3,404,726)
15-64 years: 51.9% (male 3,889,065/female 3,915,309)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 172,679/female 227,267) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.1 years
male: 17 years
female: 17.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.758% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Birth rate:
41.28 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Death rate:
13.69 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 91
Urbanization:
urban population: 19% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 5.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.015 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 83.5 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 11
male: 87.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 79.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.92 years
country comparison to the world: 211
male: 50.22 years
female: 51.64 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.51 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
11.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
930,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
68,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Malawian(s)
adjective: Malawian
Ethnic groups:
Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde,
Asian, European
Religions:
Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)
Languages:
Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%, Chitumbuka
9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other 3.6% (1998
census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.7%
male: 76.1%
female: 49.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 9 years
female: 9 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
4.2% of GDP (2003)
country comparison to the world: 101
Government ::Malawi
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
conventional short form: Malawi
local long form: Dziko la Malawi
local short form: Malawi
former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland
Protectorate, Nyasaland
Government type:
multiparty democracy
Capital:
name: Lilongwe
geographic coordinates: 13 59 S, 33 47 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
28 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa,
Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe),
Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Neno, Ntcheu, Nkhata
Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo,
Zomba
Independence:
6 July 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)
Constitution:
18 May 1994
Legal system:
based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004)
cabinet: 46-member Cabinet named by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 19 May 2009
(next to be held in May 2014)
election results: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of
vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA 66%, John TEMBO 30.7%, other 3.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 19 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
DPP 114, MCP 26, UDF 17, independents 32, other 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court (chief justice appointed by the
president, puisne judges appointed on the advice of the Judicial
Service Commission); magistrate's courts
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Dindi NYASULU]; Congress of
Democrats or CODE [Ralph KASAMBARA]; Democratic Progressive Party or
DPP [Bingu wa MUTHARIKA]; Malawi Congress Party or MCP [John TEMBO];
Malawi Democratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA]; Malawi Forum for
Unity and Development or MAFUNDE [George MNESA]; Maravi People's
Party [Uladi MUSSA]; National Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; New
Rainbow Coalition Party [Beatrice MWALE]; New Republican Party
[Gwanda CHAKUWAMBA]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Aleke
BANDA]; People's Transformation Movement or PETRA [Kamuzu CHIBAMBO];
Republican Party or RP [Stanley MASAULI]; United Democratic Front or
UDF [Bakili MULUZI]; United Democratic Party [Kenedy KALAMBO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Agri-Ecology Media (agriculture and environmental group); Council
for NGOs in Malawi or CONGOMA (human rights, democracy, and
development); Human Rights Consultative Committee or HRCC (human
rights); Malawi Law Society (human rights and law reform); Malawi
Movement for the Restoration of Democracy or MMRD (acts to restore
and maintain democracy); Public Affairs Committee or PAC (promotes
democracy, development, peace and unity)
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC,
UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen D. Tennyson MATENJE
chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270
FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter W. BODDE
embassy: 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3
mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
telephone: [265] (1) 773 166
FAX: [265] (1) 770 471
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), black, and green; a white
sun disc is centered on the black band, its surrounding 45 white
rays extend partially into the red and green bands; black represents
the native peoples, red the blood shed in their struggle for
freedom, and green the color of nature; the sun represents Malawi's
economic progress since attaining independence
National anthem:
name: "Mulungu dalitsa Malawi" (Oh God Bless Our Land of Malawi)
lyrics/music: Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA
note: adopted 1964
Economy ::Malawi
Economy - overview:
Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's most densely populated and
least developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural
with about 80% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture,
which has benefited from fertilizer subsidies since 2006, accounts
for more than one-third of GDP and 90% of export revenues. The
performance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as
tobacco accounts for more than half of exports. The economy depends
on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the
World Bank, and individual donor nations. In 2006, Malawi was
approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)
program. In December 2007, the US granted Malawi eligibility status
to receive financial support within the Millennium Challenge
Corporation (MCC) initiative. The government faces many challenges
including developing a market economy, improving educational
facilities, facing up to environmental problems, dealing with the
rapidly growing problem of HIV/AIDS, and satisfying foreign donors
that fiscal discipline is being tightened. Since 2005 President
MUTHARIKA'S government has exhibited improved financial discipline
under the guidance of Finance Minister Goodall GONDWE and signed a
three year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility worth $56 million
with the IMF. Improved relations with the IMF lead other
international donors to resume aid as well. The government has
announced infrastructure projects that could yield improvements,
such as a new oil pipeline, for better fuel access, and the
potential for a waterway link through Mozambican rivers to the
ocean, for better transportation options. Since 2009, however,
Malawi experienced some setbacks, including a general shortage of
foreign exchange, which has damaged its ability to pay for imports,
and fuel shortages that hinder transportation and productivity.
Investment fell 23% in 2009. The government has failed to address
barriers to investment such as unreliable power, water shortages,
poor telecommunications infrastructure, and the high costs of
services.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$13.51 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
$12.69 billion (2009 est.)
$11.79 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.035 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
7.6% (2009 est.)
9.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
$800 (2009 est.)
$800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 33.4%
industry: 21.7%
services: 44.9% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
5.747 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 90%
industry and services: 10% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
53% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 31.9% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 69
Investment (gross fixed):
27.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Public debt:
40.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
44.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
8.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
15% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 21
15% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
25.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
25.28% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$626.5 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 151
$580.3 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.434 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
$1.233 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.72 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
$1.515 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 97
$1.771 billion (31 December 2008)
$587.2 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca),
sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats
Industries:
tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate:
17.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Electricity - production:
1.69 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Electricity - consumption:
1.572 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Oil - consumption:
8,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Oil - imports:
6,960 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Current account balance:
-$315 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
-$332 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.189 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
$912 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
tobacco 53%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products,
apparel
Exports - partners:
Germany 12.37%, Egypt 8.52%, South Africa 7.67%, Zimbabwe 7.55%, US
7.4%, Russia 6.79%, Netherlands 6.64%, Japan 4.1% (2009)
Imports:
$1.675 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
$1.502 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods,
transportation equipment
Imports - partners:
South Africa 40.15%, China 6.79%, India 6.73%, France 5.03%,
Tanzania 4.81%, Mozambique 4.03% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$301 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$163.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.213 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
$1.166 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar - 151.65 (2010), 141.14 (2009),
142.41 (2008), 141.12 (2007), 135.96 (2006)
Communications ::Malawi
Telephones - main lines in use:
175,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 129
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.4 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 126
Telephone system:
general assessment: rudimentary; privatization of Malawi
Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement
to telecommunications services, completed in 2006
domestic: limited fixed-line subscribership of about 1 per 100
persons; mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage
is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile-cellular
subscribership about 15 per 100 persons
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
radio is the main broadcast medium; state-run radio has the widest
geographic broadcasting reach, but about a dozen privately-owned
radio stations broadcast in major urban areas; the single television
network is government-owned; relays of multiple international
broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.mw
Internet hosts:
870 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 167
Internet users:
716,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 109
Transportation ::Malawi
Airports:
32 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 112
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 12 (2010)
Railways:
total: 797 km
country comparison to the world: 102
narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 15,451 km
country comparison to the world: 121
paved: 6,956 km
unpaved: 8,495 km (2003)
Waterways:
700 km; (on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 76
Ports and terminals:
Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba
Military ::Malawi
Military branches:
Malawi Armed Forces: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment)
(2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; standard obligation
is 2 years of active duty and 5 years of reserve service (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,402,724 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,048,900
females age 16-49: 1,960,258 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 177,376
female: 176,905 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 118
Transnational Issues ::Malawi
Disputes - international:
disputes with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Malaysia (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Malaysia
Background:
During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established
colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these
were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled
territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya,
which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when
the former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian
states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined
the Federation. The first several years of the country's history
were marred by a Communist insurgency, Indonesian confrontation with
Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from
the Federation in 1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister
MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in
diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials
to expansion in manufacturing, services, and tourism.
Geography ::Malaysia
Location:
Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern
one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and
the South China Sea, south of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:
2 30 N, 112 30 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 329,847 sq km
country comparison to the world: 66
land: 328,657 sq km
water: 1,190 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 2,669 km
border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km
Coastline:
4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation;
specified boundary in the South China Sea
Climate:
tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October
to February) monsoons
Terrain:
coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m
Natural resources:
tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Land use:
arable land: 5.46%
permanent crops: 17.54%
other: 77% (2005)
Irrigated land:
3,650 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
580 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 9.02 cu km/yr (17%/21%/62%)
per capita: 356 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
flooding; landslides; forest fires
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water
pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian
forest fires
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China
Sea
People ::Malaysia
Population:
28,274,729 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.4% (male 4,153,621/female 3,914,962)
15-64 years: 63.6% (male 8,210,373/female 8,143,043)
65 years and over: 5% (male 569,245/female 724,575) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.5 years
male: 26.4 years
female: 26.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.609% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Birth rate:
21.41 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Death rate:
4.92 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Net migration rate:
-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 139
note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal
immigrants from other countries in the region (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 70% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.069 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.5 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 121
male: 17.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.55 years
country comparison to the world: 112
male: 70.81 years
female: 76.48 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.7 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
80,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,900 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Malaysian(s)
adjective: Malaysian
Ethnic groups:
Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8%
(2004 est.)
Religions:
Muslim 60.4%, Buddhist 19.2%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.3%,
Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 2.6%,
other or unknown 1.5%, none 0.8% (2000 census)
Languages:
Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin,
Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi,
Thai
note: in East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages; most
widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.7%
male: 92%
female: 85.4% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
4.5% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 90
Government ::Malaysia
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Malaysia
local long form: none
local short form: Malaysia
former: Federation of Malaya
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
note: nominally headed by paramount ruler (commonly referred to as
the King) and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected
upper house and an elected lower house; all Peninsular Malaysian
states have hereditary rulers (commonly referred to as sultans)
except Melaka and Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with
Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by
government; powers of state governments are limited by federal
constitution; under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain
certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their
own immigration controls)
Capital:
name: Kuala Lumpur
geographic coordinates: 3 10 N, 101 42 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Putrajaya is referred to as administrative center not capital;
Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur
Administrative divisions:
13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) Johor, Kedah, Kelantan,
Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah,
Sarawak, Selangor, and Terengganu; and 1 federal territory (Wilayah
Persekutuan) with three components, city of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan,
and Putrajaya
Independence:
31 August 1957 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)
Constitution:
31 August 1957; amended many times the latest in 2007
Legal system:
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in
the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation;
Islamic law is applied to Muslims in matters of family law and
religion; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King - Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin (since 13 December
2006); (the position of the king is primarily ceremonial)
head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak
(since 3 April 2009); Deputy Prime Minister MUHYIDDIN bin Mohamed
Yassin (since 9 April 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament with consent of the king
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: kings elected by and from the hereditary rulers of nine
of the states for five-year terms; selection based on principle of
rotation among rulers of states; election last held on 3 November
2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister designated from among
the members of the House of Representatives; following legislative
elections, the leader who commands the support of the majority of
members in the House becomes prime minister (since independence this
has been the leader of the UMNO party)
election results: Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin elected king
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of Senate or Dewan Negara
(70 seats; 44 members appointed by the king, 26 elected by 13 state
legislatures to serve three-year terms with a two term limit) and
House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (222 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve up to five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held on 8 March 2008
(next to be held by June 2013)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - BN
coalition 50.3%, opposition parties 46.8%, others 2.9%; seats - BN
coalition 140, opposition parties 82
Judicial branch:
civil courts include Federal Court, Court of Appeal, High Court of
Malaya on peninsula Malaysia, and High Court of Sabah and Sarawak in
states of Borneo (judges are appointed by the king on the advice of
the prime minister); sharia courts include Sharia Appeal Court,
Sharia High Court, and Sharia Subordinate Courts at state-level and
deal with religious and family matters such as custody, divorce, and
inheritance only for Muslims; decisions of sharia courts cannot be
appealed to civil courts
Political parties and leaders:
National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN (ruling coalition) consists
of the following parties: Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Party or PGRM [KOH
Tsu Koon]; Liberal Democratic Party (Parti Liberal Demokratik -
Sabah) or LDP [LIEW Vui Keong]; Malaysian Chinese Association
(Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [CHUA Soi Lek]; Malaysian Indian
Congress (Kongres India Malaysia) or MIC [Govindasamy PALANIVEL];
Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah or PBRS [Joseph KURUP]; Parti Bersatu
Sabah or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]; Parti Pesaka Bumiputera
Bersatu or PBB [Abdul TAIB Mahmud]; Parti Rakyat Sarawak or PRS
[James MASING]; Sarawak United People's Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat
Sarawak) or SUPP [George CHAN Hong Nam]; United Malays National
Organization or UMNO [NAJIB bin Abdul Razak]; United Pasokmomogun
Kadazandusun Murut Organization (Pertubuhan Pasko Momogun Kadazan
Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [Bernard DOMPOK]; People's Progressive Party
(Parti Progresif Penduduk Malaysia) or PPP [M.Kayveas]; Sarawak
Progressive Democratic Party or SPDP [William MAWAN])
People's Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat) or PR (opposition coalition)
consists of the following parties: Democratic Action Party (Parti
Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP [KARPAL Singh]; Islamic Party of
Malaysia (Parti Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang];
People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [WAN AZIZAH
Wan Ismail]; Sarawak National Party or SNAP [Edwin DUNDANG]
independent party: Sabah Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Saban)
or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Bar Council; BERSIH (electoral reform coalition); PEMBELA (Muslim
NGO coalition)
other: religious groups; women's groups; youth groups
International organization participation:
ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, EAS, FAO,
G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN,
UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador JAMALUDDIN Jarjis
chancery: 3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 572-9700
FAX: [1] (202) 572-9882
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Paul W. JONES
embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
mailing address: US Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152
telephone: [60] (3) 2168-5000
FAX: [60] (3) 2142-2207
Flag description:
14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white
(bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; the flag is
often referred to as Jalur Gemilang (Stripes of Glory); the 14
stripes stand for the equal status in the federation of the 13
member states and the federal government; the 14 points on the star
represent the unity between these entities; the crescent is a
traditional symbol of Islam; blue symbolizes the unity of the Malay
people and yellow is the royal color of Malay rulers
note: the design is based on the flag of the US
National anthem:
name: "Negaraku" (My Country)
lyrics/music: collective, led by Tunku ABDUL RAHMAN/Pierre Jean DE
BERANGER
note: adopted 1957; the full version is only performed in the
presence of the king; the tune, which was adopted from a popular
French melody titled "La Rosalie," was originally the anthem of the
state of Perak
Economy ::Malaysia
Economy - overview:
Malaysia, a middle-income country, has transformed itself since the
1970s from a producer of raw materials into an emerging multi-sector
economy. Under current Prime Minister NAJIB, Malaysia is attempting
to achieve high-income status by 2020 and to move farther up the
value-added production chain by attracting investments in Islamic
finance, high technology industries, medical technology, and
pharmaceuticals. The NAJIB administration also is continuing efforts
to boost domestic demand and to wean the economy off of its
dependence on exports. Nevertheless, exports - particularly of
electronics - remain a significant driver of the economy. As an oil
and gas exporter, Malaysia has profited from higher world energy
prices, although the rising cost of domestic gasoline and diesel
fuel, combined with strained government finances, has forced Kuala
Lumpur to reduce government subsidies. The government is also trying
to lessen its dependence on state oil producer Petronas, which
supplies at least 40% of government revenue. The central bank
maintains healthy foreign exchange reserves and its well-developed
regulatory regime has limited Malaysia's exposure to riskier
financial instruments and the global financial crisis. Nevertheless,
decreasing worldwide demand for consumer goods hurt Malaysia's
exports and economic growth in 2009, although both showed signs of
recovery in 2010. In order to attract increased investment, NAJIB
has also sought to revise the special economic and social
preferences accorded to ethnic Malays under the New Economic Policy
of 1970, but he has encountered significant opposition, especially
from Malay nationalists.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$416.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$388.8 billion (2009 est.)
$395.5 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$219 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
-1.7% (2009 est.)
4.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$14,000 (2009 est.)
$14,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.1%
industry: 41.6%
services: 49.3% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
11.62 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 36%
services: 51% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
3.7% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
5.1% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 28.5% (2005 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
46.1 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 36
49.2 (1997)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Public debt:
52.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
53.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
0.6% (2009 est.)
note: approximately 30% of goods are price-controlled
Central bank discount rate:
1% (31 December 2009)
NA% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.08% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
6.08% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$69.03 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 38
$57 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$337.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$280.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$314.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$265.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$256 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 25
$187.1 billion (31 December 2008)
$325.7 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
Peninsular Malaysia - rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice; Sabah -
subsistence crops, coconuts, rice; rubber, timber; Sarawak - rubber,
timber; pepper
Industries:
Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and
manufacturing, light manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, medical
technology, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging, timber
processing; Sabah - logging, petroleum production; Sarawak -
agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging
Industrial production growth rate:
8.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Electricity - production:
103.2 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Electricity - consumption:
99.25 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Electricity - exports:
2.268 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
693,700 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Oil - consumption:
536,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Oil - exports:
511,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Oil - imports:
314,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Oil - proved reserves:
2.9 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Natural gas - production:
57.3 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Natural gas - consumption:
26.27 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Natural gas - exports:
31.03 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.35 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Current account balance:
$34.83 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
$34.08 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$192.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$157.5 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and
wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals
Exports - partners:
Singapore 13.9%, China 12.2%, US 10.9%, Japan 9.8%, Thailand 5.4%,
Hong Kong 5.2% (2009)
Imports:
$149.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$117.3 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles, iron
and steel products, chemicals
Imports - partners:
China 13.9%, Japan 12.5%, US 11.2%, Singapore 11.1%, Thailand 6%,
Indonesia 5.3% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$104.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$96.71 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$62.82 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$58.79 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$77.44 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$74.64 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$82.65 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$75.62 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
ringgits (MYR) per US dollar - 3.2182 (2010), 3.5246 (2009), 3.33
(2008), 3.46 (2007), 3.6683 (2006)
Communications ::Malaysia
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.312 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 34
Telephones - mobile cellular:
30.379 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 31
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system featuring good intercity service
on Peninsular Malaysia provided mainly by microwave radio relay and
an adequate intercity microwave radio relay network between Sabah
and Sarawak via Brunei; international service excellent
domestic: domestic satellite system with 2 earth stations; combined
fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 135 per 100 persons
international: country code - 60; landing point for several major
international submarine cable networks that provide connectivity to
Asia, Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat
(1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:
state-owned television broadcaster operates 2 TV networks with
relays throughout the country, and the leading private commercial
media group operates 4 TV stations with numerous relays throughout
the country; satellite TV subscription service is available;
state-owned radio broadcaster operates multiple national networks as
well as regional and local stations; large number of private
commercial radio broadcasters and some subscription satellite radio
services are available; about 400 radio stations overall (2008)
Internet country code:
.my
Internet hosts:
344,452 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 56
Internet users:
15.355 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 26
Transportation ::Malaysia
Airports:
118 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 51
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 38
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 7 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 80
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 73 (2010)
Heliports:
3 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 3 km; gas 1,965 km; oil 31 km; refined products 114 km
(2009)
Railways:
total: 1,849 km
country comparison to the world: 75
standard gauge: 57 km 1.435-m gauge (57 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,792 km 1.000-m gauge (150 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 98,721 km
country comparison to the world: 44
paved: 80,280 km (includes 1,821 km of expressways)
unpaved: 18,441 km (2004)
Waterways:
7,200 km
country comparison to the world: 20
note: Peninsular Malaysia 3,200 km; Sabah 1,500 km; Sarawak 2,500 km
(2011)
Merchant marine:
total: 321
country comparison to the world: 30
by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 97, carrier 2, chemical tanker 45,
container 44, liquefied gas 35, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker
79, roll on/roll off 2, vehicle carrier 4
foreign-owned: 35 (Denmark 1, Hong Kong 8, Japan 4, Nigeria 1,
Russia 2, Singapore 19)
registered in other countries: 79 (Bahamas 13, India 1, Indonesia 1,
Malta 1, Marshall Islands 11, Panama 12, Papua New Guinea 1,
Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore
27, Thailand 3, Tuvalu 1, US 2, unknown 3) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Bintulu, Johor Bahru, George Town (Penang), Port Kelang (Port
Klang), Tanjung Pelepas
Transportation - note:
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and
offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea as high
risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial
vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while
underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to
ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift;
increased naval patrols in 2009 resulted in significantly reduced
numbers of incidents
Military ::Malaysia
Military branches:
Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, ATM): Malaysian
Army (Tentera Darat Malaysia), Royal Malaysian Navy (Tentera Laut
Diraja Malaysia, TLDM), Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera Udara
Diraja Malaysia, TUDM) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2005)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,692,438
females age 16-49: 6,494,413 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,612,642
females age 16-49: 5,501,129 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 267,646
female: 253,529 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.03% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Transnational Issues ::Malaysia
Disputes - international:
Malaysia is involved in a complex dispute with Brunei, China,
Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam over claims to part or all of the
Spratly Islands; while the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of
Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions over the Spratly
Islands, it is not the legally binding "code of conduct" sought by
some parties; Malaysia was not party to the March 2005 joint accord
among the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and
Vietnam on conducting marine seismic activities in the Spratly
Islands; disputes continue over deliveries of fresh water to
Singapore, Singapore's land reclamation, bridge construction, and
maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits; in 2008, ICJ
awards sovereignty of Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh/Horsburgh
Island) to Singapore, and Middle Rocks to Malaysia, but does not
rule on maritime regimes, boundaries, or disposition of South Ledge;
ICJ awarded Ligitan and Sipadan islands, also claimed by Indonesia
and Philippines, to Malaysia but left maritime boundary and
sovereignty of Unarang rock in the hydrocarbon-rich Celebes Sea in
dispute; separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim
southern provinces prompts measures to close and monitor border with
Malaysia to stem terrorist activities; Philippines retains a dormant
claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo; Brunei and
Malaysia agreed in September 2008 to resolve their offshore and
deepwater seabed dispute, resume hydrocarbon exploration, and
renounce any territorial claims along their land boundary; piracy
remains a problem in the Malacca Strait
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 15,174 (Indonesia); 21,544 (Burma)
(2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Malaysia is a destination and, to a lesser
extent, a source and transit country for women and children
trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation, and
men, women, and children for forced labor; Malaysia is mainly a
destination country for men, women, and children who migrate
willingly from South and Southeast Asia to work, some of whom are
subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude by Malaysian
employers in the domestic, agricultural, construction, plantation,
and industrial sectors; to a lesser extent, some Malaysian women,
primarily of Chinese ethnicity, are trafficked abroad for commercial
sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the Government of Malaysia does not
fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of
trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, despite
some progress in enforcing the 2007 comprehensive anti-trafficking
law; it has yet to fully address labor trafficking in Malaysia;
there are credible allegations of involvement of Malaysian
immigration officials in trafficking and extorting Burmese refugees;
the government did not develop mechanisms to effectively screen
victims of trafficking in vulnerable groups and condones the
confiscation of passports of migrant workers by employers (2009)
Illicit drugs:
drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties;
heroin still primary drug of abuse, but synthetic drug demand
remains strong; continued ecstasy and methamphetamine producer for
domestic users and, to a lesser extent, the regional drug market
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Maldives (South Asia)
Introduction ::Maldives
Background:
The Maldives was long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under
British protection. It became a republic in 1968, three years after
independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated the islands'
political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by
single-party referendums. Following riots in the capital Male in
August 2004, the president and his government pledged to embark upon
democratic reforms including a more representative political system
and expanded political freedoms. Progress was sluggish, however, and
many promised reforms were slow to be realized. Nonetheless,
political parties were legalized in 2005. In June 2008, a
constituent assembly - termed the "Special Majlis" - finalized a new
constitution, which was ratified by the president in August. The
first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate,
multi-party system were held in October 2008. GAYOOM was defeated in
a runoff poll by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist who had been
jailed several years earlier by the former regime. Challenges facing
the new president include strengthening democracy and combating
poverty and drug abuse. Maldives officials have been prominent
participants in international climate change talks due to the
islands' low elevation and the threat from sea-level rise.
Geography ::Maldives
Location:
Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest
of India
Geographic coordinates:
3 15 N, 73 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 298 sq km
country comparison to the world: 209
land: 298 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
644 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March);
rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Terrain:
flat, with white sandy beaches
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Viligili in the Addu Atholhu 2.4 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land: 13.33%
permanent crops: 30%
other: 56.67% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
0.03 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.003 cu km/yr (98%/2%/0%)
per capita: 9 cu m/yr (1987)
Natural hazards:
tsunamis; low elevation of islands makes them sensitive to sea level
rise
Environment - current issues:
depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global
warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands,
plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago with strategic
location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
People ::Maldives
Population:
395,650 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.3% (male 45,038/female 43,291)
15-64 years: 73.8% (male 180,874/female 111,703)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 7,711/female 7,717) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.9 years
male: 26.6 years
female: 24.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.178% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
Birth rate:
14.5 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Death rate:
3.68 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Net migration rate:
-12.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
Urbanization:
urban population: 38% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 5.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.57 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.4 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 28.47 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 77
male: 30.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.21 years
country comparison to the world: 100
male: 72 years
female: 76.54 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.83 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 100 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Maldivian(s)
adjective: Maldivian
Ethnic groups:
South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
Religions:
Sunni Muslim
Languages:
Dhivehi (official) (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic),
English spoken by most government officials
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.8%
male: 93%
female: 94.7% (2006 Census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 13 years
female: 12 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
8.1% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 11
Government ::Maldives
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
conventional short form: Maldives
local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Male
geographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 30 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and the capital city*;
Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa
Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale (Male)*, Meemu,
Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu
Independence:
26 July 1965 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Constitution:
new constitution ratified 7 August 2008
Legal system:
based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily
in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mohamed "Anni" NASHEED (since 11 November
2008); Vice President Mohamed WAHEED Hassan Maniku (since 11
November 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Mohamed "Anni" NASHEED (since 11
November 2008); Vice President Mohamed WAHEED Hassan Maniku (since
11 November 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers is appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: under the new constitution, the president elected by
direct vote; president elected for a five-year term (eligible for a
second term); election last held on 8 and 28 October 2008 (next to
be held in 2013)
election results: Mohamed NASHEED elected president; percent of vote
- NASHEED 54.3%, Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 45.7%
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Council or People's Majlis (77 seats; members
elected by direct vote to serve five-year terms); note - the Majlis
in February 2009 passed legislation that increased the number of
seats to 77 from 50
elections: last held on 9 May 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote - DRP 36.4%, MDP 33.8 %, PA 9.1%,
DQP 2.6% Republican Party 1.2%, independents 16.9%; seats by party -
DRP 28, MDP 26, PA 7, DQP 2, Republican Party 1, independents 13
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president
with approval of voting members of the People's Council; High Court;
Trial Courts; all lower court judges are appointed by the Judicial
Service Commission
Political parties and leaders:
Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Shaykh Hussein RASHEED Ahmed];
Dhivehi Quamee Party or DQP [Hassan SAEED]; Dhivehi Rayyithunge
Party (Maldivian People's Party) or DRP [THASMEEN Ali]; Gaumii
Ithihaad (National Alliance) or GI [Mohamed WAHEED]; Islamic
Democratic Party or IDP; Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Mariya
DIDI]; Maldives National Congress or MNC; Maldives Social Democratic
Party or MSDP; People's Alliance or PA [Abdullah YAMEEN]; People's
Party or PP; Poverty Alleviation Party or PAP; Republican
(Jumhooree) Party or JP [Gasim IBRAHIM]; Social Liberal Party or SLP
[Ibrahim ISMAIL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: various unregistered political parties
International organization participation:
ADB, AOSIS, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS
(observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC,
OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Abdul GHAFOOR Mohamed
chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6195
FAX: [1] (212) 661-6405
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to
Sri Lanka, Ambassador Patricia A. BUTENIS, is accredited to Maldives
and makes periodic visits
Flag description:
red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical
white crescent moon; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist
side of the flag; red recalls those who have sacrificed their lives
in defense of their country, the green rectangle represents peace
and prosperity, and the white crescent signifies Islam
National anthem:
name: "Gaumee Salaam" (National Salute)
lyrics/music: Mohamed Jameel DIDI/Wannakuwattawaduge DON AMARADEVA
note: lyrics adopted 1948, music adopted 1972; between 1948 and
1972, the lyrics were sung to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne"
Economy ::Maldives
Economy - overview:
Tourism, Maldives' largest economic activity, accounts for 28% of
GDP and more than 60% of foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of
government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related
taxes. Fishing is the second leading sector. Agriculture and
manufacturing continue to play a lesser role in the economy,
constrained by the limited availability of cultivable land and the
shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must be imported. The
Maldivian Government implemented economic reforms, beginning in 1989
that initially lifted import quotas, opened some exports to the
private sector, and liberalized regulations to allow more foreign
investment. Real GDP growth averaged over 7.5% per year for more
than a decade, and registered 18% in 2006, due to a rebound in
tourism and reconstruction following the tsunami of December 2004.
GDP slowed in 2007-08, then contracted in 2009 due to the global
recession. Falling tourist arrivals and fish exports, combined with
high government spending on social needs, subsidies, and civil
servant salaries contributed to a balance of payments crisis, which
was eased with a December 2009, $79.3 million dollar IMF standby
agreement. Diversifying the economy beyond tourism and fishing,
reforming public finance, and increasing employment opportunities
are major challenges facing the government. Over the longer term
Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and possible
global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area is 1
meter or less above sea level.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.767 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
$1.708 billion (2009 est.)
$1.763 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.433 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
-3.1% (2009 est.)
6.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
$4,300 (2009 est.)
$4,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.6%
industry: 16.9%
services: 77.5% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
144,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 177
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 11%
industry: 23%
services: 65% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14.4% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Population below poverty line:
16% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
12.3% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
13% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 27
13% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
13% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$460 million (31 October 2009)
country comparison to the world: 159
$475.2 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$1.065 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 161
$946.1 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.548 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
$1.08 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Industries:
tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut
processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand
mining
Industrial production growth rate:
-0.9% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Electricity - production:
542 million kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Electricity - consumption:
542 million kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Oil - consumption:
6,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Oil - imports:
5,490 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Current account balance:
-$370 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
-$638 million (2008 est.)
Exports:
$88 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
$125 million (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish
Exports - partners:
France 17.01%, Thailand 15.16%, Italy 13.49%, UK 13.13%, Sri Lanka
12.38% (2009)
Imports:
$782 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
$1.221 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, clothing, intermediate and
capital goods
Imports - partners:
Singapore 24.62%, UAE 15.7%, India 11.02%, Malaysia 8.98%, Sri Lanka
5.4%, Thailand 5.36% (2009)
Debt - external:
$589 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
$477 million (2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar - 12.8 (2009), 12.8 (2008), 12.8 (2007),
12.8 (2006)
Communications ::Maldives
Telephones - main lines in use:
49,913 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 161
Telephones - mobile cellular:
461,149 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 159
Telephone system:
general assessment: telephone services have improved; interatoll
communication through microwave links; all inhabited islands and
resorts are connected with telephone and fax service
domestic: each island now has at least 1 public telephone, and there
are mobile-cellular networks with a rapidly expanding subscribership
that exceeds 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 960; linked to international submarine
cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earth
station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-owned radio and television monopoly until recently; by
mid-2008 there were 5 radio broadcast stations operating; first
private cable TV channel now operational with an additional 4
private TV channels in the regulatory pipeline (2008)
Internet country code:
.mv
Internet hosts:
2,164 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 153
Internet users:
86,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 163
Transportation ::Maldives
Airports:
5 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 178
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 88 km
country comparison to the world: 214
paved roads: 88 km - 60 km in Male; 14 km on Addu Atolis; 14 km on
Laamu
note: village roads are mainly compacted coral (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 24
country comparison to the world: 95
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 20, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated
cargo 2
registered in other countries: 4 (Panama 3, Tuvalu 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Male
Military ::Maldives
Military branches:
Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF): Marine Corps, Security
Protection Group, Coast Guard (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-28 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 158,307
females age 16-49: 97,166 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 137,181
females age 16-49: 83,837 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 4,369
female: 3,765 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
5.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Military - note:
the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), with its small size and
with little serviceable equipment, is inadequate to prevent external
aggression and is primarily tasked to reinforce the Maldives Police
Service (MPS) and ensure security in the exclusive economic zone
(2008)
Transnational Issues ::Maldives
Disputes - international:
none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 1,000-10,000 (December 2004 tsunami victims) (2007)
page last updated on January 24, 2011
======================================================================
@Mali (Africa)
Introduction ::Mali
Background:
The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in
1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few
months, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamed
Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 by a
military coup - led by the current president Amadou TOURE - enabling
Mali's emergence as one of the strongest democracies on the
continent. President Alpha KONARE won Mali's first democratic
presidential election in 1992 and was reelected in 1997. In keeping
with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, KONARE stepped down in
2002 and was succeeded by Amadou TOURE, who was subsequently elected
to a second term in 2007. The elections were widely judged to be
free and fair.
Geography ::Mali
Location:
Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Geographic coordinates:
17 00 N, 4 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1,240,192 sq km
country comparison to the world: 24
land: 1,220,190 sq km
water: 20,002 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 7,243 km
border countries: Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 km, Guinea
858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km,
Senegal 419 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid,
and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February)
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in
south, rugged hills in northeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Senegal River 23 m
highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m
Natural resources:
gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite,
hydropower
note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are
known but not exploited
Land use:
arable land: 3.76%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 96.21% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,360 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
100 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 6.55 cu km/yr (9%/1%/90%)
per capita: 484 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring
droughts; occasional Niger River flooding
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of
potable water; poaching
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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern,
cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the
northern, arid Saharan
People ::Mali
Population:
13,796,354 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47.6% (male 3,220,491/female 3,177,823)
15-64 years: 49.5% (male 3,241,250/female 3,406,757)
65 years and over: 3% (male 189,886/female 207,018) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.2 years
male: 15.8 years
female: 16.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.607% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Birth rate:
46.09 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Death rate:
14.64 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Net migration rate:
-5.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Urbanization:
urban population: 32% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 113.66 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 4
male: 120.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 106.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.17 years
country comparison to the world: 208
male: 50.59 years
female: 53.8 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.54 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
100,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
5,800 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
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 (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Malian(s)
adjective: Malian
Ethnic groups:
Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%,
Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%
Religions:
Muslim 90%, Christian 1%, indigenous beliefs 9%
Languages:
French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 46.4%
male: 53.5%
female: 39.6% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male: 9 years
female: 7 years (2009)
Education expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 117
Government ::Mali
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mali
conventional short form: Mali
local long form: Republique de Mali
local short form: Mali
former: French Sudan and Sudanese Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Bamako
geographic coordinates: 12 39 N, 8 00 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao, Kayes, Kidal,
Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou
Independence:
22 September 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 22 September (1960)
Constitution:
adopted 12 January 1992
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review
of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Amadou Toumani TOURE (since 8 June 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Modibo SIDIBE (since 28 September
2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 April 2007
(next to be held in April 2012); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: Amadou Toumani TOURE reelected president; percent
of vote - Amadou Toumani TOURE 71.2%, Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA 19.2%,
other 9.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 1 and 22 July 2007 (next to be held in July
2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
ADP coalition 113 (ADEMA 51, URD 34, MPR 8, CNID 7, UDD 3, and other
10), FDR coalition 15 (RPM 11, PARENA 4), SADI 4, independent 15
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence or SADI [Oumar
MARIKO, secretary general]; Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA
[Diounconda TRAORE]; Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP (a
coalition of political parties including ADEMA and URD formed in
December 2006 to support the presidential candidacy of Amadou
TOURE); Alliance for Democratic Change (political group comprised
mainly of Tuareg from Mali's northern region); Convergence 2007
[Soumeylou Boubeye MAIGA]; Front for Democracy and the Republic or
FDR (a coalition of political parties including RPM and PARENA
formed to oppose the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE);
National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL];
Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Mady KONATE]; Party for
National Renewal or PARENA [Tiebile DRAME]; Patriotic Movement for
Renewal or MPR [Choguel MAIGA]; Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT
[Amadou Ali NIANGADOU]; Rally for Mali or RPM [Ibrahim Boubacar
KEITA]; Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou
Basir GOLOGO]; Union for Democracy and Development or UDD [Moussa
Balla COULIBALY]; Union for Republic and Democracy or URD [Soumaila
CISSE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: the army; Islamic authorities; rebels in the northern region;
state-run cotton company CMDT; tuaregs
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional),
WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mamadou TRAORE
chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gillian A. MILOVANOVIC
embassy: located just off the Roi Bin Fahad Aziz Bridge just west of
the Bamako central district
mailing address: ACI 2000, Rue 243, Porte 297, Bamako
telephone: [223] 270-2300
FAX: [223] 270-2479
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors
from left to right are the same as those of neighboring Senegal
(which has an additional green central star) and the reverse of
those on the flag of neighboring Guinea
National anthem:
name: "Le Mali" (Mali)
lyrics/music: Seydou Badian KOUYATE/Banzoumana SISSOKO
note: adopted 1962; the anthem is also known as "Pour L'Afrique et
pour toi, Mali" (For Africa and for You, Mali) and "A ton appel
Mali" (At Your Call, Mali)
Economy ::Mali
Economy - overview:
Among the 25 poorest countries in the world, Mali is a landlocked
country highly dependent on gold mining and agricultural exports for
revenue. The country's fiscal status fluctuates with gold and
agricultural commodity prices and the harvest. Mali remains
dependent on foreign aid. Economic activity is largely confined to
the riverine area irrigated by the Niger River and about 65% of its
land area is desert or semidesert. About 10% of the population is
nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and
fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm
commodities. The government has continued an IMF-recommended
structural adjustment program that has helped the economy grow,
diversify, and attract foreign investment. Mali is developing its
cotton and iron ore extraction industries to diversify its revenue
sources because gold production has started to fall. Mali has
invested in tourism but security issues are hurting the industry.
Mali's adherence to economic reform and the 50% devaluation of the
CFA franc in January 1994 have pushed up economic growth to a 5%
average in 1996-2010. Worker remittances and external trade routes
for the landlocked country have been jeopardized by continued unrest
in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire, however, Mali is building a road
network that will connect it to all adjacent countries and it has a
railway line to Senegal. In 2010, Mali experienced a regional
drought that hurt livestock and livelihoods.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$16.74 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
$15.91 billion (2009 est.)
$15.24 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$9.077 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
4.4% (2009 est.)
5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
$1,200 (2009 est.)
$1,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 45%
industry: 17%
services: 38% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
3.241 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
30% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Population below poverty line:
36.1% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 30.5% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40.1 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 61
50.5 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 97
4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.758 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 124
$1.559 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$2.514 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
$2.12 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$994.9 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 150
$1.095 billion (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries:
food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
515 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Electricity - consumption:
479 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh; note - recent hydropower developments may be providing
electricity to Senegal and Mauritania (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Oil - consumption:
6,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Oil - imports:
4,402 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Current account balance:
-$446 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Exports:
$294 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 174
Exports - commodities:
cotton, gold, livestock
Exports - partners:
China 14.61%, Thailand 8.28%, Pakistan 6.74%, Morocco 6.48%, Burkina
Faso 4.67%, France 4.6%, India 4.45% (2009)
Imports:
$2.358 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 149
Imports - commodities:
petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials,
foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:
Senegal 12.21%, France 11.57%, Cote d'Ivoire 10.05%, China 5.89%
(2009)
Debt - external:
$2.8 billion (2002)
country comparison to the world: 133
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 506.04
(2009), 447.81 (2008), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006)
note: since 1 January 1999, the West African CFA franc (XOF) has
been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro;
West African CFA franc (XOF) coins and banknotes are not accepted in
countries using Central African CFA francs (XAF), and vice versa,
even though the two currencies trade at par
Communications ::Mali
Telephones - main lines in use:
81,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 148
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.742 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 107
Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic system unreliable but improving;
increasing use of local radio loops to extend network coverage to
remote areas
domestic: fixed-line subscribership remains less than 1 per 100
persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has increased sharply to
nearly 30 per 100 persons
international: country code - 223; satellite communications center
and fiber-optic links to neighboring countries; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Indian Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:
national public TV broadcaster; 2 privately-owned companies provide
subscription services to foreign multi-channel TV packages; national
public radio broadcaster supplemented by a large number of
privately-owned and community broadcast stations; transmissions of
multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.ml
Internet hosts:
524 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 179
Internet users:
249,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 135
Transportation ::Mali
Airports:
20 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 134
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Railways:
total: 593 km
country comparison to the world: 111
narrow gauge: 593 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 18,709 km
country comparison to the world: 114
paved: 3,368 km
unpaved: 15,341 km (2004)
Waterways:
1,800 km (downstream of Koulikoro; low water levels on the River
Niger cause problems in dry years; in the months before the rainy
season the river is not navigable by commercial vessels) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 46
Ports and terminals:
Koulikoro
Military ::Mali
Military branches:
Malian Armed Forces: Army, Republic of Mali Air Force (Force
Aerienne de la Republique du Mali, FARM), National Guard (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 2 years (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,759,648
females age 16-49: 2,894,776 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,760,901
females age 16-49: 1,900,025 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 153,198
female: 154,762 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.9% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 78
Transnational Issues ::Mali
Disputes - international:
none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 6,300 (Mauritania) (2007)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Malta (Europe)
Introduction ::Malta
Background:
Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The
island staunchly supported the UK through both world wars and
remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. A
decade later Malta became a republic. Since about the mid-1980s, the
island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a
financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU
member in May 2004 and began using the euro as currency in 2008.
Geography ::Malta
Location:
Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily
(Italy)
Geographic coordinates:
35 50 N, 14 35 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 316 sq km
country comparison to the world: 207
land: 316 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
196.8 km (excludes 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
Climate:
Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:
mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
Natural resources:
limestone, salt, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 31.25%
permanent crops: 3.13%
other: 65.62% (2005)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
0.07 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.02 cu km/yr (74%/1%/25%)
per capita: 50 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on
desalination
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest
islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) being
inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia are
discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf
between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
People ::Malta
Population:
406,771 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 33,526/female 31,780)
15-64 years: 69.4% (male 142,491/female 138,769)
65 years and over: 14.5% (male 25,406/female 33,193) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.7 years
male: 38.5 years
female: 41.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.391% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Birth rate:
10.38 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Death rate:
8.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Net migration rate:
2.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Urbanization:
urban population: 94% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.058 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.72 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 209
male: 4.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.59 years
country comparison to the world: 32
male: 77.34 years
female: 81.97 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.52 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Nationality:
noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: Maltese
Ethnic groups:
Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with
strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 98%
Languages:
Maltese (official) 90.2%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%,
other 0.8% (2005 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 91.7%
female: 93.9% (2005 Census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
4.8% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 81
Government ::Malta
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta
local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
local short form: Malta
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Valletta
geographic coordinates: 35 53 N, 14 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:
none (administered directly from Valletta); note - local councils
carry out administrative orders and have some responsibility for
local road and other public maintenance
Independence:
21 September 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December
(1974)
Constitution:
1964; amended many times
Legal system:
based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President George ABELA (since 4 April 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March
2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the
prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by a resolution of the House of
Representatives for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
election last held on 12 January 2009 (next to be held by April
2014); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime
minister by the president for a five-year term; the deputy prime
minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime
minister
election results: George ABELA elected president by the House of
Representatives
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Representatives (normally 65 seats; members are
elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation
to serve five-year terms; note - the Parliament elected in 2008 is
composed of 69 seats; when the political party winning the plurality
of votes does not win a majority of seats, the constitution provides
that a sufficient number of seats will be added to Parliament to
ensure that the party that won the elections has a majority in
Parliament)
elections: last held on 8 March 2008 (next to be held by March 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - PN 49.3%, PL 48.8%,
other 1.9%; seats by party - PN 35, PL 34
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Court of First Instance; Court of Appeal
note: magistrates and judges for the courts are appointed by the
president on the advice of the prime minister
Political parties and leaders:
Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Michael
BRIGUGLIO]; Azzjoni Nazzjonaili or AN [Josi MUSCAT]; Malta Labor
Party or PL [Joseph MUSCAT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Alleanza Liberal-Demokratika Maltra or ALDM (for divorce, abortion,
gay marriage, the rights existent in other EU member states);
Alleanza Nazzionali Repubblikana or ANR (for traditional values,
anti-immigration); Alternattiva Demokratika (pro-environment);
Azzjoni Nazzjonali or AN (freedom to participate in democratic
government); Flimkien Ghal-Ambjent Ahjar (pro-environment); Ghazda
tal-Konsumaturi (consumer rights)
other: environmentalists
International organization participation:
Australia Group, C, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina
(observer), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark MICELI-FARRUGIA
chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611 through 3612
FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas W. KMIEC
embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,
FRN 9010
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, VLT1000
telephone: [356] 2561 4000
FAX: [356] 2124 3229
Flag description:
two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper
hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in
red; according to legend, the colors are taken from the red and
white checkered banner of Count Roger of Sicily who removed a
bi-colored corner and granted it to Malta in 1091; an uncontested
explanation is that the colors are those of the Knights of Saint
John who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798; in 1942, King George VI of
the United Kingdom awarded the George Cross to the islanders for
their exceptional bravery and gallantry in World War II; since
independence in 1964, the George Cross bordered in red has appeared
directly on the white field
National anthem:
name: "L-Innu Malti" (The Hymn of Malta)
lyrics/music: Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT
note: adopted 1945; the anthem is written in the form of a prayer
Economy ::Malta
Economy - overview:
Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited fresh
water supplies, and has few domestic energy sources. Malta's
geographic position between the EU and Africa makes it a target for
illegal immigration, which has strained Malta's political and
economic resources. Malta adopted the euro on 1 January 2008.
Malta's financial services industry has grown in recent years and in
2008-09 it escaped significant damage from the international
financial crisis, largely because the sector is centered on the
indigenous real estate market and is not highly leveraged. Locally,
the restricted damage from the financial crisis has been attributed
to the stability of the Maltese banking system and to its prudent
risk-management practices. The global economic downturn and high
electricity and water prices hurt Malta's real economy, which is
dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing - especially electronics
and pharmaceuticals - and tourism, but growth bounced back as the
global economy recovered in 2010. Following a 1.2% contraction in
2009, GDP grew 2% in 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$10.21 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
$10.01 billion (2009 est.)
$10.13 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$7.801 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
-1.2% (2009 est.)
1.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$25,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$24,700 (2009 est.)
$25,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.7%
industry: 17.4%
services: 80.9% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
174,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1.6%
industry: 22.8%
services: 75.6% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
6% (2008 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 128
Investment (gross fixed):
14.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Public debt:
72.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
69% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
2.1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 127
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
4.47% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
5.89% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$5.195 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 86
$4.956 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: this figure represents the US dollar value of Maltese liri in
circulation prior to Malta joining the Economic and Monetary Union
(EMU); see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro
area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 16 members of the EMU; individual members of the EMU do not
control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$14.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$13.74 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$13.69 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
$12.91 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.982 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 85
$3.572 billion (31 December 2008)
$5.633 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut
flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
Industries:
tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food
and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco,
aviation services, financial services, information technology
services
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
2.146 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Electricity - consumption:
1.832 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Oil - consumption:
19,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Oil - imports:
17,910 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Current account balance:
-$403 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
-$491 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$2.954 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
$2.383 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
electrical machinery, mechanical appliances, fish and crustaceans,
pharmaceutical products, printed material
Exports - partners:
Germany 13.3%, Singapore 12.5%, France 11.4%, US 9.4%, Hong Kong
6.5%, UK 5.9%, Italy 4.8% (2009)
Imports:
$4.074 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
$3.595 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral fuels and oils, electrical machinery, non-electrical
machinery, aircraft and other transport equipment, plastic and other
semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, tobacco
Imports - partners:
Italy 24.4%, UK 11.7%, Germany 9.3%, France 7.6%, China 4.2%,
Singapore 4.11%, Switzerland 4.05% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$522 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
$538.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$41.02 billion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 57
$3.75 billion (2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$8.24 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 81
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7732 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.3106 (2007), 0.37 (2006)
Communications ::Malta
Telephones - main lines in use:
252,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 122
Telephones - mobile cellular:
422,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 164
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic system featuring submarine cable and
microwave radio relay between islands
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership
exceeds 165 per 100 persons
international: country code - 356; submarine cable connects to
Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:
1 publicly-owned television station, Television Malta (TVM); several
national television stations, two of which are owned by political
parties; Italian and British broadcast programs are available;
multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are obtainable;
publicly-owned radio broadcaster operates 2 stations; roughly 50
commercial radio stations functioning (2008)
Internet country code:
.mt
Internet hosts:
24,941 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 102
Internet users:
240,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 137
Transportation ::Malta
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 217
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 2,227 km
country comparison to the world: 171
paved: 2,014 km
unpaved: 213 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 1,571
country comparison to the world: 4
by type: bulk carrier 522, cargo 377, carrier 1, chemical tanker
280, container 91, liquefied gas 31, passenger 45, passenger/cargo
22, petroleum tanker 141, refrigerated cargo 14, roll on/roll off
30, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 15
foreign-owned: 1,401 (Angola 7, Austria 1, Azerbaijan 1, Bahamas 1,
Bangladesh 1, Belgium 14, Bermuda 8, Bulgaria 7, Canada 1, China 11,
Croatia 7, Cyprus 29, Denmark 41, Egypt 1, Estonia 16, Finland 2,
France 13, Germany 127, Greece 458, Hong Kong 2, India 4, Iran 56,
Ireland 1, Israel 5, Italy 52, Japan 5, Kuwait 2, Latvia 11, Lebanon
7, Libya 4, Luxembourg 3, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 2, Nigeria 1,
Norway 84, Poland 22, Portugal 3, Romania 8, Russia 47, Singapore 3,
Slovenia 4, South Korea 3, Spain 10, Sweden 3, Switzerland 14, Syria
5, Turkey 211, UAE 1, UK 16, Ukraine 30, US 35)
registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport), Valletta
Military ::Malta
Military branches:
Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime elements)
(2010)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 95,899
females age 16-49: 91,412 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 79,961
females age 16-49: 76,067 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,570
female: 2,410 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.7% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Transnational Issues ::Malta
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western
Europe
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Marshall Islands (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Marshall Islands
Background:
After almost four decades under US administration as the easternmost
part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Marshall
Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compact of Free
Association. Compensation claims continue as a result of US nuclear
testing on some of the atolls between 1947 and 1962. The Marshall
Islands hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) Reagan Missile
Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defense network.
Geography ::Marshall Islands
Location:
Oceania, two archipelagic island chains of 29 atolls, each made up
of many small islets, and five single islands in the North Pacific
Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia
Geographic coordinates:
9 00 N, 168 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 181 sq km
country comparison to the world: 216
land: 181 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: the archipelago includes 11,673 sq km of lagoon waters and
includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro,
Rongelap, and Utirik
Area - comparative:
about the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
370.4 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border
typhoon belt
Terrain:
low coral limestone and sand islands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m
Natural resources:
coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Land use:
arable land: 11.11%
permanent crops: 44.44%
other: 44.45% (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
infrequent typhoons
Environment - current issues:
inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon
from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the islands of Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites;
Kwajalein atoll, famous as a World War II battleground, surrounds
the world's largest lagoon and is used as a US missile test range;
the island city of Ebeye is the second largest settlement in the
Marshall Islands, after the capital of Majuro, and one of the most
densely populated locations in the Pacific
People ::Marshall Islands
Population:
65,859 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.6% (male 12,683/female 12,217)
15-64 years: 58.5% (male 19,302/female 18,459)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 902/female 959) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.5 years
male: 21.5 years
female: 21.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.023% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Birth rate:
29.94 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Death rate:
4.42 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Net migration rate:
-5.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Urbanization:
urban population: 71% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 24.57 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 86
male: 27.61 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.48 years
country comparison to the world: 130
male: 69.41 years
female: 73.65 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.51 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)
adjective: Marshallese
Ethnic groups:
Marshallese 92.1%, mixed Marshallese 5.9%, other 2% (2006)
Religions:
Protestant 54.8%, Assembly of God 25.8%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, Bukot
nan Jesus 2.8%, Mormon 2.1%, other Christian 3.6%, other 1%, none
1.5% (1999 census)
Languages:
Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 census)
note: English (official), widely spoken as a second language
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 93.6%
female: 93.7% (1999)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2003)
Education expenditures:
12.3% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 4
Government ::Marshall Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
conventional short form: Marshall Islands
local long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
local short form: Marshall Islands
abbreviation: RMI
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands
District
Government type:
constitutional government in free association with the US; the
Compact of Free Association entered into force on 21 October 1986
and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004
Capital:
name: Majuro
geographic coordinates: 7 06 N, 171 23 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
33 municipalities; Ailinginae, Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur,
Bikar, Bikini, Bokak, Ebon, Enewetak, Erikub, Jabat, Jaluit, Jemo,
Kili, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili,
Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Rongrik, Toke, Ujae, Ujelang, Utirik,
Wotho, Wotje
Independence:
21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)
Constitution:
1 May 1979
Legal system:
based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,
municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jurelang ZEDKAIA (since 2 November 2009);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Jurelang ZEDKAIA (since 2 November
2009)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of
the legislature
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by Nitijela (legislature) from among
its members for a four-year term; election last held on 7 January
2008 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: Litokwa TOMEING removed as president by no
confidence vote on 21 October 2009; legislature elects ZEDKAIA
president on 26 October 2009
Legislative branch:
unicameral legislature or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 19 November 2007 (next to be held by
November 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
independents 4
note: the Council of Chiefs or Ironij is a 12-member body comprised
of tribal chiefs that advises on matters affecting customary law and
practice
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; High Court; Traditional Rights Court
Political parties and leaders:
traditionally there have been no formally organized political
parties; what has existed more closely resembles factions or
interest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formal
platforms, or party structures; the following two "groupings" have
competed in legislative balloting in recent years - Aelon Kein Ad
Party [Michael KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa
TOMEING]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Banny DEBRUM
chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236
consulate(s) general: Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Martha L. CAMPBELL
embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro
mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall
Islands 96960-1379
telephone: [692] 247-4011
FAX: [692] 247-4012
Flag description:
blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner -
orange (top) and white; a white star with four large rays and 20
small rays appears on the hoist side above the two stripes; blue
represents the Pacific Ocean, the orange stripe signifies the Ralik
Chain or sunset and courage, while the white stripe signifies the
Ratak Chain or sunrise and peace; the star symbolizes the cross of
Christianity, each of the 24 rays designates one of the electoral
districts in the country and the four larger rays highlight the
principal cultural centers of Majuro, Jaluit, Wotje, and Ebeye; the
rising diagonal band can also be interpreted as representing the
equator, with the star showing the archipelago's position just to
the north
National anthem:
name: "Forever Marshall Islands"
lyrics/music: Amata KABUA
note: adopted 1981
Economy ::Marshall Islands
Economy - overview:
US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny island
economy. The Marshall Islands received more than $1 billion in aid
from the US from 1986-2002. Agricultural production, primarily
subsistence, is concentrated on small farms; the most important
commercial crops are coconuts and breadfruit. Small-scale industry
is limited to handicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. The tourist
industry, now a small source of foreign exchange employing less than
10% of the labor force, remains the best hope for future added
income. The islands have few natural resources, and imports far
exceed exports. Under the terms of the Amended Compact of Free
Association, the US will provide millions of dollars per year to the
Marshall Islands (RMI) through 2023, at which time a Trust Fund made
up of US and RMI contributions will begin perpetual annual payouts.
Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, the decline
in tourism, and less income from the renewal of fishing vessel
licenses have held GDP growth to an average of 1% over the past
decade.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$133.5 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
$115 million (2001 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$161.7 million (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
3.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,500 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
$2,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 31.7%
industry: 14.9%
services: 53.4% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
14,680 (2000)
country comparison to the world: 212
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 21.4%
industry: 20.9%
services: 57.7% (2000)
Unemployment rate:
36% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
30.9% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12.9% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
3% (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens
Industries:
copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items (from seashells, wood,
and pearls)
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Exports:
$19.4 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
$9.1 million (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities:
copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish
Imports:
$79.4 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
$54.7 million (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco
Debt - external:
$87 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
$86.5 million (FY99/00 est.)
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications ::Marshall Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
4,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 214
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 218
Telephone system:
general assessment: digital switching equipment; modern services
include telex, cellular, Internet, international calling, caller ID,
and leased data circuits
domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular,
seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by
high frequency radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)
and mini-satellite telephones
international: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications
system on Kwajalein (2005)
Broadcast media:
no television broadcast station; a cable network is available on
Majuro with programming via videotape replay and satellite relays; 4
radio broadcast stations; American Armed Forces Radio and Television
Service (AFRTS) provides satellite radio and television service to
Kwajalein Atoll (2009)
Internet country code:
.mh
Internet hosts:
3 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 230
Internet users:
2,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 209
Transportation ::Marshall Islands
Airports:
15 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 147
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 2,028 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2007)
country comparison to the world: 174
Merchant marine:
total: 1,381
country comparison to the world: 7
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 415, cargo 63, chemical
tanker 314, combination ore/oil 2, container 206, liquefied gas 83,
passenger 7, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 259, refrigerated
cargo 14, roll on/roll off 9, vehicle carrier 7
foreign-owned: 1,284 (Australia 1, Bermuda 34, Brazil 1, Canada 4,
China 16, Croatia 12, Cyprus 38, Denmark 7, Egypt 1, Germany 247,
Greece 358, Hong Kong 3, India 8, Iraq 2, Isle of Man 2, Israel 1,
Italy 1, Japan 41, Jersey 9, Latvia 18, Malaysia 11, Mexico 4,
Monaco 21, Netherlands 16, Norway 57, Pakistan 1, Qatar 24, Romania
2, Russia 6, Singapore 28, Slovenia 6, South Korea 25, Switzerland
12, Taiwan 2, Turkey 72, UAE 17, UK 7, Ukraine 1, US 168) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Enitwetak Island, Kwajalein, Majuro
Military ::Marshall Islands
Military branches:
no regular military forces; under the 1983 Compact of Free
Association, the US has full authority and responsibility for
security and defense of the Marshall Islands; Marshall Islands
Police (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 16,138 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 13,277
females age 16-49: 13,374 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 602
female: 580 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues ::Marshall Islands
Disputes - international:
claims US territory of Wake Island
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Mauritania (Africa)
Introduction ::Mauritania
Background:
Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southern
third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976 but
relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario
guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Maaouya Ould
Sid Ahmed TAYA seized power in a coup in 1984 and ruled Mauritania
with a heavy hand for more than two decades. A series of
presidential elections that he held were widely seen as flawed. A
bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President TAYA and ushered in
a military council that oversaw a transition to democratic rule.
Independent candidate Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDALLAHI was inaugurated in
April 2007 as Mauritania's first freely and fairly elected
president. His term ended prematurely in August 2008 when a military
junta led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ deposed him and ushered
in a military council government. AZIZ was subsequently elected
president in July 2009. The country continues to experience ethnic
tensions among its black population (Afro-Mauritanians) and white
and black Moor (Arab-Berber) communities, and is having to confront
a growing terrorism threat by al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb
(AQIM).
Geography ::Mauritania
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal
and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 N, 12 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1,030,700 sq km
country comparison to the world: 29
land: 1,030,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 5,074 km
border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km,
Western Sahara 1,561 km
Coastline:
754 km
Maritime claims:
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:
desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Terrain:
mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m
Natural resources:
iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish
Land use:
arable land: 0.2%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99.79% (2005)
Irrigated land:
490 sq km (2002)
Total renewable water resources:
11.4 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.7 cu km/yr (9%/3%/88%)
per capita: 554 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and
April; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought
are contributing to desertification; limited natural fresh water
resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial river;
locust infestation
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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
most of the population is concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott
and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of
the country
People ::Mauritania
Population:
3,205,060 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41% (male 643,436/female 638,793)
15-64 years: 55.7% (male 818,778/female 923,046)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 44,836/female 60,597) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.3 years
male: 18.5 years
female: 20.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.373% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Birth rate:
33.67 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Death rate:
9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Net migration rate:
-0.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Urbanization:
urban population: 41% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 61.94 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 34
male: 67.13 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 56.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.75 years
country comparison to the world: 184
male: 58.57 years
female: 62.99 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.37 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
14,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and Rift Valley fever
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Mauritanian(s)
adjective: Mauritanian
Ethnic groups:
mixed Moor/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%
Religions:
Muslim 100%
Languages:
Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national
languages), French, Hassaniya
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.2%
male: 59.5%
female: 43.4% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male: 8 years
female: 8 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
4.4% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 95
Government ::Mauritania
Country name:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional short form: Mauritania
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
local short form: Muritaniyah
Government type:
military junta
Capital:
name: Nouakchott
geographic coordinates: 18 07 N, 16 02 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
13 regions (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Assaba, Brakna,
Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh ech Chargui, Hodh El
Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza
Independence:
28 November 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Constitution:
12 July 1991
Legal system:
a combination of Islamic law and French civil law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ (since 5 August
2009); note - AZIZ, who deposed democratically elected President
Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDELLAHI in a coup and installed himself as
President of the High State Council on 6 August 2008, retired from
the military and stepped down from the Presidency in April 2009 to
run for president; he was elected president in an election held on
18 July 2009
head of government: Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed LAGHDAF
(since 14 August 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: following the August 2008 coup, the High State Council
planned to hold a new presidential election in June 2009; the
election was subsequently rescheduled to 18 July 2009 following the
Dakar Accords, which brought Mauritania back to constitutional rule;
under Mauritania's constitution, the president elected by popular
vote for a five-year term; election last held on 18 July 2009 (next
to be held by 2014)
election results: percent of vote - Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ 52.6%,
Messaoud Ould BOULKHEIR 16.3%, Ahmed Ould DADDAH 13.7%, Other 17.4%
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh
(56 seats; 53 members elected by municipal leaders and 3 members
elected for Mauritanians abroad to serve six-year terms; a portion
of seats up for election every two years) and the National Assembly
or Al Jamiya Al Wataniya (95 seats; members elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on November 2009; National Assembly -
last held on 19 November and 3 December 2006 (next to be held in
2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - CPM (Coalition of Majority Parties) 45, COD (Coordination of
Democratic Opposition) 7, RNRD-TAWASSOUL 4; National Assembly -
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPM 63 (UPR 50, PRDR
7, UDP 3, HATEM-PMUC 2, RD 1), COD 27 (RFD 9, UFP 6, APP 6,
PNDD-ADIL 6), RNRD-TAWASSOUL 4, FP 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts
Political parties and leaders:
Alternative or El-Badil [Mohamed Yahdhi Ould MOCTAR HACEN];
Coalition of Majority Parties or CPM (parties supporting the regime
including PRDR, UPR, RD, HATEM-PMUC, UCD); Coordination of
Democratic Opposition or COD (coalition of opposition political
parties opposed to the government including APP, RFD, UFP,
PNDD-ADIL, Alternative or El-Badil); Democratic Renewal or RD
[Moustapha Ould ABDEIDARRAHMANE]; Mauritanian Party for Unity and
Change or HATEM-PMUC [Saleh Ould HANENA]; National Pact for
Democracy and Development or PNDD-ADIL [Yahya Ould Ahmed Ould
WAGHEF] (independents formerly supporting President Abdellahi);
National Rally for Freedom, Democracy and Equality or RNDLE;
National Rally for Reform and Development/RNRD-TAWASSOUL [Mohamed
Jamil MANSOUR] (moderate Islamists); Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih
Ould CHEIKH MALAININE]; Popular Progressive Alliance or APP [Messoud
Ould BOULKHEIR]; Rally of Democratic Forces or RFD [Ahmed Ould
DADDAH]; Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal or PRDR [Mintata
Mint HDEID]; Socialist and Democratic Unity Party or PUDS; Union for
Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]; Union for the
Republic or UPR; Union of Democratic Center or UCD [Cheikh Sid'Ahmed
Ould BABA]; Union of the Forces for Progress or UFP [Mohamed Ould
MAOULOUD];
Political pressure groups and leaders:
General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould
MOHAMED, secretary general]; Independent Confederation of
Mauritanian Workers or CLTM [Samory Ould BEYE]; Mauritanian Workers
Union or UTM [Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM, secretary general]
other: Arab nationalists; Ba'thists; Islamists
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM,
OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Lemine EL HAYCEN
chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700 through 5701
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark M. BOULWARE
embassy: 288 Rue Abdallaye, Rue 42-100 (between Presidency building
and Spanish Embassy), Nouakchott
mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott
telephone: [222] 525-2660 through 2663
FAX: [222] 525-1592
Flag description:
green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal
crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent,
star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; the gold
color stands for the sands of the Sahara
National anthem:
name: "Hymne National de la Republique Islamique de Mauritanie"
(National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania)
lyrics/music: Baba Ould CHEIKH/traditional, arranged by Tolia
NIKIPROWETZKY
note: adopted 1960; the unique rhythm of the Mauritanian anthem
makes it particularly challenging to sing
Economy ::Mauritania
Economy - overview:
Half the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a
livelihood, even though many of the nomads and subsistence farmers
were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s and
1980s. Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore, which account
for nearly 40% of total exports. The nation's coastal waters are
among the richest fishing areas in the world but overexploitation by
foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. The country's first
deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986. Before 2000, drought
and economic mismanagement resulted in a buildup of foreign debt. In
February 2000, Mauritania qualified for debt relief under the
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and nearly all of
its foreign debt has since been forgiven. A new investment code
approved in December 2001 improved the opportunities for direct
foreign investment. Mauritania and the IMF agreed to a three-year
Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) arrangement in 2006.
Mauritania made satisfactory progress, but the IMF, World Bank, and
other international actors suspended assistance and investment in
Mauritania after the August 2008 coup. Since the presidential
election in July 2009, donors have resumed assistance. Oil
prospects, while initially promising, have largely failed to
materialize, and the government has placed a priority on attracting
private investment to spur economic growth. The Government also
emphasizes reduction of poverty, improvement of health and
education, and privatization of the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$6.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
$6.476 billion (2009 est.)
$6.542 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.486 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
-1% (2009 est.)
3.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
$2,100 (2009 est.)
$2,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.5%
industry: 46.7%
services: 40.7% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
1.318 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 135
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 50%
industry: 10%
services: 40% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
30% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
20% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
40% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 29.5% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39 (2000)
country comparison to the world: 71
37.3 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 33
12% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA%
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep
Industries:
fish processing, oil production, mining of iron ore, gold, and copper
note: gypsum deposits have never been exploited
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Electricity - production:
415.3 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Electricity - consumption:
386.2 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
16,510 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Oil - consumption:
20,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Oil - exports:
30,620 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Oil - imports:
20,610 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Oil - proved reserves:
100 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Natural gas - proved reserves:
28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Current account balance:
-$184 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Exports:
$1.395 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 141
Exports - commodities:
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold, copper, petroleum
Exports - partners:
China 42.06%, Italy 9.71%, Japan 7.57%, Cote d'Ivoire 6.16%, Spain
5.63%, Netherlands 4.32% (2009)
Imports:
$1.475 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 163
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods,
foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
France 14.3%, Netherlands 10.33%, China 9.94%, Brazil 5.58%, Belgium
4.87%, Germany 4.04%, Spain 4.02% (2009)
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - 261.5 (2010 est.), 262.4 (2009),
238.2 (2008), 258.6 (2007), 271.3 (2006)
Communications ::Mauritania
Telephones - main lines in use:
74,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 151
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.182 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 130
Telephone system:
general assessment: limited system of cable and open-wire lines,
minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications
stations; mobile-cellular services expanding rapidly
domestic: Mauritel, the national telecommunications company, was
privatized in 2001 but remains the monopoly provider of fixed-line
services; fixed-line teledensity 2 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular
network coverage extends mainly to urban areas with a teledensity of
70 per 100 persons; mostly cable and open-wire lines; a domestic
satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional
capitals
international: country code - 222; satellite earth stations - 3 (1
Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean, 2 Arabsat); optical-fiber and Asymmetric
Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) cables for internet access (2008)
Broadcast media:
broadcast media state-owned; 1 state-run TV and 1 state-run radio
network; Television de Mauritanie, the state-run TV station, has an
additional 6 regional TV stations that provide local programming
(2008)
Internet country code:
.mr
Internet hosts:
23 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 216
Internet users:
75,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 169
Transportation ::Mauritania
Airports:
28 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 120
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Railways:
728 km
standard gauge: 728 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 11,066 km
country comparison to the world: 133
paved: 2,966 km
unpaved: 8,100 km (2006)
Waterways:
some navigation possible on Senegal River (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Nouadhibou, Nouakchott
Military ::Mauritania
Military branches:
Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Mauritanian Navy (Marine
Mauritanienne; includes naval infantry), Islamic Air Force of
Mauritania (Force Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie, FAIM) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 2 years;
majority of servicemen believed to be volunteers; service in Air
Force and Navy is voluntary (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 699,028
females age 16-49: 783,108 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 464,959
females age 16-49: 562,765 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 35,322
female: 36,035 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
5.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 13
Transnational Issues ::Mauritania
Disputes - international:
Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Mauritania is a source and destination country
for children trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation;
slavery-related practices, rooted in ancestral master-slave
relationships, continue to exist in isolated parts of the country;
Mauritanian boys called talibe are trafficked within the country by
religious teachers for forced begging; children are also trafficked
by street gangs within the country that force them to steal, beg,
and sell drugs; girls are trafficked internally for domestic
servitude and sexual exploitation; women and children from
neighboring states are trafficked into Mauritania for purposes of
forced begging, domestic servitude, and sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 3 - the Government of Mauritania does not fully
comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking
and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government did
not show evidence of overall progress in prosecuting and punishing
trafficking offenders, protecting trafficking victims, and
preventing new incidents of trafficking during the past year;
progress that the previous government demonstrated in 2007 through
enactment of strengthened anti-slavery legislation and deepened
political will to eliminate slavery and trafficking has stalled; law
enforcement efforts to address human trafficking including
traditional slavery practices decreased (2009)
page last updated on January 26, 2011
======================================================================
@Mauritius (Africa)
Introduction ::Mauritius
Background:
Although known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the 10th
century, Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in the 16th
century and subsequently settled by the Dutch - who named it in
honor of Prince Maurits van NASSAU - in the 17th century. The French
assumed control in 1715, developing the island into an important
naval base overseeing Indian Ocean trade, and establishing a
plantation economy of sugar cane. The British captured the island in
1810, during the Napoleonic Wars. Mauritius remained a strategically
important British naval base, and later an air station, playing an
important role during World War II for anti-submarine and convoy
operations, as well as the collection of signals intelligence.
Independence from the UK was attained in 1968. A stable democracy
with regular free elections and a positive human rights record, the
country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned
one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Recent poor weather,
declining sugar prices, and declining textile and apparel
production, have slowed economic growth, leading to some protests
over standards of living in the Creole community.
Geography ::Mauritius
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:
20 17 S, 57 33 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 2,040 sq km
country comparison to the world: 180
land: 2,030 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint
Brandon), and Rodrigues
Area - comparative:
almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
177 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May
to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Terrain:
small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling
central plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Piton 828 m
Natural resources:
arable land, fish
Land use:
arable land: 49.02%
permanent crops: 2.94%
other: 48.04% (2005)
Irrigated land:
220 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
2.2 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.61 cu km/yr (25%/14%/60%)
per capita: 488 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs
that may pose maritime hazards
Environment - current issues:
water pollution, degradation of coral reefs
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of
volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs;
home of the dodo, a large flightless bird related to pigeons, driven
to extinction by the end of the 17th century through a combination
of hunting and the introduction of predatory species
People ::Mauritius
Population:
1,294,104 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.5% (male 147,136/female 142,121)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 449,176/female 455,057)
65 years and over: 7.1% (male 36,309/female 54,465) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.3 years
male: 31.4 years
female: 33.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.751% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Birth rate:
14.17 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Death rate:
6.63 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Net migration rate:
-0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Urbanization:
urban population: 42% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.85 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 142
male: 14.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.25 years
country comparison to the world: 99
male: 70.77 years
female: 77.89 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.8 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.7% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
13,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Nationality:
noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups:
Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian
2%
Religions:
Hindu 48%, Roman Catholic 23.6%, Muslim 16.6%, other Christian 8.6%,
other 2.5%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.4% (2000 census)
Languages:
Creole 80.5%, Bhojpuri 12.1%, French 3.4%, English (official; spoken
by less than 1% of the population), other 3.7%, unspecified 0.3%
(2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.4%
male: 88.4%
female: 80.5% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 136
Government ::Mauritius
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form: Mauritius
local long form: Republic of Mauritius
local short form: Mauritius
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Port Louis
geographic coordinates: 20 09 S, 57 29 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River,
Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses,
Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne
Independence:
12 March 1968 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Constitution:
12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
Legal system:
based on French civil law system with elements of English common law
in certain areas; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 7 October
2003); Vice President Monique OHSAN-BELLEPEAU (since 13 November
2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 5
July 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly for five-year terms (eligible for a second term); elections
last held on 19 September 2008 (next to be held in 2013); prime
minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president,
responsible to the National Assembly
election results: Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH reelected president by
unanimous vote; percent of vote by the National Assembly - NA%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (70 seats; 62 members elected by
popular vote, 8 appointed by the election commission to give
representation to various ethnic minorities; members to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held on 5 May 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AF
41, MMM 18, MR 2, MSF 1; appointed seats - to be assigned 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of the Future or AF [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM] (governing
coalition - includes MLD, MMSM, MR, MSD, PMXD); Mauritian Labor
Party or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]; Mauritian Militant Movement
or MMM [Paul BERENGER]; Mauritian Militant Socialist Movement or
MMSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH]; Mauritian Socialist Militant Movement or
MSMM [Madan DULLOO]; Mauritian Solidarity Front [Cehl FAKEERMEEAH];
Mouvement Republicain or MR [Jayarama VALAYDEN]; Parti Mauricien
Xavier Duval or PMXD [Xavier Luc DUVAL]; Rodrigues Movement or MR
[Joseph (Nicholas) Von MALLY]; Rodrigues Peoples Organization or OPR
[Serge CLAIR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: various labor unions
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, COMESA, CPLP (associate), FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SAARC (observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Joyker
NAYECK
chancery: 1709 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491 through 1492
FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Jo WILLS
embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
mailing address: international mail: P. O. Box 544, Port Louis; US
mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, US Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-2450
telephone: [230] 202-4400
FAX: [230] 208-9534
Flag description:
four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green;
red represents the blood shed for independence, blue the Indian
Ocean surrounding the island, yellow has been interpreted as the new
light of independence, golden sunshine, or the bright future, and
green can symbolize either agriculture or the lush vegetation of the
island
National anthem:
name: "Motherland"
lyrics/music: Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL
note: adopted 1968
Economy ::Mauritius
Economy - overview:
Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a
low-income, agriculturally based economy to a middle-income
diversified economy with growing industrial, financial, and tourist
sectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been in the order
of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in more
equitable income distribution, increased life expectancy, lowered
infant mortality, and a much-improved infrastructure. The economy
rests on sugar, tourism, textiles and apparel, and financial
services, and is expanding into fish processing, information and
communications technology, and hospitality and property development.
Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and
accounts for 15% of export earnings. The government's development
strategy centers on creating vertical and horizontal clusters of
development in these sectors. Mauritius has attracted more than
32,000 offshore entities, many aimed at commerce in India, South
Africa, and China. Investment in the banking sector alone has
reached over $1 billion. Mauritius, with its strong textile sector,
has been well poised to take advantage of the Africa Growth and
Opportunity Act (AGOA). Mauritius' sound economic policies and
prudent banking practices helped to mitigate negative effects from
the global financial crisis in 2008-09. GDP grew 3.6% in 2010 and
the country continues to expand its trade and investment outreach
around the globe.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$17.49 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
$16.88 billion (2009 est.)
$16.37 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$9.427 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
3.1% (2009 est.)
5.1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$13,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$13,100 (2009 est.)
$12,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.8%
industry: 24.6%
services: 70.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
597,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture and fishing: 9%
construction and industry: 30%
transportation and communication: 7%
trade, restaurants, hotels: 22%
finance: 6%
other services: 25% (2007)
Unemployment rate:
7.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
7.3% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
8% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39 (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
37 (1987 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
23.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Public debt:
60.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
62.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
2.5% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
19.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
21.54% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.889 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 120
$1.906 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$9.605 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
$9.277 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$10.23 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
$9.423 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.74 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 87
$3.443 billion (31 December 2008)
$5.666 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish
Industries:
food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing, mining,
chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical
machinery, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
3.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Electricity - production:
2.321 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Electricity - consumption:
2.158 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Oil - consumption:
23,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Oil - imports:
22,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Current account balance:
-$949 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
-$674.6 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$2.041 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
$1.942 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses, fish
Exports - partners:
UK 25.55%, France 16.89%, US 9.51%, Italy 5.68%, UAE 5.47%, Belgium
4.93%, Madagascar 4.11% (2009)
Imports:
$3.935 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
$3.499 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum
products, chemicals
Imports - partners:
India 24.5%, France 14.02%, South Africa 8.55%, China 8.17% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.36 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$2.304 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$5.043 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
$4.474 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar - 30.991 (2010), 31.96 (2009),
27.973 (2008), 31.798 (2007), 31.656 (2006)
Communications ::Mauritius
Telephones - main lines in use:
379,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 104
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.087 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 145
Telephone system:
general assessment: small system with good service
domestic: monopoly over fixed-line services terminated in 2005;
fixed-line teledensity roughly 30 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular
services launched in 1989 with teledensity in 2009 reaching 85 per
100 persons
international: country code - 230; landing point for the SAFE
submarine cable that provides links to Asia and South Africa where
it connects to the SAT-3/WASC submarine cable that provides further
links to parts of East Africa, and Europe; satellite earth station -
1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF
radiotelephone links to several countries (2009)
Broadcast media:
the government maintains control over TV broadcasting through the
Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), which operates 3 analog
and 10 digital TV stations; MBC is a shareholder in a local company
that operates 2 pay TV stations; the state retains the largest radio
broadcast network with multiple stations; several private radio
broadcasters have entered the market since 2001; transmissions of at
least 2 international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.mu
Internet hosts:
36,653 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 94
Internet users:
290,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 132
Transportation ::Mauritius
Airports:
5 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 179
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 2,066 km
country comparison to the world: 172
paved: 2,066 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2009)
Merchant marine:
total: 3
country comparison to the world: 136
by type: passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Port Louis
Military ::Mauritius
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Mauritius Police Force, Special Mobile
Force, National Coast Guard (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 343,279 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 279,405
females age 16-49: 283,023 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 10,565
female: 10,447 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Transnational Issues ::Mauritius
Disputes - international:
Mauritius claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British
Indian Ocean Territory), and its former inhabitants, who reside
chiefly in Mauritius; claims French-administered Tromelin Island
Illicit drugs:
consumer and transshipment point for heroin from South Asia; small
amounts of cannabis produced and consumed locally; significant
offshore financial industry creates potential for money laundering,
but corruption levels are relatively low and the government appears
generally to be committed to regulating its banking industry
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Mayotte (Africa)
Introduction ::Mayotte
Background:
Mayotte was ceded to France along with the other islands of the
Comoros group in 1843. It was the only island in the archipelago
that voted in 1974 to retain its link with France and forego
independence. In March 2009, Mayotte voted overwhelmingly to become
France's 101st department - and fifth overseas department - a change
scheduled to become official in 2011.
Geography ::Mayotte
Location:
Southern Indian Ocean, island in the Mozambique Channel, about half
way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
12 50 S, 45 10 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 374 sq km
country comparison to the world: 204
land: 374 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
185.2 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern
monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)
Terrain:
generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mlima Benara 660 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
cyclones during rainy season
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
part of Comoro Archipelago (18 islands)
People ::Mayotte
Population:
231,139 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45.3% (male 50,985/female 50,413)
15-64 years: 52.9% (male 63,395/female 54,882)
65 years and over: 1.8% (male 2,085/female 2,005) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.3 years
male: 18.1 years
female: 16.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.171% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Birth rate:
38.76 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Death rate:
7.05 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 54.75 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 41
male: 60.23 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 49.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.28 years
country comparison to the world: 174
male: 60.99 years
female: 65.63 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.4 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Mahorais (singular and plural)
adjective: Mahoran
Ethnic groups:
NA
Religions:
Muslim 97%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic) 3%
Languages:
Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French (official language) spoken by
35% of the population
Literacy:
86%
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Mayotte
Country name:
conventional long form: Department Collectivity of Mayotte
conventional short form: Mayotte
Dependency status:
departmental collectivity of France
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Mamoudzou
geographic coordinates: 12 46 S, 45 13 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
Independence:
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
the laws of France where applicable apply
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007);
represented by Prefect Hubert DERACHE (since 22 July 2009)
head of government: President of the General Council Ahmed Attoumani
DOUCHINA (since March 2008)
cabinet: NA
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of the Interior; president of the General Council
elected by the members of the General Council for a six-year term;
next election to be held in 2014
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held on 9 and 16 March 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
UMP 8, Diverse Right 4, independents 4, Citizens and Republic
Movement 1, Democratic Movement 1, Diverse Left 1; note - political
parties are the same as parties in France
note: Mayotte elects two members of the French Senate; elections
last held 21 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2014);
results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UC-UDF 1,
UMP 1; Mayotte also elects one member to the French National
Assembly; elections last held 10-17 June 2007 (next to be held in
2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
independent 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Front or FD [Youssouf MOUSSA]; Federation of Mahorans or
UMP-RPR [Mansour KAMARDINE]; Force of the Rally and the Alliance for
Democracy or FRAP; Mahoran Popular Movement or MPM [Ahmed MADI];
Movement for Department Status Mayotte or MDM [Mouhoutar SALIM];
Renewed Communist Party of Mayotte or MRC [Omar SIMBA]; Socialist
Party or PS [Ibrahim ABUBACAR] (local branch of French Parti
Socialiste); Union for French Democracy or UDF [Henri JEAN-BAPTISTE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
InOC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
Flag description:
unofficial, local flag with the coat of arms of Mayotte centered on
a white field, above which the name of the island appears in red
capital letters; the main elements of the coat of arms are a blue
upper half with white upturned crescent moon and a red lower half
with two yellow ylang-ylang flowers, supported on either side by a
white seahorse, and set above a scroll with the motto RA HACHIRI (We
are Vigilant)
note: the flag of France used for official occasions
National anthem:
note: as an overseas collectivity of France, "La Marseillaise" is
official (see France)
Economy ::Mayotte
Economy - overview:
Economic activity is based primarily on the agricultural sector,
including fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte is not self
sufficient and must import a large portion of its food requirements,
mainly from France. The economy and future development of the island
are heavily dependent on French financial assistance, an important
supplement to GDP. Mayotte's remote location is an obstacle to the
development of tourism.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$953.6 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,900 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
44,560 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 190
Unemployment rate:
25.4% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 174
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.7% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 49
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra; fish,
livestock
Industries:
newly created lobster and shrimp industry, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:
139.2 million kWh (2005)
country comparison to the world: 184
Exports:
$6.5 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 213
Exports - commodities:
ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra, coconuts, coffee,
cinnamon
Imports:
$341 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 191
Imports - commodities:
food, machinery and equipment, transportation equipment, metals,
chemicals
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6734
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Mayotte
Telephones - main lines in use:
10,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 202
Telephones - mobile cellular:
48,100 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 197
Telephone system:
general assessment: small system administered by French Department
of Posts and Telecommunications
domestic: NA
international: country code - 262; microwave radio relay and HF
radiotelephone communications to Comoros
Broadcast media:
the publicly-owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which operates in
France's overseas departments and territories, broadcasts over the
RFO Mayotte television and radio station (2008)
Internet country code:
.yt
Internet hosts:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 231
Transportation ::Mayotte
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 216
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Dzaoudzi
Military ::Mayotte
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 37,001
females age 16-49: 36,018 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,627
female: 2,619 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France; a small contingent of
French forces is stationed on the island
Transnational Issues ::Mayotte
Disputes - international:
claimed by Comoros
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Mexico (North America)
Introduction ::Mexico
Background:
The site of advanced Amerindian civilizations, Mexico came under
Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence early
in the 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994 threw
Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst recession in over
half a century. The global financial crisis beginning in late 2008
caused another massive economic downturn the following year. As the
economy recovers, ongoing economic and social concerns include low
real wages, underemployment for a large segment of the population,
inequitable income distribution, and few advancement opportunities
for the largely Amerindian population in the impoverished southern
states. The elections held in 2000 marked the first time since the
1910 Mexican Revolution that an opposition candidate - Vicente FOX
of the National Action Party (PAN) - defeated the party in
government, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). He was
succeeded in 2006 by another PAN candidate Felipe CALDERON. In
January 2009, Mexico assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security
Council for the 2009-10 term.
Geography ::Mexico
Location:
Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico,
between Belize and the United States and bordering the North Pacific
Ocean, between Guatemala and the United States
Geographic coordinates:
23 00 N, 102 00 W
Map references:
North America
Area:
total: 1,964,375 sq km
country comparison to the world: 15
land: 1,943,945 sq km
water: 20,430 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 4,353 km
border countries: Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,141 km
Coastline:
9,330 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 tropical to desert
Terrain:
high, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; desert
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m
highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber
Land use:
arable land: 12.66%
permanent crops: 1.28%
other: 86.06% (2005)
Irrigated land:
63,200 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
457.2 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 78.22 cu km/yr (17%/5%/77%)
per capita: 731 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
tsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and destructive
earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Pacific,
Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean coasts
volcanism: Mexico experiences volcanic activity in the
central-southern part of the country; the volcanoes in Baja
California are mostly dormant; Colima (elev. 3,850 m, 12,631 ft),
which erupted in 2010, is Mexico's most active volcano and is
responsible for causing periodic evacuations of nearby villagers; it
has been deemed a "Decade Volcano" by the International Association
of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of
study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human
populations; Popocatepetl (elev. 5,426 m, 17,802 ft) poses a threat
to Mexico City; other historically active volcanoes include Barcena,
Ceboruco, El Chichon, Michoacan-Guanajuato, Pico de Orizaba, San
Martin, Socorro, and Tacana
Environment - current issues:
scarcity of hazardous waste disposal facilities; rural to urban
migration; natural fresh water resources scarce and polluted in
north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme
southeast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in
urban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification;
deteriorating agricultural lands; serious air and water pollution in
the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border; land
subsidence in Valley of Mexico caused by groundwater depletion
note: the government considers the lack of clean water and
deforestation national security issues
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location on southern border of US; corn (maize), one of
the world's major grain crops, is thought to have originated in
Mexico
People ::Mexico
Population:
112,468,855 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.1% (male 16,544,223/female 15,861,141)
15-64 years: 64.6% (male 34,734,571/female 37,129,793)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 3,130,518/female 3,811,543) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.7 years
male: 25.6 years
female: 27.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.118% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Birth rate:
19.39 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Death rate:
4.83 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Net migration rate:
-3.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Urbanization:
urban population: 77% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 17.84 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 106
male: 19.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.26 years
country comparison to the world: 71
male: 73.45 years
female: 79.22 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.31 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
200,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Mexican(s)
adjective: Mexican
Ethnic groups:
mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly
Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 76.5%, Protestant 6.3% (Pentecostal 1.4%, Jehovah's
Witnesses 1.1%, other 3.8%), other 0.3%, unspecified 13.8%, none
3.1% (2000 census)
Languages:
Spanish only 92.7%, Spanish and indigenous languages 5.7%,
indigenous only 0.8%, unspecified 0.8%; note - indigenous languages
include various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional languages (2005)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.1%
male: 86.9%
female: 85.3% (2005 Census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
4.8% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 82
Government ::Mexico
Country name:
conventional long form: United Mexican States
conventional short form: Mexico
local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos
local short form: Mexico
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
name: Mexico City (Distrito Federal)
geographic coordinates: 19 26 N, 99 08 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Mexico is divided into three time zones
Administrative divisions:
31 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district*
(distrito federal); Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California
Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Colima,
Distrito Federal*, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco,
Mexico, Michoacan de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca,
Puebla, Queretaro de Arteaga, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi,
Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz-Llave,
Yucatan, Zacatecas
Independence:
16 September 1810 (declared); 27 September 1821 (recognized by Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 September (1810)
Constitution:
5 February 1917
Legal system:
mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system; judicial
review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but not enforced)
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Felipe de Jesus CALDERON Hinojosa (since 1
December 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Felipe de Jesus CALDERON Hinojosa
(since 1 December 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; note - appointment of
attorney general, the head of the Bank of Mexico, and senior
treasury officials require consent of the Senate
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a single six-year
term; election last held on 2 July 2006 (next to be held 1 July 2012)
election results: Felipe CALDERON elected president; percent of vote
- Felipe CALDERON 35.9%, Andres Manuel LOPEZ OBRADOR 35.3%, Roberto
MADRAZO 22.3%, other 6.5%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congreso de la Union consists of the
Senate or Camara de Senadores (128 seats; 96 members elected by
popular vote to serve six-year terms, and 32 seats allocated on the
basis of each party's popular vote) and the Chamber of Deputies or
Camara de Diputados (500 seats; 300 members are elected by popular
vote; remaining 200 members are allocated on the basis of each
party's popular vote; members to serve three-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 2 July 2006 for all of the seats
(next to be held on 1 July 2012); Chamber of Deputies - last held on
5 July 2009 (next to be held on 1 July 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PAN 52, PRI 33, PRD 26, PVEM 6, CD 5, PT 5, independent 1;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party
- PRI 237, PAN 143, PRD 72, PVEM 21, PT 13, CD 6, other 8; note - as
of 1 January 2011, the current composition of the Senate is: PAN 50,
PRI 33, PRD 25, PVEM 6, CD 6, PT 5, independent 3; the current
composition of the Chamber of Deputies is: PRI 237, PAN 142, PRD 69,
PVEM 21, PT 13, CD 8, other 10
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nacion
(justices or ministros are appointed by the president with consent
of the Senate)
Political parties and leaders:
Convergence for Democracy or CD [Luis WALTON Aburto]; Institutional
Revolutionary Party or PRI [Beatriz PAREDES Rangel]; Labor Party or
PT [Alberto ANAYA Gutierrez]; Mexican Green Ecological Party or PVEM
[Jorge Emilio GONZALEZ Martinez]; National Action Party (Partido
Accion Nacional) or PAN [Gustavo MADERO Munoz]; New Alliance Party
(Partido Nueva Alianza) or PNA/PANAL [Jorge Antonio KAHWAGI Macari];
Party of the Democratic Revolution (Partido de la Revolucion
Democratica) or PRD [Jesus ORTEGA Martinez]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Businessmen's Coordinating Council or CCE; Confederation of
Employers of the Mexican Republic or COPARMEX; Confederation of
Industrial Chambers or CONCAMIN; Confederation of Mexican Workers or
CTM; Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce or CONCANACO;
Coordinator for Foreign Trade Business Organizations or COECE;
Dialogue for the Reconstruction of Mexico or DIA; Federation of
Unions Providing Goods and Services or FESEBES; National Chamber of
Transformation Industries or CANACINTRA; National Peasant
Confederation or CNC; National Small Business Chamber or CANACOPE;
National Syndicate of Education Workers or SNTE; National Union of
Workers or UNT; Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca or APPO;
Roman Catholic Church
International organization participation:
APEC, BCIE, BIS, CAN (observer), Caricom (observer), CD, CDB, CSN
(observer), EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-3, G-15, G-24, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES,
LAIA, MIGA, NAFTA, NAM (observer), NEA, OAS, OECD, OPANAL, OPCW,
Paris Club (associate), PCA, RG, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR
(observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arturo SARUKHAN Casamitjana
chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 728-1600
FAX: [1] (202) 728-1698
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas,
Denver, El Paso, Houston, Laredo (Texas), Los Angeles, Miami, New
York, Nogales (Arizona), Phoenix, Raleigh (North Carolina),
Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San
Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s): Albuquerque, Anchorage (Alaska), Boise (Idaho),
Brownsville (Texas), Calexico (California), Del Rio (Texas),
Detroit, Douglas (Arizona), Eagle Pass (Texas), Fresno (California),
Indianapolis (Indiana), Kansas City (Missouri), Laredo (Texas), Las
Vegas, Little Rock (Arkansas), McAllen (Texas), New Orleans, Omaha,
Orlando, Oxnard (California), Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon),
Presidio (Texas), Raleigh, Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, Santa Ana
(California), Seattle, Tucson, Washington DC, Yuma (Arizona); note -
Washington DC Consular Section located in a separate building from
the Mexican Embassy and has jurisdiction over DC, parts of Virginia,
Maryland, and West Virginia
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos PASCUAL
embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico,
Distrito Federal
mailing address: P. O. Box 9000, Brownsville, TX 78520-9000
telephone: [52] (55) 5080-2000
FAX: [52] (55) 5511-9980
consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Hermosillo,
Matamoros, Monterrey, Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana
consulate(s): Merida, Nogales
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red;
Mexico's coat of arms (an eagle with a snake in its beak perched on
a cactus) is centered in the white band; green signifies hope, joy,
and love; white represents peace and honesty; red stands for
hardiness, bravery, strength, and valor; the coat of arms is derived
from a legend that the wandering Aztec people were to settle at a
location where they would see an eagle on a catus eating a snake;
the city they founded, Tenochtitlan, is now Mexico City
note: similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter, uses lighter
shades of red and green, and does not have anything in its white band
National anthem:
name: "Himno Nacional Mexicano" (National Anthem of Mexico)
lyrics/music: Francisco Gonzalez BOCANEGRA/Jaime Nuno ROCA
note: adopted 1943, in use since 1854; the anthem is also known as
"Mexicanos, al grito de Guerra" (Mexicans, to the War Cry);
according to tradition, Francisco Gonzalez BOCANEGRA, an
accomplished poet, was uninterested in submitting lyrics to a
national anthem contest; his fiancee locked him in a room and
refused to release him until the lyrics were completed
Economy ::Mexico
Economy - overview:
Mexico has a free market economy in the trillion dollar class. It
contains a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture,
increasingly dominated by the private sector. Recent administrations
have expanded competition in seaports, railroads,
telecommunications, electricity generation, natural gas
distribution, and airports. Per capita income is roughly one-third
that of the US; income distribution remains highly unequal. Since
the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) in 1994, Mexico's share of US imports has increased from 7%
to 12%, and its share of Canadian imports has doubled to 5%. Mexico
has free trade agreements with over 50 countries including,
Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, the European Free Trade Area, and
Japan, putting more than 90% of trade under free trade agreements.
In 2007, during its first year in office, the Felipe CALDERON
administration was able to garner support from the opposition to
successfully pass pension and fiscal reforms. The administration
passed an energy reform measure in 2008, and another fiscal reform
in 2009. Mexico's GDP plunged 6.5% in 2009 as world demand for
exports dropped and asset prices tumbled, but GDP posted positive
growth of 5% in 2010, with export growth leading the way. The
administration continues to face many economic challenges, including
improving the public education system, upgrading infrastructure,
modernizing labor laws, and fostering private investment in the
energy sector. CALDERON has stated that his top economic priorities
remain reducing poverty and creating jobs.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.56 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$1.485 trillion (2009 est.)
$1.589 trillion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.004 trillion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
-6.5% (2009 est.)
1.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$13,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
$13,400 (2009 est.)
$14,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.2%
industry: 33.3%
services: 62.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
46.99 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 13.7%
industry: 23.4%
services: 62.9% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
5.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
5.5% (2009 est.)
note: underemployment may be as high as 25%
Population below poverty line:
18.2% using food-based definition of poverty; asset based poverty
amounted to more than 47% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 36.3% (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
48.2 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 28
53.1 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Public debt:
41.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
39.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
3.6% (2009)
Central bank discount rate:
NA%
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.07% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
8.71% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$135.7 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 25
$119.5 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$583.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$493 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$342.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$288.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$340.6 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 24
$232.6 billion (31 December 2008)
$397.7 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes;
beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products
Industries:
food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum,
mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables,
tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Electricity - production:
245 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Electricity - consumption:
181.5 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Electricity - exports:
1.288 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
584 million kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
3.001 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Oil - consumption:
2.078 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Oil - exports:
1.225 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Oil - imports:
521,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Oil - proved reserves:
12.42 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Natural gas - production:
60.35 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Natural gas - consumption:
59.8 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Natural gas - exports:
688 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Natural gas - imports:
11.84 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Natural gas - proved reserves:
359.7 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Current account balance:
-$7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
-$6.23 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$303 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$229.8 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits,
vegetables, coffee, cotton
Exports - partners:
US 80.5%, Canada 3.6%, Germany 1.4% (2009)
Imports:
$306 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
$234.4 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
metalworking machines, steel mill products, agricultural machinery,
electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts for motor
vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts
Imports - partners:
US 48%, China 13.5%, Japan 4.8% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$116.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$99.86 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$212.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$204.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$328.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$308.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$62.93 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$53.46 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Mexican pesos (MXN) per US dollar - 12.687 (2010), 13.514 (2009),
11.016 (2008), 10.8 (2007), 10.899 (2006)
Communications ::Mexico
Telephones - main lines in use:
19.425 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 14
Telephones - mobile cellular:
83.528 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 12
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate telephone service for business and
government; improving quality and increasing mobile cellular
availability, with mobile subscribers far outnumbering fixed-line
subscribers; domestic satellite system with 120 earth stations;
extensive microwave radio relay network; considerable use of
fiber-optic cable and coaxial cable
domestic: despite the opening to competition in January 1997, Telmex
remains dominant; Fixed-line teledensity is less than 20 per 100
persons; mobile-cellular teledensity reached 75 per 100 persons in
2009
international: country code - 52; Columbus-2 fiber-optic submarine
cable with access to the US, Virgin Islands, Canary Islands, Spain,
and Italy; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and
the MAYA-1 submarine cable system together provide access to Central
America, parts of South America and the Caribbean, and the US;
satellite earth stations - 120 (32 Intelsat, 2 Solidaridad (giving
Mexico improved access to South America, Central America, and much
of the US as well as enhancing domestic communications), 1 Panamsat,
numerous Inmarsat mobile earth stations); linked to Central American
Microwave System of trunk connections (2009)
Broadcast media:
large number of television stations and more than 1,400 radio
stations, most are privately owned; the Televisa group once had a
virtual monopoly in TV broadcasting, but new broadcasting groups and
foreign satellite and cable operators are now available (2007)
Internet country code:
.mx
Internet hosts:
12.854 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 9
Internet users:
31.02 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 12
Transportation ::Mexico
Airports:
1,819 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 3
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 250
over 3,047 m: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 85
914 to 1,523 m: 83
under 914 m: 40 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1,569
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 66
914 to 1,523 m: 438
under 914 m: 1,063 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 22,705 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,875 km; oil 8,688 km;
oil/gas/water 228 km; refined products 6,520 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 17,516 km
country comparison to the world: 16
standard gauge: 17,516 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 366,095 km
country comparison to the world: 17
paved: 132,289 km (includes 6,279 km of expressways)
unpaved: 233,806 km (2008)
Waterways:
2,900 km (navigable rivers and coastal canals mostly connected with
ports on the country's east coast) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 34
Merchant marine:
total: 60
country comparison to the world: 65
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 3, chemical tanker 12, liquefied gas
4, passenger/cargo 11, petroleum tanker 22, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 5 (Denmark 2, Greece 1, South Africa 1, UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 18 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Honduras
1, Marshall Islands 4, Panama 6, Portugal 1, Spain 2, Venezuela 1,
unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Salina Cruz,
Veracruz
Military ::Mexico
Military branches:
Secretariat of National Defense (Secretaria de Defensa Nacional,
Sedena): Army (Ejercito, includes Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Mexicana, FAM)); Secretariat of the Navy (Secretaria de Marina,
Semar): Mexican Navy (Armada de Mexico, ARM, includes Naval Air
Force (FAN), naval infantry) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service
obligation - 12 months; 16 years of age with consent for voluntary
enlistment; conscripts serve only in the Army; Navy and Air Force
service is all voluntary; women are eligible for voluntary military
service (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 28,475,126
females age 16-49: 30,048,077 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 22,893,649
females age 16-49: 25,401,642 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,108,032
female: 1,069,885 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Transnational Issues ::Mexico
Disputes - international:
abundant rainfall in recent years along much of the Mexico-US border
region has ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing
arrangements; the US has intensified security measures to monitor
and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities
across its border with Mexico; Mexico must deal with thousands of
impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the
porous border looking for work in Mexico and the United States
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 5,500-10,000 (government's quashing of Zapatista uprising in
1994 in eastern Chiapas Region) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
major drug-producing nation; cultivation of opium poppy in 2007 rose
to 6,900 hectares yielding a potential production of 18 metric tons
of pure heroin, or 50 metric tons of "black tar" heroin, the
dominant form of Mexican heroin in the western United States;
marijuana cultivation increased to 8,900 hectares in 2007 and
yielded a potential production of 15,800 metric tons; government
conducts the largest independent illicit-crop eradication program in
the world; continues as the primary transshipment country for
US-bound cocaine from South America, with an estimated 90% of annual
cocaine movements toward the US stopping in Mexico; major drug
syndicates control the majority of drug trafficking throughout the
country; producer and distributor of ecstasy; significant
money-laundering center; major supplier of heroin and largest
foreign supplier of marijuana and methamphetamine to the US market
(2007)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Micronesia, Federated States of (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Micronesia, Federated States of
Background:
In 1979 the Federated States of Micronesia, a UN Trust Territory
under US administration, adopted a constitution. In 1986
independence was attained under a Compact of Free Association with
the US, which was amended and renewed in 2004. Present concerns
include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on
US aid.
Geography ::Micronesia, Federated States of
Location:
Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:
6 55 N, 158 15 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 702 sq km
country comparison to the world: 190
land: 702 sq km
water: 0 sq km (fresh water only)
note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands,
and Kosrae (Kosaie)
Area - comparative:
four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
6,112 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern
islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with
occasionally severe damage
Terrain:
islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low,
coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m
Natural resources:
timber, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate
Land use:
arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 45.71%
other: 48.58% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
typhoons (June to December)
Environment - current issues:
overfishing, climate change, pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
four major island groups totaling 607 islands
People ::Micronesia, Federated States of
Population:
107,154 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.8% (male 19,010/female 18,411)
15-64 years: 62.3% (male 33,286/female 33,629)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 1,317/female 1,781) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.4 years
male: 21.8 years
female: 22.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.284% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
Birth rate:
22.57 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Death rate:
4.4 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Net migration rate:
-21.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
Urbanization:
urban population: 22% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 25.2 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 83
male: 27.82 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.23 years
country comparison to the world: 132
male: 69.32 years
female: 73.24 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.8 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Micronesian(s)
adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
Ethnic groups:
Chuukese 48.8%, Pohnpeian 24.2%, Kosraean 6.2%, Yapese 5.2%, Yap
outer islands 4.5%, Asian 1.8%, Polynesian 1.5%, other 6.4%, unknown
1.4% (2000 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 52.7%, Congregational 40.1%, Baptist 0.9%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 0.7%, other 3.8%, none or unspecified 0.8%
(2000 Census)
Languages:
English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean,
Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 91%
female: 88% (1980 est.)
Education expenditures:
7.3% of GDP (2000)
country comparison to the world: 16
Government ::Micronesia, Federated States of
Country name:
conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia
conventional short form: none
local long form: Federated States of Micronesia
local short form: none
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and
Yap Districts
abbreviation: FSM
Government type:
constitutional government in free association with the US; the
Compact of Free Association entered into force on 3 November 1986
and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004
Capital:
name: Palikir
geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 09 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap
Independence:
3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)
Constitution:
10 May 1979
Legal system:
based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,
municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice
President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice
President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the 8
executive departments
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from
among the four senators at large for a four-year term (eligible for
a second term); election last held on 11 May 2007 (next to be held
in May 2011); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to
establish popular elections for president and vice president failed
election results: Emanuel MORI elected president; percent of
Congress vote - NA; Alik L. ALIK elected vice president; percent of
Congress vote - NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral Congress (14 seats; 4 - one elected from each state to
serve four-year terms and 10 - elected from single-member districts
delineated by population to serve two-year terms; members elected by
popular vote)
elections: last held on 3 March 2009 (next to be held in March 2011)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
no formal parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF,
IOC, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Yosiwo GEORGE
chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383
FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391
consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter A. PRAHAR
embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia
mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, 96941
telephone: [691] 320-2187
FAX: [691] 320-2186
Flag description:
light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars
are arranged in a diamond pattern; blue symbolizes the Pacific
Ocean, the stars represent the four island groups of Chuuk, Kosrae,
Pohnpei, and Yap
National anthem:
name: "Patriots of Micronesia"
lyrics/music: unknown
note: adopted 1991; the anthem is also known as "Across All
Micronesia;" the music is based on the 1820 German patriotic song
"Ich hab mich ergeben," which was the West German national anthem
from 1949-1950; variants of this tune are used in Johannes Brahms'
"Festival Overture" and Gustav Mahler's "Third Symphony"
Economy ::Micronesia, Federated States of
Economy - overview:
Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming and
fishing. The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting,
except for high-grade phosphate. The potential for a tourist
industry exists, but the remote location, a lack of adequate
facilities, and limited air connections hinder development. Under
the original terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US
provided $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001; the
level of aid has been subsequently reduced. The Amended Compact of
Free Association with the US guarantees the Federated States of
Micronesia (FSM) millions of dollars in annual aid through 2023, and
establishes a Trust Fund into which the US and the FSM make annual
contributions in order to provide annual payouts to the FSM in
perpetuity after 2023. The country's medium-term economic outlook
appears fragile due not only to the reduction in US assistance but
also to the current slow growth of the private sector.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$238.1 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
$277 million (2002 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million
annually
GDP (official exchange rate):
$238.1 million (2008)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
0.3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,200 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
$2,300 (2005 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 28.9%
industry: 15.2%
services: 55.9% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
16,360 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 211
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 34.4%
services: 64.7%
note: two-thirds are government employees (FY05 est.)
Unemployment rate:
22% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Population below poverty line:
26.7% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 64
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15.38% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
14.38% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$29.02 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 185
$21.21 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$114 million (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
$98 million (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$65.68 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 180
$43.75 million (31 December 2008)
Agriculture - products:
black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, bananas,
cassava (tapioca), sakau (kava), Kosraen citrus, betel nuts, sweet
potatoes; pigs, chickens; fish
Industries:
tourism, construction; fish processing, specialized aquaculture;
craft items (from shell, wood, and pearls)
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
192 million kWh (2002)
country comparison to the world: 177
Electricity - consumption:
178.6 million kWh (2002)
country comparison to the world: 179
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)
Current account balance:
-$34.3 million (FY05 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Exports:
$14 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Exports - commodities:
fish, garments, bananas, black pepper, sakau (kava), betel nut
Imports:
$132.7 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 207
Imports - commodities:
food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
Debt - external:
$60.8 million (FY05 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications ::Micronesia, Federated States of
Telephones - main lines in use:
8,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 203
Telephones - mobile cellular:
38,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 199
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate system
domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used
mostly for government purposes), satellite (Intelsat) ground
stations, and some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; mobile-cellular
service available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap
international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)
Broadcast media:
no television broadcast stations; each state has a multi-channel
cable service with television transmissions carrying roughly 95%
imported programming and 5% local programming; about a half dozen
radio stations in operation (2009)
Internet country code:
.fm
Internet hosts:
3,097 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 144
Internet users:
17,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 194
Transportation ::Micronesia, Federated States of
Airports:
6 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 170
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 240 km
country comparison to the world: 206
paved: 42 km
unpaved: 198 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 3
country comparison to the world: 140
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Colonia (Tomil Harbor), Lele Harbor, Pohnepi Harbor
Military ::Micronesia, Federated States of
Military branches:
no regular military forces
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 26,687 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 21,909
females age 16-49: 23,410 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,270
female: 1,221 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues ::Micronesia, Federated States of
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
major consumer of cannabis
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Moldova (Europe)
Introduction ::Moldova
Background:
Part of Romania during the interwar period, Moldova was incorporated
into the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although the
country has been independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian
forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dniester
River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians
and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic. One of
the poorest nations in Europe, Moldova became the first former
Soviet state to elect a Communist, Vladimir VORONIN, as its
president in 2001. VORONIN served as Moldova's president until he
resigned in September 2009, following the opposition's gain of a
narrow majority in July parliamentary elections and the Communist
Party's (PCRM) subsequent inability to attract the three-fifths of
parliamentary votes required to elect a president. Moldova's four
opposition parties formed a new coalition, the Alliance for European
Integration (AEI), which acted as Moldova's governing coalition
until parliamentary elections were held in November 2010 and a new
governing coalition could be formed. Moldova experienced significant
political uncertainty in 2009 and 2010, holding three general
elections (in April 2009, July 2009, and November 2010) and four
presidential ballots in parliament, all of which failed to secure a
president.
Geography ::Moldova
Location:
Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Geographic coordinates:
47 00 N, 29 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 33,851 sq km
country comparison to the world: 139
land: 32,891 sq km
water: 960 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 1,390 km
border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 940 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
moderate winters, warm summers
Terrain:
rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dniester (Nistru) 2 m
highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m
Natural resources:
lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 54.52%
permanent crops: 8.81%
other: 36.67% (2005)
Irrigated land:
3,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
11.7 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.31 cu km/yr (10%/58%/33%)
per capita: 549 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
landslides
Environment - current issues:
heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides
such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil
erosion from poor farming methods
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and minerals
including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone
People ::Moldova
Population:
4,317,483 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.9% (male 353,495/female 334,592)
15-64 years: 73.3% (male 1,536,263/female 1,629,882)
65 years and over: 10.8% (male 172,070/female 294,446) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 35 years
male: 33.1 years
female: 37.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.072% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Birth rate:
11.16 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Death rate:
10.76 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Net migration rate:
-1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Urbanization:
urban population: 42% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -1.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.059 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.77 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 135
male: 14.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.09 years
country comparison to the world: 133
male: 67.39 years
female: 75 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.28 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,900 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Nationality:
noun: Moldovan(s)
adjective: Moldovan
Ethnic groups:
Moldovan/Romanian 78.2%, Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.8%, Gagauz 4.4%,
Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1.3% (2004 census)
note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region
Religions:
Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)
Languages:
Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language),
Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.7%
female: 98.6% (2005 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
8.2% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 9
Government ::Moldova
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
conventional short form: Moldova
local long form: Republica Moldova
local short form: Moldova
former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan Soviet
Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Chisinau (Kishinev)
note: pronounced KEE-shee-now
geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 28 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
Administrative divisions:
32 raions (raioane, singular - raion), 3 municipalities (municipii,
singular - municipiu), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea
teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)
raions: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir,
Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari,
Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova,
Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti,
Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni
municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau
autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia
territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului (Transnistria)
Independence:
27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 August (1991)
Constitution:
adopted 29 July 1994; effective 27 August 1994; note - replaced 1979
Soviet constitution
Legal system:
based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of
legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; accepts
many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) documents; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Acting President Marian LUPU (since 30 December 2010)
note: Vladimir VORONIN, president since 4 April 2001, resigned on 11
September 2009; Marian LUPU, the Speaker of Parliament, is serving
as acting president until new elections can be held
head of government: Prime Minister Vladimir FILAT (since 25
September 2009)
note: Vladimir Filat resigned on 27 December 2010, but was
reappointed on 31 December 2010
cabinet: Cabinet selected by president, subject to approval of
Parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term); last successful election held on 4
April 2005, most recent (failed) election held on 10 December 2009);
note - prime minister designated by the president upon consultation
with Parliament; within 15 days from designation, the prime
minister-designate must request a vote of confidence from the
Parliament regarding his/her work program and entire cabinet; prime
minister (re)designated on 31 December 2010; cabinet received a vote
of confidence on 14 January 2011
election results: Vladimir VORONIN reelected president (2005);
parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 75, Gheorghe DUCA 1; Vladimir
FILAT (re)designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of
confidence - 59 of 101
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; members elected on
an at-large basis by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 28 November 2010 (next to be held in 2014);
note - this was the third parliamentary election in less than two
years; the earlier parliaments (elected 5 April 2009 and 29 July
2009) could not agree on a presidential candidate
election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 39.3%, PLDM 29.4%,
PD 12.7%, PL 10%, other 8.6%; seats by party - PCRM 42, PLDM 32, PD
15, PL 12; note - the PLDM, PD, and PL governing coalition, termed
the Alliance for European Integration, has 59 seats; it remains 2
votes short of the 61 needed to elect a new president
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority for
constitutional judicature)
Political parties and leaders:
represented in Parliament: Communist Party of the Republic of
Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN]; Democratic Party or PD [Mihai
LUPU]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLDM [Vladmir FILAT]; Liberal
Party or PL [Mihai GHIMPU]
not represented in Parliament: Christian Democratic People's Party
or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]; Conservative Party or PC [Natalia NIRCA];
Ecological Party of Moldova "Green Alliance" or PEMAVE [Vladimir
BRAGA]; European Action Movement or MAE [Veaceslav UNTILA]; For
Nation and Country Party or PpNT [Sergiu MOCANU]; Humanist Party of
Moldova or PUM [Valeriu PASAT]; Labor Party or PM [Gheorghe SIMA];
National Liberal Party or PNL [Vitalia PAVLICENKO]; Our Moldova
Alliance or AMN [Serafim URECHEAN]; Patriots of Moldova Party or PPM
[Mihail GARBUZ]; Popular Republican Party or PPR [Nicolae ANDRONIC];
Republican Party of Moldova or PRM [Andrei STRATAN]; Roma Social
Political Movement of the Republic of Moldova or MRRM [Ion BUCUR];
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Victor SELIN]; Social Political
Movement "Equality" or MR [Valeriy KLIMENCO]; United Moldova Party
or PMUEM [Vladimir TURCAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OIF, OPCW,
OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Igor MUNTEANU
chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Asif J. CHAUDHRY
embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [373] (22) 40-8300
FAX: [373] (22) 23-3044
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red;
emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in
black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak
and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in
its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red
over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in
black-outlined yellow; based on the color scheme of the flag of
Romania - with whom Moldova shares a history and culture - but
Moldova's blue band is lighter; the reverse of the flag does not
display any coat of arms
note: one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse
and reverse sides - the others are Paraguay and Saudi Arabia
National anthem:
name: "Limba noastra" (Our Tongue)
lyrics/music: Alexei MATEEVICI/Alexandru CRISTEA
note: adopted 1994
Economy ::Moldova
Economy - overview:
Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe despite
recent progress from its small economic base. It enjoys a favorable
climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a
result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring
fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import almost
all of its energy supplies. Moldova's dependence on Russian energy
was underscored at the end of 2005, when a Russian-owned electrical
station in Moldova's separatist Transnistria region cut off power to
Moldova and Russia's Gazprom cut off natural gas in disputes over
pricing. In January 2009, gas supplies were cut during a dispute
between Russia and Ukraine. Russia's decision to ban Moldovan wine
and agricultural products, coupled with its decision to double the
price Moldova paid for Russian natural gas, have hurt growth. The
onset of the global financial crisis and poor economic conditions in
Moldova's main foreign markets, caused GDP to fall 6.5% in 2009.
Unemployment almost doubled and inflation disappeared - at -0.1%, a
record low. Moldova's IMF agreement expired in May 2009. In fall
2009, the IMF allocated $186 million to Moldova to cover its
immediate budgetary needs, and the government signed an new
agreement with the IMF in January 2010 for a program worth $574
million. In 2010, an upturn in the world economy boosted GDP growth
to 3.1% and inflation to 7.3%. Economic reforms have been slow
because of corruption and strong political forces backing government
controls. Nevertheless, the government's primary goal of EU
integration has resulted in some market-oriented progress. The
granting of EU trade preferences and increased exports to Russia
will encourage higher growth rates, but the agreements are unlikely
to serve as a panacea, given the extent to which export success
depends on higher quality standards and other factors. The economy
has made a modest recovery, but remains vulnerable to political
uncertainty, weak administrative capacity, vested bureaucratic
interests, higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather, and the
skepticism of foreign investors as well as the presence of an
illegal separatist regime in Moldova's Transnistria region.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$10.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
$10.28 billion (2009 est.)
$10.99 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.357 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
-6.5% (2009 est.)
7.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
$2,400 (2009 est.)
$2,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 16.3%
industry: 20.1%
services: 63.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.203 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 40.6%
industry: 16%
services: 43.3% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
3.1% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
29.5% (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 28.2% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.2 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 95
40.6 (1997)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Public debt:
25% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
25.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
-0.1% (2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
20.54% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
21.06% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.221 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 134
$1.189 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$2.889 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
$2.942 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.11 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
$2.251 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (2004)
country comparison to the world: 103
$573.9 million (2004)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, fruits, grapes, grain, sugar beets,sunflower seed,
tobacco; beef, milk; wine
Industries:
sugar, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery;
foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines;
hosiery, shoes, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
4.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Electricity - production:
3.617 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Electricity - consumption:
4.37 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Electricity - exports:
240 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
2.931 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Oil - consumption:
19,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Oil - exports:
36 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Oil - imports:
14,230 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Natural gas - production:
50 million cu m (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Natural gas - consumption:
2.52 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Natural gas - imports:
2.52 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Current account balance:
-$565 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
-$464.6 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.45 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
$1.332 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, machinery
Exports - partners:
Russia 23.77%, Italy 14.11%, Romania 12.74%, Germany 6.92%, Turkey
6.08%, Belarus 5.38% (2009)
Imports:
$3.66 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
$3.276 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals,
textiles
Imports - partners:
Ukraine 19.9%, Romania 15.1%, Russia 14.52%, Germany 8.69%, Italy
5.7%, Belarus 4.38% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
$1.48 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.146 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$3.844 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA (31 December 2010)
$1.813 billion (2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar - 12.443 (2010), 11.11 (2009),
10.326 (2008), 12.177 (2007), 13.131 (2006)
Communications ::Moldova
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.139 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 72
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.785 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 116
Telephone system:
general assessment: poor service outside Chisinau; some
modernization is under way
domestic: depending on location, new subscribers may face long wait
for service; multiple private operators of GSM mobile-cellular
telephone service are operating; GPRS system is being introduced; a
CDMA mobile telephone network began operations in 2007; combined
fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 90 per 100 persons
international: country code - 373; service through Romania and
Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - at least 3
(Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-owned national radio-TV broadcaster operates 2 television and
2 radio stations; a total of nearly 40 terrestrial TV channels and
some 50 radio stations are in operation; Russian and Romanian
channels also are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.md
Internet hosts:
492,181 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 50
Internet users:
1.333 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 89
Transportation ::Moldova
Airports:
11 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 154
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 1,906 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 1,138 km
country comparison to the world: 88
broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 9,343 km
country comparison to the world: 137
paved: 8,810 km
unpaved: 533 km (2008)
Waterways:
558 km (in public use on Danube, Dniester and Prut rivers) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 83
Merchant marine:
total: 107
country comparison to the world: 48
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 89, chemical tanker 2,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll
on/roll off 6
foreign-owned: 63 (Belgium 2, Egypt 5, Greece 4, Israel 4, Lebanon
1, Romania 2, Russia 5, Syria 3, Turkey 18, UK 6, Ukraine 12, Yemen
1) (2010)
Military ::Moldova
Military branches:
National Army: Land Forces Command (includes special forces), Air
Forces Command (includes air defense unit), Logistics Command (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 17 years of age for
voluntary service; male registration required at age 16; 12-month
service obligation (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,150,585
females age 16-49: 1,168,169 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 877,031
females age 16-49: 979,128 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 30,012
female: 28,450 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Transnational Issues ::Moldova
Disputes - international:
Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor the
transit of people and commodities through Moldova's break-away
Transnistria region, which remains under OSCE supervision
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Moldova is a major source and, to a lesser
extent, a transit country for women and girls trafficked for the
purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; Moldovan women are
trafficked to the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe;
girls and young women are trafficked within the country from rural
areas to Chisinau; children are also trafficked to neighboring
countries for forced labor and begging; labor trafficking of men to
work in the construction, agriculture, and service sectors of Russia
is increasingly a problem; according to an ILO report, Moldova's
national Bureau of Statistics estimated that there were likely over
25,000 Moldovan victims of trafficking for forced labor in 2008
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - The Government of Moldova does not
fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of
trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so;
despite initial efforts to combat trafficking-related complicity
since the government's reassessment on the Tier 2 Watch List in
September 2008, and increased victim assistance, the government did
not demonstrate sufficiently meaningful efforts to curb
trafficking-related corruption, which is a government-acknowledged
problem in Moldova; the government improved victim protection
efforts, deployed more law-enforcement officers in the effort and
contributed direct financial assistance toward victim protection and
assistance for the first time (2010)
Illicit drugs:
limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS
consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest
Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly the
US; widespread crime and underground economic activity
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Monaco (Europe)
Introduction ::Monaco
Background:
The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present day Monaco in
1215. The current ruling Grimaldi family first seized temporary
control in 1297, and again in 1331, but were not able to permanently
secure their holding until 1419. Economic development was spurred in
the late 19th century with a railroad linkup to France and the
opening of a casino. Since then, the principality's mild climate,
splendid scenery, and gambling facilities have made Monaco world
famous as a tourist and recreation center.
Geography ::Monaco
Location:
Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern
coast of France, near the border with Italy
Geographic coordinates:
43 44 N, 7 24 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 2 sq km
country comparison to the world: 249
land: 2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 4.4 km
border countries: France 4.4 km
Coastline:
4.1 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
Climate:
Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain:
hilly, rugged, rocky
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Agel 140 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
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:
second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See);
almost entirely urban
People ::Monaco
Population:
30,586 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.6% (male 2,466/female 2,349)
15-64 years: 62.4% (male 10,184/female 10,395)
65 years and over: 23% (male 3,068/female 4,503) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 48.9 years
male: 48 years
female: 49.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.183% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Birth rate:
7.03 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223
Death rate:
8.01 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Net migration rate:
-0.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Urbanization:
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.048 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 1.78 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 223
male: 2.03 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 1.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 89.78 years
country comparison to the world: 1
male: 85.81 years
female: 93.9 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.5 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)
adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
Ethnic groups:
French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
Languages:
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Education expenditures:
4.4% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 97
Government ::Monaco
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
conventional short form: Monaco
local long form: Principaute de Monaco
local short form: Monaco
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Monaco
geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 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:
none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined
by the US Government, but there are four quarters (quartiers,
singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville,
Monte-Carlo
Independence:
1419 (beginning of permanent rule by the House of Grimaldi)
National holiday:
National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857)
Constitution:
17 December 1962; modified 2 April 2002
Legal system:
based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005)
head of government: Minister of State Michel ROGER (since 29 March
2010)
cabinet: Council of Government under the authority of the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state appointed
by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates
presented by the French Government
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16
members elected by list majority system, 8 by proportional
representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 3 February 2008 (next to be held in February
2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - UPM 52.2%, REM 40.5%,
Monaco Together 7.3%; seats by party - UPM 21, REM 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the monarch
on the basis of nominations by the National Council)
Political parties and leaders:
Monaco Together; Rally and Issues for Monaco or REM; Union for
Monaco or UPM (including National Union for the Future of Monaco or
UNAM)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Schengen
Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union
Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gilles NOGHES
chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Suite 2K-100, Washington, DC
20008
telephone: (202) 234-1530
FAX: (202) 244-7656
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador to
France is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille
(France), under the authority of the US ambassador to France,
handles routine diplomatic and consular matters concerning Monaco
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; the colors are
those of the ruling House of Grimaldi and have been in use since
1339, making the flag one of the world's oldest national banners
note: similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag
of Poland which is white (top) and red
National anthem:
name: "A Marcia de Muneghu" (The March of Monaco)
lyrics/music: Louis NOTARI/Charles ALBRECHT
note: music adopted 1867, lyrics adopted 1931; although French is
much more commonly spoken, only the Monegasque lyrics are official;
the French version is known as "Hymne Monegasque" (Monegasque
Anthem); the words are generally only sung on official occasions
Economy ::Monaco
Economy - overview:
Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular
resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The
principality also is a major banking center and has successfully
sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added,
nonpolluting industries. The state has no income tax and low
business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who
have established residence and for foreign companies that have set
up businesses and offices. Monaco, however, is not a tax-free
shelter; it charges nearly 20% value-added tax, collects stamp
duties, and companies face a 33% tax on profits unless they can show
that three-quarters of profits are generated within the
principality. Monaco was formally removed from the OECD's "grey
list" of uncooperative tax jurisdictions in late 2009, but continues
to face international pressure to abandon its banking secrecy laws
and help combat tax evasion. The state retains monopolies in a
number of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone network, and the
postal service. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to
those in prosperous French metropolitan areas.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$976.3 million (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$30,000 (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0%
industry: 4.9%
services: 95.1% (2005)
Labor force:
44,000
country comparison to the world: 191
note: includes workers from all foreign countries (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
0% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 1
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 54
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
none
Industries:
tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - imports:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
Exports:
$716.3 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 161
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and
rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market
system through customs union with France
Imports:
$916.1 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 172
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and
rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market
system through customs union with France
Debt - external:
$18 billion (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Monaco
Telephones - main lines in use:
35,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 173
Telephones - mobile cellular:
23,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 208
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern automatic telephone system; the country's
sole fixed line operator offers a full range of services to
residential and business customers
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
exceeds 100%
international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations;
connected by cable into the French communications system
Broadcast media:
TV Monte-Carlo (TMC) operates a TV network; Radio Monte-Carlo has
both an Italian-language and a French-language network; a few
private radio stations operating (2008)
Internet country code:
.mc
Internet hosts:
23,621 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 104
Internet users:
23,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 189
Transportation ::Monaco
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 50 km
country comparison to the world: 217
paved: 50 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 68 (Bahamas 14, Bermuda 2, Comoros 1,
Cyprus 1, Liberia 10, Marshall Islands 21, Norway 1, Panama 14,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Vanuatu 1) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 62
Ports and terminals:
Monaco
Military ::Monaco
Military branches:
no regular military forces; the Palace Guard performs ceremonial
duties
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,814 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,680
females age 16-49: 4,691 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 147
female: 133 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues ::Monaco
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Mongolia (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Mongolia
Background:
The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis
KHAAN they established a huge Eurasian empire through conquest.
After his death the empire was divided into several powerful Mongol
states, but these broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols
eventually retired to their original steppe homelands and in the
late 17th century came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its
independence in 1921 with Soviet backing and a Communist regime was
installed in 1924. The modern country of Mongolia, however,
represents only part of the Mongols' historical homeland; more
ethnic Mongolians live in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in
the People's Republic of China than in Mongolia. Following a
peaceful democratic revolution, the ex-Communist Mongolian People's
Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992, but was
defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996
parliamentary election. The MPRP won an overwhelming majority in the
2000 parliamentary election, but the party lost seats in the 2004
election and shared power with democratic coalition parties from
2004-08. The MPRP regained a solid majority in the 2008
parliamentary elections but nevertheless formed a coalition
government with the Democratic Party. In 2010 the MPRP voted to
retake the name of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), a name it
used in the early 1920s. The prime minister and most cabinet members
are MPP members.
Geography ::Mongolia
Location:
Northern Asia, between China and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
46 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 1,564,116 sq km
country comparison to the world: 19
land: 1,553,556 sq km
water: 10,560 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 8,220 km
border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Terrain:
vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west
and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Hoh Nuur 560 m
highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m
Natural resources:
oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel,
zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron
Land use:
arable land: 0.76%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.24% (2005)
Irrigated land:
840 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
34.8 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.44 cu km/yr (20%/27%/52%)
per capita: 166 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
dust storms; grassland and forest fires; drought; "zud," which is
harsh winter conditions
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the policies of
former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and industrial
growth that had negative effects on the environment; the burning of
soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of
environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar;
deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to
agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain;
desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on
the environment
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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia
People ::Mongolia
Population:
3,086,918 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.1% (male 436,391/female 418,923)
15-64 years: 67.9% (male 1,031,819/female 1,033,806)
65 years and over: 4% (male 52,430/female 67,773) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.8 years
male: 25.3 years
female: 26.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.495% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Birth rate:
21.03 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Death rate:
6.08 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 116
Urbanization:
urban population: 57% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 38.56 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 69
male: 41.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 35.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.98 years
country comparison to the world: 153
male: 65.54 years
female: 70.54 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.22 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Nationality:
noun: Mongolian(s)
adjective: Mongolian
Ethnic groups:
Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other
(including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000)
Religions:
Buddhist Lamaist 50%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim 4%, none
40% (2004)
Languages:
Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8%
male: 98%
female: 97.5% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.1% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 65
Government ::Mongolia
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Mongolia
local long form: none
local short form: Mongol Uls
former: Outer Mongolia
Government type:
parliamentary
Capital:
name: Ulaanbaatar
geographic coordinates: 47 55 N, 106 55 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality*
(singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan,
Darhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan (Zavkhan),
Govi-Altay, Govisumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon,
Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs
Independence:
11 July 1921 (from China)
National holiday:
Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)
Constitution:
13 January 1992
Legal system:
blend of Soviet and German systems that employ "continental" or
"civil" code; case-precedent may be used to inform judges, but all
decisions must refer to the law as written; constitution ambiguous
on judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ (since 18 June 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Sukhbaatar BATBOLD (since 29
October 2009); First Deputy Prime Minister (Norov ALTANKHUYAG (since
20 September 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Miegombyn ENKHBOLD (since
6 December 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister in consultation
with the president and confirmed by the State Great Hural
(parliament)
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: presidential candidates nominated by political parties
represented in State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a
four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on
24 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2013); following legislative
elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition usually
elected prime minister by State Great Hural
election results: in elections in May 2009, Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ
elected president; percent of vote - Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ 51.2%, Nambar
ENKHBAYAR 47.4%, others 1.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral State Great Hural 76 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms
elections: last held on 29 June 2008 (next to be held in June 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MPP 46, DP 27, others 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (serves as appeals court for people's and provincial
courts but rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts; judges are
nominated by the General Council of Courts and approved by the
president)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party or DP [Norov ALTANHUYAG]; Mongolian People's Party
or MPP [Sukhbaatar BATBOLD]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: human rights groups; women's groups
International organization participation:
ADB, ARF, CD, CICA, CP, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, OSCE
(partner), SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Khasbazar BEKHBAT
chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117
FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jonathan ADDLETON
embassy: Big Ring Road, 11th Micro Region, Ulaanbaatar, 14171
Mongolia
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002; P.O. Box 1021,
Ulaanbaatar-13
telephone: [976] (11) 329-095
FAX: [976] (11) 320-776
Flag description:
three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red;
centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem
("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric
representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang
symbol); blue represents the sky, red symbolizes progress and
prosperity
National anthem:
name: "Mongol ulsyn toriin duulal" (National Anthem of Mongolia)
lyrics/music: Tsendiin DAMDINSUREN/Bilegiin DAMDINSUREN and
Luvsanjamts MURJORJ
note: music adopted 1950, lyrics adopted 2006; the anthem's lyrics
have been altered on numerous occasions
Economy ::Mongolia
Economy - overview:
Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on
herding and agriculture - Mongolia's extensive mineral deposits,
however, have attracted foreign investors. The country holds copper,
gold, coal, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and tungsten
deposits, which account for a large part of foreign direct
investment and government revenues. Soviet assistance, at its height
one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990 and 1991 at
the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw
Mongolia endure both deep recession, because of political inaction
and natural disasters, as well as economic growth, because of
reform-embracing, free-market economics and extensive privatization
of the formerly state-run economy. Severe winters and summer
droughts in 2000-02 resulted in massive livestock die-off and zero
or negative GDP growth. This was compounded by falling prices for
Mongolia's primary sector exports and widespread opposition to
privatization. Growth averaged nearly 9% per year in 2004-08 largely
because of high copper prices and new gold production. In 2008
Mongolia experienced a soaring inflation rate with year-to-year
inflation reaching nearly 30% - the highest inflation rate in over a
decade. By late 2008, as the country began to feel the effects of
the global financial crisis, falling commodity prices helped lower
inflation, but also reduced government revenues and forced cuts in
spending. In early 2009, the International Monetary Fund reached a
$236 million Stand-by Arrangement with Mongolia, and the country has
started to move out of the crisis. Although the banking sector
remains unstable, the government is now enforcing stricter
supervision regulations. In October 2009, the government passed
long-awaited legislation on an investment agreement to develop
Mongolia's Oyu Tolgoi mine, considered to be one of the world's
largest untapped copper deposits. The economy grew an estimated 7%
in 2010, largely on the strength of exports to nearby countries, and
international reserves reached $1.6 billion in September, an all
time high for Mongolia. Mongolia's economy continues to be heavily
influenced by its neighbors. Mongolia purchases 95% of its petroleum
products and a substantial amount of electric power from Russia,
leaving it vulnerable to price increases. Trade with China
represents more than half of Mongolia's total external trade - China
receives about two-thirds of Mongolia's exports. Remittances from
Mongolians working abroad are sizable, but have fallen due to the
economic crisis; money laundering is a growing concern. Mongolia
joined the World Trade Organization in 1997 and seeks to expand its
participation in regional economic and trade regimes.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$10.16 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
$9.5 billion (2009 est.)
$9.654 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.807 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
-1.6% (2009 est.)
8.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
$3,100 (2009 est.)
$3,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 21.2%
industry: 29.5%
services: 49.3% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
1.068 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 141
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 34%
industry: 5%
services: 61% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
2.8% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 22
3% (2007)
Population below poverty line:
36.1% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 24.9% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.8 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 97
44 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
28% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
10.82% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 22
14.78% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
21.67% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
20.58% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$451.4 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 160
$510.7 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$1.996 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 143
$1.791 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.664 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
$1.183 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$430.2 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 105
$407 million (31 December 2008)
$612.2 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, vegetables, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle,
camels, horses
Industries:
construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper,
molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, and gold); oil; food and
beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere and natural fiber
manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Electricity - production:
4.03 billion kWh (2009)
country comparison to the world: 117
Electricity - consumption:
3.439 billion kWh (2009)
country comparison to the world: 120
Electricity - exports:
21.2 million kWh (2009)
Electricity - imports:
186.1 million kWh (2009)
Oil - production:
5,100 bbl/day (2009)
country comparison to the world: 93
Oil - consumption:
16,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Oil - exports:
5,300 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2009)
country comparison to the world: 205
Oil - proved reserves:
NA bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Current account balance:
-$228.7 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
-$710 million (2008 est.)
Exports:
$1.902 billion (2009)
country comparison to the world: 132
$2.539 billion (2008)
Exports - commodities:
copper, apparel, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides,
fluorspar, other nonferrous metals, coal
Exports - partners:
China 78.52%, Canada 9.46%, Russia 3.02% (2009)
Imports:
$2.131 billion (2009)
country comparison to the world: 150
$3.224 billion (2008)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuel, cars, food products, industrial
consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea
Imports - partners:
China 35.99%, Russia 31.56%, South Korea 7.08%, Japan 4.8% (2009)
Debt - external:
$1.86 billion (2009)
country comparison to the world: 141
$1.6 billion (2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar - 1,442.8 (2009), 1,267.51
(2008), 1,170 (2007), 1,165 (2006)
Communications ::Mongolia
Telephones - main lines in use:
188,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 125
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.249 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 127
Telephone system:
general assessment: network is improving with international direct
dialing available in many areas; a fiber-optic network has been
installed that is improving broadband and communication services
between major urban centers with multiple companies providing
inter-city fiber-optic cable services
domestic: very low fixed-line teledensity; there are multiple
mobile- cellular providers and subscribership is increasing rapidly;
international: country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7
Broadcast media:
following a law passed in 2005, Mongolia's state-run radio and TV
provider converted to a public service provider; also available are
private radio and TV broadcasters, as well as multi-channel
satellite and cable TV providers; more than 100 radio stations,
including some 20 via repeaters for the public broadcaster;
transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available
(2008)
Internet country code:
.mn
Internet hosts:
7,942 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 134
Internet users:
330,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 125
Transportation ::Mongolia
Airports:
46 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 94
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 32
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Railways:
total: 1,810 km
country comparison to the world: 76
broad gauge: 1,810 km 1.520-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 49,250 km
country comparison to the world: 82
paved: 2,824 km
unpaved: 46,426 km (includes 1,994 km with gravel surface and 1,874
km with improved surface) (2009)
Waterways:
580 km
country comparison to the world: 82
note: only waterway in operation is Lake Hovsgol (135 km); Selenge
River (270 km) and Orhon River (175 km) are navigable but carry
little traffic; lakes and rivers freeze in winter, are open from May
to September (2010)
Merchant marine:
total: 58
country comparison to the world: 67
by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 29, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas
2, passenger/cargo 1, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 44 (Indonesia 2, North Korea 1, Russia 4, Singapore
1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 1, Vietnam 34) (2010)
Military ::Mongolia
Military branches:
Mongolian Armed Forces: Mongolian Army, Mongolian Air Force; there
is no navy (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 12 months in land or air defense forces or
police; a small portion of Mongolian land forces (2.5 percent) is
comprised of contract soldiers; women cannot be deployed overseas
for military operations (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 887,059
females age 16-49: 880,788 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 715,585
females age 16-49: 748,083 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 29,240
female: 28,156 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.4% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 106
Transnational Issues ::Mongolia
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Montenegro (Europe)
Introduction ::Montenegro
Background:
The use of the name Montenegro began in the 15th century when the
Crnojevic dynasty began to rule the Serbian principality of Zeta;
over subsequent centuries Montenegro was able to maintain its
independence from the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th
centuries, Montenegro became a theocracy ruled by a series of bishop
princes; in 1852, it was transformed into a secular principality.
After World War I, Montenegro was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs,
Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in
1929; at the conclusion of World War II, it became a constituent
republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When the
latter dissolved in 1992, Montenegro federated with Serbia, first as
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, in a looser
union of Serbia and Montenegro. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its
right under the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro to
hold a referendum on independence from the state union. The vote for
severing ties with Serbia exceeded 55% - the threshold set by the EU
- allowing Montenegro to formally declare its independence on 3 June
2006.
Geography ::Montenegro
Location:
Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia
Geographic coordinates:
42 30 N, 19 18 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 13,812 sq km
country comparison to the world: 161
land: 13,452 sq km
water: 360 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 625 km
border countries: Albania 172 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 225 km,
Croatia 25 km, Kosovo 79 km, Serbia 124 km
Coastline:
293.5 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: defined by treaty
Climate:
Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively
cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland
Terrain:
highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by rugged
high limestone mountains and plateaus
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Bobotov Kuk 2,522 m
Natural resources:
bauxite, hydroelectricity
Land use:
arable land: 13.7%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 85.3%
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in
tourist-related areas such as Kotor
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location along the Adriatic coast
People ::Montenegro
Population:
666,730 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16% (male 52,645/female 54,846)
15-64 years: 70.3% (male 244,949/female 227,794)
65 years and over: 13.7% (male 37,217/female 54,729) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.2 years
male: 35.9 years
female: 38.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.777% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 229
Birth rate:
11.09 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Death rate:
8.76 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Urbanization:
urban population: 60% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.074 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne disease: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Montenegrin(s)
adjective: Montenegrin
Ethnic groups:
Montenegrin 43%, Serbian 32%, Bosniak 8%, Albanian 5%, other
(Muslims, Croats, Roma (Gypsy)) 12% (2003 census)
Religions:
Orthodox 74.2%, Muslim 17.7%, Catholic 3.5%, other 0.6%, unspecified
3%, atheist 1% (2003 census)
Languages:
Serbian 63.6%, Montenegrin (official) 22%, Bosnian 5.5%, Albanian
5.3%, unspecified 3.7% (2003 census)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Montenegro
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Montenegro
local long form: none
local short form: Crna Gora
former: People's Republic of Montenegro, Socialist Republic of
Montenegro, Republic of Montenegro
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Podgorica
geographic coordinates: 42 26 N, 19 16 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
21 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina); Andrijevica, Bar,
Berane, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Herceg Novi,
Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Plav, Pljevlja, Pluzine,
Podgorica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Ulcinj, Zabljak
Independence:
3 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)
National holiday:
National Day, 13 July (1878)
Constitution:
approved 19 October 2007 (by the Assembly)
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Filip VUJANOVIC (since 6 April 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Igor LUKSIC (since 29 December
2010)
cabinet: Ministries act as cabinet
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by direct vote for five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 6 April 2008
(next to be held in 2013); prime minister proposed by president,
accepted by Assembly
election results: Filip VUJANOVIC reelected president; Filip
VUJANOVIC 51.9%, Andrija MANDIC 19.6%, Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC 16.6%,
Srdan MILIC 11.9%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly (81 seats; members elected by direct vote to
serve four-year terms; note - seats increased from 74 seats in 2006)
elections: last held on 29 March 2009 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - Coalition for European
Montenegro 51.94%, SNP 16.83%, NOVA 9.22%, PZP 6.03%, other
(including Albanian minority parties) 15.98%; seats by party -
Coalition for European Montenegro 48, SNP 16, NOVA 8, PZP 5,
Albanian minority parties 4
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court (five judges serve nine-year terms); Supreme
Court (judges have life tenure)
Political parties and leaders:
Albanian Alternative or AA [Vesel SINISHTAJ]; Coalition for European
Montenegro (bloc) [Milo DJUKANOVIC] (includes Democratic Party of
Socialists or DPS [Milo DJUKANOVIC], Social Democratic Party or SDP
[Ranko KRIVOKAPIC], Bosniak Party of BS [Rafet HUSOVIC], and
Croatian Civic Initiative or HGI [Marija VUCINOVIC); Coalition
SNP-NS-DSS (bloc) (includes Socialist People's Party or SNP [Srdjan
MILIC], People's Party of Montenegro or NS [Predrag POPOVIC], and
Democratic Serbian Party of Montenegro or DSS [Ranko KADIC]);
Democratic League-Party of Democratic Prosperity or SPP [Mehmet
BARDHIJ]; Democratic Union of Albanians or DUA [Ferhat DINOSHA]; For
a Different Montenegro (bloc) [Goran BATRICEVIC] (includes
Democratic Center or DC [Goran BATRICEVIC] and Liberal Party of
Montenegro or LP [Miodrag ZIVKOVIC]); FORCA [Nazif CUNGU]; Movement
for Changes or PZP [Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC]; National Coalition (includes
People's Party of Montenegro or NS [Predrag POPOVIC] and Democratic
Serbian Party of Montenegro or DSS [Ranko KADIC]); New Serb
Democracy or NOVA [Andrija MANDIC]; Socialist People's Party of
Montenegro or SNP [Srdjan MILIC]
International organization participation:
CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (observer), OPCW, OSCE,
PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Srdjan DARMANOVIC
chancery: 1610 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-6108
FAX: [1] (202) 234-6109
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Benjamin
LOWENTHAL
embassy: Ljubljanska bb, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [382] 81 225 417
FAX: [382] 81 241 358
Flag description:
a red field bordered by a narrow golden-yellow stripe with the
Montenegrin coat of arms centered; the arms consist of a
double-headed golden eagle - symbolizing the unity of church and
state - surmounted by a crown; the eagle holds a golden scepter in
its right claw and a blue orb in its left; the breast shield over
the eagle shows a golden lion passant on a green field in front of a
blue sky; the lion is symbol of episcopal authority and harks back
to the three and a half centuries that Montenegro was ruled as a
theocracy
National anthem:
name: "Oj, svijetla majska zoro" (Oh, Bright Dawn of May)
lyrics/music: Sekula DRLJEVIC/unknown, arranged by Zarko MIKOVIC
note: adopted 2004; the anthem's music is based on a Montenegrin
folk song
Economy ::Montenegro
Economy - overview:
Montenegro severed its economy from federal control and from Serbia
during the MILOSEVIC era and maintained its own central bank,
adopted the Deutchmark, then the euro - rather than the Yugoslav
dinar - as official currency, collected customs tariffs, and managed
its own budget. The dissolution of the loose political union between
Serbia and Montenegro in 2006 led to separate membership in several
international financial institutions, such as the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development. In January 2007, Montenegro joined
the World Bank and IMF. Montenegro is pursuing its own membership in
the World Trade Organization and signed a Stabilization and
Association agreement with the European Union in October 2007. The
European Council granted candidate country status to Montenegro at
the December 2010 session. Unemployment and regional disparities in
development are key political and economic problems. Montenegro has
privatized its large aluminum complex - the dominant industry - as
well as most of its financial sector, and has begun to attract
foreign direct investment in the tourism sector. The global
financial crisis has had a significant negative impact on the
economy, due to the ongoing credit crunch, a decline in the real
estate sector, and a fall in aluminum exports.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$6.569 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
$6.689 billion (2009 est.)
$7.093 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.884 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
-5.7% (2009 est.)
6.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
$10,000 (2009 est.)
$10,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
259,100 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 166
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 30%
services: 68% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14.7% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Population below poverty line:
7% (2007 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 113
Investment (gross fixed):
30.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Public debt:
38% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 79
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 101
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.36% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
9.24% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$816.8 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 143
$1.172 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of broad money:
$1.406 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 149
$1.446 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.29 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 116
$3.771 billion (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.289 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 89
$2.863 billion (31 December 2008)
$3.699 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
tobacco, potatoes, citrus fruits, olives, grapes; sheep
Industries:
steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods,
tourism
Electricity - production:
2.864 billion kWh (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Electricity - consumption:
18.6 million kWh (2005)
country comparison to the world: 206
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Oil - exports:
314 bbl/day (2005)
country comparison to the world: 128
Oil - imports:
6,093 bbl/day (2005)
country comparison to the world: 152
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Natural gas - consumption:
NA cu m
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Current account balance:
-$1.102 billion (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Exports:
$171.3 million (2003)
country comparison to the world: 182
Exports - partners:
Italy 29.52%, Greece 22.65%, Slovenia 11.83%, Hungary 8.96%, US
7.93% (2009)
Imports:
$601.7 million (2003)
country comparison to the world: 184
Imports - partners:
Italy 17.54%, Slovenia 14.62%, Germany 10.5%, Austria 7.82%, China
7.82%, Russia 4.4%, Hungary 4.11%, Greece 4.11%, Netherlands 3.96%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA
Debt - external:
$650 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 156
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Montenegro
Telephones - main lines in use:
366,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 106
Telephones - mobile cellular:
752,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 151
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern telecommunications system with access to
European satellites
domestic: GSM mobile-cellular service, available through multiple
providers with national coverage, is growing
international: country code - 382; 2 international switches connect
the national system
Broadcast media:
state-owned national radio-TV broadcaster operates 2 terrestrial
television networks, 1 satellite TV channel, and 2 radio networks;
roughly a dozen privately-owned TV broadcasters operate networks
nationally, regionally, and locally; in addition to the 2
state-owned national radio networks, roughly 50 privately-owned
radio stations and networks broadcast (2007)
Internet country code:
.me
Internet hosts:
6,247 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 137
Internet users:
280,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 133
Transportation ::Montenegro
Airports:
5 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 182
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Railways:
total: 250 km
country comparison to the world: 125
standard gauge: 250 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 169 km) (2007)
Roadways:
total: 7,404 km
country comparison to the world: 146
paved: 4,927 km
unpaved: 2,477 km (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 2
country comparison to the world: 144
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1
registered in other countries: 5 (Bahamas 2, Honduras 2, Slovakia 1)
(2010)
Ports and terminals:
Bar
Military ::Montenegro
Military branches:
Armed Forces of the Republic of Montenegro: Army, Navy, Air Force
(2009)
Military service age and obligation:
compulsory national military service abolished August 2006
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 151,798
females age 16-49: 134,267 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 3,407
female: 3,741 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues ::Montenegro
Disputes - international:
none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 7,000 (Kosovo); note - mostly ethnic
Serbs and Roma who fled Kosovo in 1999
IDPs: 16,192 (ethnic conflict in 1999 and riots in 2004) (2007)
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Montserrat (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Montserrat
Background:
English and Irish colonists from St. Kitts first settled on
Montserrat in 1632; the first African slaves arrived three decades
later. The British and French fought for possession of the island
for most of the 18th century, but it finally was confirmed as a
British possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy
was converted to small farm landholdings in the mid 19th century.
Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population
fled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano
that began on 18 July 1995. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity
since, with the last eruption occurring in July 2003.
Geography ::Montserrat
Location:
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
16 45 N, 62 12 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 102 sq km
country comparison to the world: 225
land: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
40 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: lava dome in English's Crater (in the Soufriere Hills
volcanic complex) estimated at over 930 m (2006)
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (Soufriere
Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995)
Environment - current issues:
land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
Geography - note:
the island is entirely volcanic in origin and comprised of three
major volcanic centers of differing ages
People ::Montserrat
Population:
5,118
country comparison to the world: 229
note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the
resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned
(July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.6% (male 731/female 678)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 1,599/female 1,738)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 232/female 119) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.1 years
male: 28.8 years
female: 29.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.391% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Birth rate:
11.72 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Death rate:
7.82 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 115
Urbanization:
urban population: 14% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.033 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.8 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 119
male: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.91 years
country comparison to the world: 119
male: 74.82 years
female: 70.91 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.25 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Montserratian(s)
adjective: Montserratian
Ethnic groups:
black, white
Religions:
Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day
Adventist, other Christian denominations
Languages:
English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1970 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 17 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
3.3% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 138
Government ::Montserrat
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Montserrat
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Plymouth
geographic coordinates: 16 42 N, 62 13 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Plymouth was abandoned in 1997 because of volcanic activity;
interim government buildings have been built at Brades Estate in the
Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat
Administrative divisions:
3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution:
effective 19 December 1989
Legal system:
English common law and statutory law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor Peter A. WATERWORTH (since 27 July 2007)
head of government: Chief Minister Rueben MEADE (since 10 September
2009)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief
minister, 3 other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance
secretary
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party usually becomes chief minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats; 9 members popularly
elected to serve five-year terms; the attorney general and financial
secretary sit as ex-officio members)
elections: last held on 8 September 2009 (next to be held by 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MCAP 6, independents 3
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia, one judge of
the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the
High Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Montserrat Democratic Party or MDP [Lowell LEWIS]; Movement for
Change and Prosperity or MCAP [Roselyn CASSELL-SEALY]; New People's
Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, 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 Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the
flag; the arms feature a woman in green dress, Erin, the female
personification of Ireland, standing beside a yellow harp and
embracing a large dark cross with her right arm; Erin and the harp
are symbols of Ireland reflecting the territory's Irish ancestry;
blue represents awareness, trustworthiness, determination, and
righteousness
National anthem:
note: as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is
official (see United Kingdom)
Economy ::Montserrat
Economy - overview:
Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a damper
on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997
closed the airports and seaports, causing further economic and
social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the
island. Some began to return in 1998 but lack of housing limited the
number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the lack
of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops. Prospects
for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the
volcanic activity and on public sector construction activity. The UK
has launched a three-year $122.8 million aid program to help
reconstruct the economy. Half of the island is expected to remain
uninhabitable for another decade.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$29 million (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
-1% (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,400 (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.2%
industry: 23.1%
services: 75.7% (1999 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Unemployment rate:
6% (1998 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.6% (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 67
6.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.04% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
9.89% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$14.13 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 188
$14.51 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$69.63 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 186
$62.13 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$9.93 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
$5.537 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock
products
Industries:
tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
22 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Electricity - consumption:
20.46 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Oil - imports:
521 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Exports:
$700,000 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
Exports - commodities:
electronic components, plastic bags, apparel; hot peppers, limes,
live plants; cattle
Imports:
$17 million (2001); $17 million
country comparison to the world: 219
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured
goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
Debt - external:
$8.9 million (1997)
country comparison to the world: 191
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006),
2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
note: fixed rate since 1976
Communications ::Montserrat
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 220
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 213
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern and fully digitalized
domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone systems available
international: country code - 1-664; landing point for the East
Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) optic submarine cable with links to 13
other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British
Virgin Islands to Trinidad
Broadcast media:
Radio Montserrat, a public radio broadcaster, transmits on 1 station
and has a repeater transmission to a second station; repeater
transmissions from the GEM Radio Network of Trinidad and Tobago
provide another 2 radio stations; cable and satellite TV are
obtainable (2007)
Internet country code:
.ms
Internet hosts:
552 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 177
Internet users:
1,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 212
Transportation ::Montserrat
Airports:
2 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 205
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Roadways:
note: volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the
227 km road system; a new road infrastructure has been built in the
north end of the island (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Little Bay, Plymouth
Military ::Montserrat
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,339 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,127
females age 16-49: 1,217 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 38
female: 36 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Montserrat
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US
and Europe
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Morocco (Africa)
Introduction ::Morocco
Background:
In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa,
successive Moorish dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th
century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad AL-MANSUR
(1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age.
The Alaouite dynasty, to which the current Moroccan royal family
belongs, established a sultanate in Morocco beginning in the 17th
century. In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a
half century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw
Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode; in 1912, the French imposed a
protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle
with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city
of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new
country that same year. Sultan MOHAMMED V, the current monarch's
grandfather, organized the new state as a constitutional monarchy
and in 1957 assumed the title of King. Morocco annexed Western
Sahara during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of
the territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the
1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature,
which first met in 1997. Under King MOHAMMED VI - who in 1999
succeeded his father to the throne - human rights have improved.
Morocco enjoys a moderately free press, but the government
occasionally takes action against journalists who report on three
broad subjects considered to be taboo: the monarchy, Islam, and the
status of Western Sahara. Despite the continuing reforms, ultimate
authority remains in the hands of the monarch.
Geography ::Morocco
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the
Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates:
32 00 N, 5 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 446,550 sq km
country comparison to the world: 57
land: 446,300 sq km
water: 250 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 2,017.9 km
border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain
(Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km
Coastline:
1,835 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
Terrain:
northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of
bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m
highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 2%
other: 79% (2005)
Irrigated land:
14,450 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
29 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 12.6 cu km/yr (10%/3%/87%)
per capita: 400 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes;
periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from
farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation);
water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs;
oil pollution of coastal waters
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
People ::Morocco
Population:
31,627,428 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.7% (male 4,548,808/female 4,418,768)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 10,009,928/female 10,437,103)
65 years and over: 6% (male 851,190/female 1,019,377) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.5 years
male: 25.9 years
female: 27 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.077% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Birth rate:
19.4 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Death rate:
4.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Net migration rate:
-3.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Urbanization:
urban population: 56% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 28.61 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 76
male: 33.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.69 years
country comparison to the world: 77
male: 72.63 years
female: 78.9 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.23 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
21,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Nationality:
noun: Moroccan(s)
adjective: Moroccan
Ethnic groups:
Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
Religions:
Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
Languages:
Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of
business, government, and diplomacy
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 52.3%
male: 65.7%
female: 39.6% (2004 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 9 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
5.7% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 40
Government ::Morocco
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco
conventional short form: Morocco
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
local short form: Al Maghrib
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Rabat
geographic coordinates: 34 01 N, 6 49 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
15 regions; Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Doukkala-Abda,
Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara,
Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz,
Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer,
Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal, Tanger-Tetouan, Taza-Al
Hoceima-Taounate
note: Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara, the political
status of which is considered undetermined by the US Government;
portions of the regions Guelmim-Es Smara and Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia
El Hamra as claimed by Morocco lie within Western Sahara; Morocco
also claims Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, another region that falls
entirely within Western Sahara
Independence:
2 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday:
Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July
(1999)
Constitution:
10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended September 1996
note: the amendment of September 1996 was to create a bicameral
legislature
Legal system:
based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law systems;
judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of
Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King MOHAMMED VI (since 30 July 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Abbas EL FASSI (since 19
September 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by
the monarch following legislative elections
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Chamber of Counselors (or upper
house) (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils,
professional organizations, and labor syndicates to serve nine-year
terms; one-third of the members are elected every three years) and
Chamber of Representatives (or lower house) (325 seats; 295 members
elected by multi-seat constituencies and 30 from national lists of
women; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held on 3 October 2009 (next
to be held in 2012); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 7
September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - NA; Chamber of Representatives - percent of
vote by party - NA; seats by party - PI 52, PJD 46, MP 41, RNI 39,
USFP 38, UC 27, PPS 17, FFD 9, MDS 9, Al Ahd 8, other 39
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed on the recommendation of the
Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Action Party or PA [Mohammed EL IDRISSI]; Al Ahd (The Covenant)
Party [Najib EL OUAZZANI]; Alliance des Libert'es (Alliance of
Liberty) or ADL [Ali BELHAJ]; An-Nahj Ad-Dimocrati or An-Nahj
[Abdellah EL HARIF]; Authenticity and Modernity Party or PAM
[Mohamed Cheikh BIADILLAH, Secretary General]; Choura et Istiqlal
(Consultation and Independence) Party or PCI [Abdelwahed MAACH];
Citizens' Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizenship and
Development Initiative or ICD [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Constitutional
Union Party or UC [Mohammed ABIED]; Democratic and Social Movement
or MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE]; Democratic Forces Front or FFD [Touhami EL
KHIARI]; Democratic Socialist Vanguard Party or PADS [Ahmed
BENJELLOUN]; Democratic Society Party or PSD [Zhor CHEKKAFI];
Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and Development
Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Istiqlal (Independence) Party or PI
[Abbas EL FASSI]; Justice and Development Party or PJD [Abdelilah
BENKIRANE]; Labor Party or PT [Abdelkrim BENATIK]; Moroccan Liberal
Party or PML [Mohamed ZIANE]; National Democratic Party or PND
[Abdallah KADIRI]; National Ittihadi Congress Party or CNI
[Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA]; National Popular Movement or MNP [Mahjoubi
AHERDANE]; National Rally of Independents or RNI [Mustapha EL
MANSOURI]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP [Abdellah
IBRAHIM]; Popular Movement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Progress and
Socialism Party or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI]; Reform and Development Party
or PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Renaissance and Virtue Party or PRV
[Mohamed KHALIDI]; Renewal and Equity Party or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR];
Social Center Party or PSC [Lahcen MADIH]; Socialist Democratic
Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or
USFP [Abdelwahed RADI]; Unified Socialist Left Party or PGSU
[Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir AMAOUI]; General
Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Abderrazzak AFILAL]; Moroccan
Employers Association or CGEM [Hassan CHAMI]; National Labor Union
of Morocco or UNMT [Abdelslam MAATI]; Union of Moroccan Workers or
UMT [Mahjoub BENSEDDIK]
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA,
MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris
Club (associate), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR
chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979
FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel L. KAPLAN
embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat
mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 09718
telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65
FAX: [212] (37) 76 56 61
consulate(s) general: Casablanca
Flag description:
red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as
Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and green
are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is
more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf;
the pentacle represents the five pillars of Islam and signifies the
association between God and the nation; design dates to 1912
National anthem:
name: "Hymne Cherifien" (Hymn of the Sharif)
lyrics/music: Ali Squalli HOUSSAINI/Leo MORGAN
note: music adopted 1956, lyrics adopted 1970
Economy ::Morocco
Economy - overview:
Morocco's market economy benefits from the country's relatively low
labor costs and proximity to Europe, which aid key areas of the
economy such as agriculture, light manufacturing, tourism, and
remittances. Morocco is also the world's largest exporter of
phosphate, which has long provided a source of export earnings and
economic stability. Economic policies pursued since 2003 by King
MOHAMMED VI have brought macroeconomic stability to the country with
generally low inflation, improved financial performance, and steady
progress in developing the service and industrial sectors. In 2006,
Morocco entered a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US, and in
2008 entered into an advanced status in its 2000 Association
Agreement with the EU. However, poverty, illiteracy, and
unemployment rates remain high. In response to these challenges,
King MOHAMMED in 2005 launched a National Initiative for Human
Development, a $2 billion program aimed at alleviating poverty and
underdevelopment by expanding electricity to rural areas and
replacing urban slums with public and subsidized housing, among
other policies. Morocco's trade and budget deficits widened in 2010,
and reducing govenment spending and adapting to sluggish economic
growth in Europe will be challenges in 2011. Morocco's long-term
challenges include improving education and job prospects for young
Moroccans, closing the disparity in wealth between the rich and the
poor, confronting corruption, and expanding and diversifying exports
beyond phosphates and low-value-added products.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$153.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$147.6 billion (2009 est.)
$140.6 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$91.7 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
4.9% (2009 est.)
5.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
$4,700 (2009 est.)
$4,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17.1%
industry: 31.6%
services: 51.4% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
11.63 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 44.6%
industry: 19.8%
services: 35.5% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
9.1% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
15% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 33.2% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40.9 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
39.5 (1999 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
30.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Public debt:
58.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
56.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3.31% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 112
3.32% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
6.5% (31 December 2008)
Stock of narrow money:
$67.33 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 40
$64.58 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$108.7 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 51
$99.5 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$93.21 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$91.83 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$62.91 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 46
$65.75 billion (31 December 2008)
$75.49 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, citrus fruits, grapes, vegetables, olives; livestock;
wine
Industries:
phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather
goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
4.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Electricity - production:
19.78 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Electricity - consumption:
20.78 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
3.429 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
4,053 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Oil - consumption:
187,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Oil - exports:
17,420 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Oil - imports:
195,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Oil - proved reserves:
100 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Natural gas - production:
60 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Natural gas - consumption:
560 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Natural gas - imports:
500 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.501 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Current account balance:
-$7.922 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
-$4.958 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$14.49 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$13.92 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing and textiles, electric components, inorganic chemicals,
transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates),
petroleum products, citrus fruits, vegetables, fish
Exports - partners:
Spain 22.02%, France 20.22%, India 4.91%, Italy 4% (2009)
Imports:
$34.19 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$30.55 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment,
wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics
Imports - partners:
France 16.95%, Spain 14.72%, China 7.1%, Italy 6.76%, Germany 6.28%,
US 5.66%, Saudi Arabia 5.11% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$24.57 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$23.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$22.69 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$21.12 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$42.19 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
$40.72 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.047 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$1.333 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - 8.3619 (2010), 8.0571 (2009),
7.526 (2008), 8.3563 (2007), 8.7722 (2006)
Communications ::Morocco
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.516 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 45
Telephones - mobile cellular:
25.311 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 35
Telephone system:
general assessment: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables,
and microwave radio relay links; principal switching centers are
Casablanca and Rabat; national network nearly 100% digital using
fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio
relay; Internet available but expensive
domestic: fixed-line teledensity is roughly 10 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular subscribership approached 75 per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 212; landing point for the Atlas
Offshore, Estepona-Tetouan, Euroafrica, Spain-Morocco, and
SEA-ME-WE-3 fiber-optical telecommunications undersea cables that
provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat;
microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara;
coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria; participant in
Medarabtel; fiber-optic cable link from Agadir to Algeria and
Tunisia (2009)
Broadcast media:
2 television broadcast networks with state-run Radio-Television
Marocaine (RTM) operating one network and the state partially owning
the other; foreign TV broadcasts are available via satellite dish; 3
radio broadcast networks with RTM operating one; the
government-owned network includes 10 regional radio channels in
addition to its national service (2007)
Internet country code:
.ma
Internet hosts:
277,793 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 61
Internet users:
13.213 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 29
Transportation ::Morocco
Airports:
58 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 81
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 32
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 26
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 8 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 830 km; oil 439 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 1,907 km
country comparison to the world: 74
standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,022 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 57,625 km
country comparison to the world: 79
paved: 35,664 km (includes 639 km of expressways)
unpaved: 21,961 km (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 30
country comparison to the world: 84
by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 2, container 7, passenger/cargo
15, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 6 (France 4, Germany 2)
registered in other countries: 5 (Gibraltar 4, Panama 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Casablanca, Jorf Lasfar, Mohammedia, Safi, Tangier
Military ::Morocco
Military branches:
Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army
(includes Air Defense), Royal Moroccan Navy (includes Coast Guard,
Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al Malakiya
Marakishiya; Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; service obligation -
18 months (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,167,760
females age 16-49: 8,599,418 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,960,026
females age 16-49: 7,307,491 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 300,262
female: 298,227 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
5% of GDP (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Transnational Issues ::Morocco
Disputes - international:
claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains
unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since
September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and
parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals; Morocco
protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta,
Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon de
Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; both
countries claim Isla Perejil (Leila Island); discussions have not
progressed on a comprehensive maritime delimitation, setting limits
on resource exploration and refugee interdiction, since Morocco's
2002 rejection of Spain's unilateral designation of a median line
from the Canary Islands; Morocco serves as one of the primary
launching areas of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa
Illicit drugs:
one of the world's largest producers of illicit hashish; shipments
of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for
cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; significant
consumer of cannabis
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Mozambique (Africa)
Introduction ::Mozambique
Background:
Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close with
independence in 1975. Large-scale emigration, economic dependence on
South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil war hindered
the country's development until the mid 1990's. The ruling Front for
the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) party formally abandoned
Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided
for multiparty elections and a free market economy. A UN-negotiated
peace agreement between FRELIMO and rebel Mozambique National
Resistance (RENAMO) forces ended the fighting in 1992. In December
2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANO
stepped down after 18 years in office. His elected successor,
Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, promised to continue the sound economic
policies that have encouraged foreign investment.
Geography ::Mozambique
Location:
Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South
Africa and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates:
18 15 S, 35 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 799,380 sq km
country comparison to the world: 35
land: 786,380 sq km
water: 13,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 4,571 km
border countries: Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland
105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km
Coastline:
2,470 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical to subtropical
Terrain:
mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in
northwest, mountains in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m
Natural resources:
coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite
Land use:
arable land: 5.43%
permanent crops: 0.29%
other: 94.28% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,180 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
216 cu km (1992)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.63 cu km/yr (11%/2%/87%)
per capita: 32 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and
southern provinces
Environment - current issues:
a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have
resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and
coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences;
desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters; elephant
poaching for ivory is a problem
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:
the Zambezi flows through the north-central and most fertile part of
the country
People ::Mozambique
Population:
22,061,451
country comparison to the world: 52
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected; the 1997
Mozambican census reported a population of 16,099,246 (July 2010
est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.3% (male 4,829,272/female 4,773,209)
15-64 years: 52.8% (male 5,605,227/female 5,842,679)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 257,119/female 361,772) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.5 years
male: 17.1 years
female: 17.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.797% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Birth rate:
37.8 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Death rate:
19.83 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 114
Urbanization:
urban population: 37% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.017 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 103.82 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 6
male: 106.53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 101.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 41.37 years
country comparison to the world: 222
male: 42.05 years
female: 40.68 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.13 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
12.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.5 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
81,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Mozambican(s)
adjective: Mozambican
Ethnic groups:
African 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Europeans
0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%
Religions:
Catholic 23.8%, Muslim 17.8%, Zionist Christian 17.5%, other 17.8%,
none 23.1% (1997 census)
Languages:
Emakhuwa 26.1%, Xichangana 11.3%, Portuguese 8.8% (official; spoken
by 27% of population as a second language), Elomwe 7.6%, Cisena
6.8%, Echuwabo 5.8%, other Mozambican languages 32%, other foreign
languages 0.3%, unspecified 1.3% (1997 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47.8%
male: 63.5%
female: 32.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male: 9 years
female: 7 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 70
Government ::Mozambique
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique
conventional short form: Mozambique
local long form: Republica de Mocambique
local short form: Mocambique
former: Portuguese East Africa
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Maputo
geographic coordinates: 25 57 S, 32 35 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city (cidade)*;
Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de Maputo*,
Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
Independence:
25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
Constitution:
30 November 1990
Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Armando GUEBUZA (since 2 February 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Aires Bonifacio ALI (since 16
January 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 October 2009
(next to be held in 2014); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Armando GUEBUZA reelected president; percent of
vote - Armando GUEBUZA 76.3%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 14.9%, Daviz SIMANGO
8.8%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250
seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held on 28 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - FRELIMO 74.7%, RENAMO
17.7%, MDM 3.9%, other 3.7%; seats by party - FRELIMO 191, RENAMO
51, MDM 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the court of final appeal; some of its professional
judges are appointed by the president, and some are elected by the
Assembly); other courts include an Administrative Court,
Constitutional Court, customs courts, maritime courts, courts
marshal, labor courts
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Movement of Mozambique (Movimento Democratico de
Mocambique) or MDM [Daviz SIMANGO]; Front for the Liberation of
Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de Mocambique) or FRELIMO [Armando
Emilio GUEBUZA]; Mozambique National Resistance (Resistencia
Nacional Mocambicana) or RENAMO [Afonso DHLAKAMA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Mozambican League of Human Rights (Liga Mocambicana dos Direitos
Humanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTE, president]
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Amelia Matos SUMBANA
chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146
FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie V. ROWE
embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo
mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo
telephone: [258] (21) 492797
FAX: [258] (21) 490114
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with
a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band is
edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed
star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an
open white book; green represents the riches of the land, white
peace, black the African continent, yellow the country's minerals,
and red the struggle for independence; the rifle symbolizes defense
and vigilance, the hoe refers to the country's agriculture, the open
book stresses the importance of education, and the star represents
Marxism and internationalism
National anthem:
name: "Patria Amada" (Lovely Fatherland)
lyrics/music: Salomao J. MANHICA/unknown
note: adopted 2002
Economy ::Mozambique
Economy - overview:
At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorest
countries. Socialist mismanagement and a brutal civil war from
1977-92 exacerbated the situation. In 1987, the government embarked
on a series of macroeconomic reforms designed to stabilize the
economy. These steps, combined with donor assistance and with
political stability since the multi-party elections in 1994, have
led to dramatic improvements in the country's growth rate. Fiscal
reforms, including the introduction of a value-added tax and reform
of the customs service, have improved the government's revenue
collection abilities. In spite of these gains, Mozambique remains
dependent upon foreign assistance for more than half of its annual
budget, and the majority of the population remains below the poverty
line. Subsistence agriculture continues to employ the vast majority
of the country's work force and smallholder agricultural
productivity and productivity growth is weak. A substantial trade
imbalance persists although the opening of the Mozal aluminum
smelter, the country's largest foreign investment project to date,
has increased export earnings. At the end of 2007, and after years
of negotiations, the government took over Portugal's majority share
of the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectricity (HCB) company, a dam that was
not transferred to Mozambique at independence because of the ensuing
civil war and unpaid debts. More power is needed for additional
investment projects in titanium extraction and processing and
garment manufacturing that could further close the import/export
gap. Mozambique's once substantial foreign debt has been reduced
through forgiveness and rescheduling under the IMF's Heavily
Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Enhanced HIPC initiatives, and is
now at a manageable level. In July 2007 the Millennium Challenge
Corporation (MCC) signed a Compact with Mozambique; the Compact
entered into force in September 2008 and will continue for five
years. Compact projects will focus on improving sanitation, roads,
agriculture, and the business regulation environment in an effort to
spur economic growth in the four northern provinces of the country.
Mozambique grew at an average annual rate of 9% in the decade up to
2007, one of Africa's strongest performances. However, heavy
reliance on aluminum, which accounts for about one-third of exports,
subjects the economy to volatile international prices. The sharp
decline in aluminum prices during the global economic crisis lowered
GDP growth by several percentage points. Despite 8.3% GDP growth in
2010, the increasing cost of living prompted citizens to riot in
September 2010, after bread price increases were announced. In an
attempt to contain the cost of living, the government implemented
subsidies, decreased taxes and tariffs, and instituted other fiscal
measures.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$22.19 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
$20.49 billion (2009 est.)
$19.28 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$10.21 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
8.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
6.3% (2009 est.)
6.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
$900 (2009 est.)
$900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 28.8%
industry: 26%
services: 45.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
9.87 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 81%
industry: 6%
services: 13% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
21% (1997 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Population below poverty line:
70% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 39.2% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
47.3 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 33
39.6 (1997)
Investment (gross fixed):
17.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Public debt:
40.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
33.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
13.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
3.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
9.95% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 48
9.95% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15.68% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
18.31% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$2.657 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 114
$2.812 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$3.803 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
$4.074 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.74 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
$2.311 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn,
coconuts, sisal, citrus and tropical fruits, potatoes, sunflowers;
beef, poultry
Industries:
food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), aluminum,
petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:
8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Electricity - production:
15.91 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Electricity - consumption:
10.16 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Electricity - exports:
11.82 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
8.278 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Oil - consumption:
18,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Oil - imports:
13,760 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Natural gas - production:
3.3 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Natural gas - consumption:
100 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Natural gas - exports:
3.2 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - proved reserves:
127.4 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Current account balance:
-$1.028 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
-$866 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$2.517 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
$1.947 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulk
electricity
Exports - partners:
Netherlands 47.62%, South Africa 11.6% (2009)
Imports:
$3.527 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
$3.059 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal products,
foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:
South Africa 33.54%, Netherlands 8.42%, India 5.93%, China 4.24%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.982 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$1.829 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.99 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
$4.246 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
meticais (MZM) per US dollar - 35 (2010), 26.283 (2009), 24.125
(2008), 26.264 (2007), 25.4 (2006)
Communications ::Mozambique
Telephones - main lines in use:
82,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 147
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.971 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 87
Telephone system:
general assessment: a fair telecommunications system that is
shackled with a heavy state presence, lack of competition, and high
operating costs and charges
domestic: stagnation in the fixed-line network contrasts with rapid
growth in the mobile-cellular network; mobile-cellular coverage now
includes all the main cities and key roads, including those from
Maputo to the South African and Swaziland borders, the national
highway through Gaza and Inhambane provinces, the Beira corridor,
and from Nampula to Nacala; extremely low fixed-line teledensity;
despite significant growth in mobile-cellular services, teledensity
remains low at about 25 per 100 persons
international: country code - 258; satellite earth stations - 5
Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean); landing point for
the SEACOM fiber-optic cable
Broadcast media:
1 state-run TV station supplemented by private TV station;
Portuguese state TV's African service, RTP Africa, and
Brazilian-owned TV Miramar are available; state-run radio provides
nearly 100% territorial coverage and broadcasts in multiple
languages; a number of privately-owned and community-operated
stations also broadcast; transmissions of multiple international
broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.mz
Internet hosts:
21,172 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 109
Internet users:
613,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 113
Transportation ::Mozambique
Airports:
106 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 54
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 23
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 5 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 83
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 34
under 914 m: 39 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 918 km; refined products 278 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 4,787 km
country comparison to the world: 37
narrow gauge: 4,787 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 30,400 km
country comparison to the world: 97
paved: 5,685 km
unpaved: 24,715 km (2000)
Waterways:
460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake)
(2010)
country comparison to the world: 87
Merchant marine:
total: 2
country comparison to the world: 145
by type: cargo 2
foreign-owned: 2 (Belgium 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Beira, Maputo, Nacala
Military ::Mozambique
Military branches:
Mozambique Armed Defense Forces (FADM): Mozambique Army, Mozambique
Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de
Mocambique, FAM) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
registration for military service is mandatory for all males and
females at 18 years of age; 18-35 years of age for selective
compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary service;
2-year service obligation; women may serve as officers or enlisted
(2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,787,832 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,448,161
females age 16-49: 2,269,562 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 272,922
female: 272,062 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 149
Transnational Issues ::Mozambique
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
southern African transit point for South Asian hashish and heroin,
and South American cocaine probably destined for the European and
South African markets; producer of cannabis (for local consumption)
and methaqualone (for export to South Africa); corruption and poor
regulatory capability makes the banking system vulnerable to money
laundering, but the lack of a well-developed financial
infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering
center
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Namibia (Africa)
Introduction ::Namibia
Background:
South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa during
World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War
II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-West
Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war
of independence for the area that became Namibia, but it was not
until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in
accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia has
been governed by SWAPO since the country won independence in 1990.
Hifikepunye POHAMBA was elected president in November 2004 in a
landslide victory replacing Sam NUJOMA who led the country during
its first 14 years of self rule. POHAMBA was reelected in November
2009.
Geography ::Namibia
Location:
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola
and South Africa
Geographic coordinates:
22 00 S, 17 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 824,292 sq km
country comparison to the world: 34
land: 823,290 sq km
water: 1,002 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 3,936 km
border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa
967 km, Zambia 233 km
Coastline:
1,572 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Terrain:
mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in
east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m
Natural resources:
diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium,
cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish
note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 0.99%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99% (2005)
Irrigated land:
80 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
45.5 cu km (1991)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.3 cu km/yr (24%/5%/71%)
per capita: 148 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
prolonged periods of drought
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife
poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, 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:
first country in the world to incorporate the protection of the
environment into its constitution; some 14% of the land is
protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip
People ::Namibia
Population:
2,128,471
country comparison to the world: 142
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.9% (male 381,904/female 375,059)
15-64 years: 60.2% (male 641,995/female 627,146)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 36,894/female 45,667) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.4 years
male: 21.3 years
female: 21.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.909% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Birth rate:
21.82 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Death rate:
12.97 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Net migration rate:
0.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Urbanization:
urban population: 37% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 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: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 45.52 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 57
male: 48.89 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 42.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 51.95 years
country comparison to the world: 210
male: 52.25 years
female: 51.64 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.57 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
15.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
200,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
5,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Namibian(s)
adjective: Namibian
Ethnic groups:
black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5%
note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9%
to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups include Herero 7%, Damara
7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%
Religions:
Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs 10%
to 20%
Languages:
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the
population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%,
indigenous languages 1% (includes Oshivambo, Herero, Nama)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85%
male: 86.8%
female: 83.5% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
6.9% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 23
Government ::Namibia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Namibia
conventional short form: Namibia
local long form: Republic of Namibia
local short form: Namibia
former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Windhoek
geographic coordinates: 22 34 S, 17 05 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends
first Sunday in April
Administrative divisions:
13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene,
Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa
Independence:
21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Constitution:
ratified 9 February 1990, effective 12 March 1990
Legal system:
based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since 21 March 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Nahas ANGULA (since 21 March 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of the National Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 27-28 November
2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA reelected president; percent
of vote - Hifikepunye POHAMBA 76.4%, Hidipo HAMUTENYA 11.0%,
Katuutire KAURA 3.0%, Kuaima RIRUAKO 2.9%, Justus GAROEB 2.4%,
Ignatius SHIXWAMENI 1.3%, Hendrick MUDGE 1.2%, other 1.3%
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the National Council, primarily an
advisory body (26 seats; two members chosen from each regional
council to serve six-year terms), and the National Assembly (72
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: National Council - elections for regional councils to
determine members of the National Council held on 29-30 November
2004 (next to be held on 26-27 November 2010); National Assembly -
last held on 26-27 November 2009 (next to be held in November 2014)
election results: National Council - percent of vote by party -
SWAPO 89.7%, UDF 4.7%, NUDO 2.8%, DTA 1.9%, other 0.9%; seats by
party - SWAPO 24, UDF 1, DTA 1; National Assembly - percent of vote
by party - SWAPO 75.3%, RDP 11.3%, DTA 3.1%, NUDO 3.0%, UDF 2.4%,
APP 1.4%, RP 0.8%, COD 0.7%, SWANU 0.6%, other 1.3%; seats by party
- SWAPO 54, RDP 8, DTA 2, NUDO 2, UDF 2, APP 1, RP 1, COD 1, SWANU 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission)
Political parties and leaders:
All People's Party or APP [Ignatius SHIXWAMENI]; Congress of
Democrats or COD [Benjamin ULENGA]; Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of
Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA]; Monitor Action Group or MAG [Jurie
VILJOEN]; National Democratic Movement for Change or NamDMC;
National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Kuaima RIRUAKO];
Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Hidipo HAMUTENYA];
Republican Party or RP [Hendrick MUDGE]; South West Africa National
Union or SWANU [Usutuaije MAAMBERUA]; South West Africa People's
Organization or SWAPO [Hifikepunye POHAMBA]; United Democratic Front
or UDF [Justus GAROEB]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Earthlife Namibia [Berthchen KOHRS] (environmentalist group);
National Society for Human Rights or NSHR; The World Information
Services of Energy or WISE (group against nuclear power)
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Martin ANDJABA
chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540
FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gail Dennise MATHIEU
embassy: 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek
mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
telephone: [264] (61) 295-8500
FAX: [264] (61) 295-8603
Flag description:
a wide red stripe edged by narrow white stripes divides the flag
diagonally from lower hoist corner to upper fly corner; the upper
hoist-side triangle is blue and charged with a yellow, 12-rayed
sunburst; the lower fly-side triangle is green; red signifies the
heroism of the people and their determination to build a future of
equal opportunity for all; white stands for peace, unity,
tranquility, and harmony; blue represents the Namibian sky and the
Atlantic Ocean, the country's precious water resources and rain; the
yellow sun denotes power and existence; green symbolizes vegetation
and agricultural resources
National anthem:
name: "Namibia, Land of the Brave"
lyrics/music: Axali DOESEB
note: adopted 1991
Economy ::Namibia
Economy - overview:
The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of
minerals for export. Mining accounts for 8% of GDP, but provides
more than 50% of foreign exchange earnings. Rich alluvial diamond
deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds.
Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in
Africa, the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium, and the
producer of large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and
tungsten. The mining sector employs only about 3% of the population
while about 35-40% of the population depends on subsistence
agriculture for its livelihood. Namibia normally imports about 50%
of its cereal requirements; in drought years food shortages are a
major problem in rural areas. A high per capita GDP, relative to the
region, hides one of the world's most unequal income distributions,
as shown by Namibia's GINI coefficient. The Namibian economy is
closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged
one-to-one to the South African rand. Until 2010, Namibia drew 40%
of its budget revenues from the Southern African Customs Union
(SACU). Increased payments from SACU put Namibia's budget into
surplus in 2007 for the first time since independence. SACU
allotments to Namibia increased in 2009, but will drop for 2010 and
2011 because South Africa went into recession during the global
economic crisis, reducing overall SACU income. Increased fish
production and mining of zinc, copper, uranium, and silver spurred
growth in 2003-08, but growth in recent years was undercut by poor
fish catches, higher costs of producing metals, and the global
recession.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$14.64 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
$14.06 billion (2009 est.)
$14.17 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$11.45 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
-0.8% (2009 est.)
4.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
$6,700 (2009 est.)
$6,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 32.7%
services: 58.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
729,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 16.3%
industry: 22.4%
services: 61.3% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
51.2% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
36.7% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
55.8%
note: the UNDP's 2005 Human Development Report indicated that 34.9%
of the population live on $1 per day and 55.8% live on $2 per day
(2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 53% (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
70.7 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 1
Investment (gross fixed):
24% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Public debt:
20% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
15.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
8.8% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
7% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 47
10% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.12% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
13.74% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$3.049 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 109
$2.495 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$4.756 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
$3.691 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$5.122 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
$4.041 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$846.3 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 101
$618.7 million (31 December 2008)
$702 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish
Industries:
meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamonds,
lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
Industrial production growth rate:
6.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Electricity - production:
1.491 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Electricity - consumption:
2.845 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Electricity - exports:
40 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
2.045 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Oil - consumption:
22,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Oil - imports:
19,120 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Natural gas - proved reserves:
62.29 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Current account balance:
-$187 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
-$160.9 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$4.277 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$3.535 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish,
karakul skins
Imports:
$5.152 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
$4.519 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment,
chemicals
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.961 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
$2.051 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.373 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
$2.175 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar - 7.57 (2010), 8.4234 (2009),
7.75 (2008), 7.18 (2007), 6.7649 (2006)
Communications ::Namibia
Telephones - main lines in use:
142,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 134
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.217 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 142
Telephone system:
general assessment: good system; core fiber-optic network links most
centers and connections are now digital
domestic: multiple mobile-cellular providers with a combined
subscribership of nearly 60 telephones per 100 persons; combined
fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 65 per 100 persons
international: country code - 264; fiber-optic cable to South
Africa, microwave radio relay link to Botswana, direct links to
other neighboring countries; connected to the South African Far East
(SAFE) submarine cable through South Africa; satellite earth
stations - 4 Intelsat (2008)
Broadcast media:
1 private and 1 state-run television station; satellite and cable TV
service is available; state-run radio service broadcasts in multiple
languages; about a dozen private radio stations operating;
transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available
(2007)
Internet country code:
.na
Internet hosts:
76,020 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 80
Internet users:
127,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 151
Transportation ::Namibia
Airports:
129 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 46
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 108
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 71
under 914 m: 11 (2010)
Railways:
total: 2,629 km
country comparison to the world: 65
narrow gauge: 2,629 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 64,189 km
country comparison to the world: 72
paved: 5,477 km
unpaved: 58,712 km (2010)
Merchant marine:
total: 1
country comparison to the world: 156
by type: cargo 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Military ::Namibia
Military branches:
Namibian Defense Force (NDF): Army, Navy, Air Force (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 554,531 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 341,783
females age 16-49: 304,496 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 26,152
female: 25,790 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.7% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 31
Transnational Issues ::Namibia
Disputes - international:
concerns from international experts and local populations over the
Okavango Delta ecology in Botswana and human displacement scuttled
Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls along
the Angola-Namibia border; managed dispute with South Africa over
the location of the boundary in the Orange River; Namibia has
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 a short, but not clearly delimited,
Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 4,700 (Angola) (2007)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Nauru (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Nauru
Background:
The exact origins of the Nauruans are unclear since their language
does not resemble any other in the Pacific. The island was annexed
by Germany in 1888. Its phosphate deposits began to be mined early
in the 20th century by a German-British consortium. Nauru was
occupied by Australian forces in World War I and subsequently became
a League of Nations mandate. After the Second World War - and a
brutal occupation by Japan - Nauru became a UN trust territory. It
achieved independence in 1968 and joined the UN in 1999 as the
world's smallest independent republic.
Geography ::Nauru
Location:
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall
Islands
Geographic coordinates:
0 32 S, 166 55 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 21 sq km
country comparison to the world: 239
land: 21 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
30 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy season (November to
February)
Terrain:
sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with
phosphate plateau in center
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation along plateau rim 61 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collect
rainwater but mostly dependent on a single, aging desalination
plant; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90 years - mainly
by a UK, Australia, and NZ consortium - has left the central 90% of
Nauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the
Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and
Makatea in French Polynesia; only 53 km south of Equator
People ::Nauru
Population:
9,267 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.7% (male 2,482/female 2,384)
15-64 years: 63.2% (male 4,362/female 4,495)
65 years and over: 2.1% (male 151/female 145) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.8 years
male: 24 years
female: 23.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.594% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Birth rate:
28.16 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Death rate:
6.15 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Net migration rate:
-16.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 219
Urbanization:
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 0.838 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.81 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 157
male: 11.36 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.99 years
country comparison to the world: 166
male: 60.93 years
female: 68.39 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.13 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Nauruan(s)
adjective: Nauruan
Ethnic groups:
Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8%
Religions:
Nauru Congregational 35.4%, Roman Catholic 33.2%, Nauru Independent
Church 10.4%, other 14.1%, none 4.5%, unspecified 2.4% (2002 census)
Languages:
Nauruan (official; a distinct Pacific Island language), English
widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and
commercial purposes
Literacy:
NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 8 years
female: 9 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Nauru
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Nauru
conventional short form: Nauru
local long form: Republic of Nauru
local short form: Nauru
former: Pleasant Island
Government type:
republic
Capital:
no official capital; government offices in Yaren District
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada,
Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren
Independence:
31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN
trusteeship)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
Constitution:
29 January 1968; amended 17 May 1968
Legal system:
acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Marcus STEPHEN (since 19 December 2007);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Marcus STEPHEN (since 19 December 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by parliament for a three-year term;
election last held on 1 November 2010 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: Marcus STEPHEN reelected in a parliamentary vote
of 11 to 6
Legislative branch:
unicameral parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve three-year terms)
elections: last held on 19 June 2010 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 18
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; Nauru First (Naoero Amo) Party;
Nauru Party (informal); note - loose multiparty system
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Woman Information and News Agency (women's issues)
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF,
Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marlene I. MOSES
chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 937-0074
FAX: [1] (212) 937-0079
consulate(s): Agana (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji
is accredited to Nauru
Flag description:
blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and
a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side;
blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, the star indicates the country's
location in relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and the 12
points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru
National anthem:
name: "Nauru Bwiema" (Song of Nauru)
lyrics/music: Margaret HENDRIE/Laurence Henry HICKS
note: adopted 1968
Economy ::Nauru
Economy - overview:
Revenues of this tiny island have traditionally come from exports of
phosphates now significantly depleted. An Australian company in 2005
entered into an agreement intended to exploit remaining supplies.
Few other resources exist with most necessities being imported,
mainly from Australia its former occupier and later major source of
support. The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of
income from phosphates are serious long-term problems. Reserves of
phosphates may only last until 2010 at current mining rates. In
anticipation of the exhaustion of Nauru's phosphate deposits,
substantial amounts of phosphate income were invested in trust funds
to help cushion the transition and provide for Nauru's economic
future. As a result of heavy spending from the trust funds, the
government faces virtual bankruptcy. To cut costs the government has
frozen wages and reduced overstaffed public service departments.
Nauru lost further revenue in 2008 with the closure of Australia's
refugee processing center, making it almost totally dependent on
food imports and foreign aid. Housing, hospitals, and other capital
plant is deteriorating. The cost to Australia of keeping the
government and economy afloat continues to climb. Few comprehensive
statistics on the Nauru economy exist with estimates of Nauru's GDP
varying widely.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$60 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,000 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force - by occupation:
note: employed in mining phosphates, public administration,
education, and transportation (1992)
Unemployment rate:
90% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Agriculture - products:
coconuts
Industries:
phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
31 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Electricity - consumption:
28.83 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Oil - imports:
1,026 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Exports:
$64,000 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
Exports - commodities:
phosphates
Imports:
$20 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
Imports - commodities:
food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery
Debt - external:
$33.3 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.1151 (2010), 1.2822
(2009), 1.2059 (2008), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006)
Communications ::Nauru
Telephones - main lines in use:
1,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 225
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,500 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 216
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate local and international radiotelephone
communication provided via Australian facilities
domestic: NA
international: country code - 674; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast media:
1 government-owned television station broadcasting programs from New
Zealand sent via satellite or on videotape; 1 government-owned radio
station, broadcasting on AM and FM, utilizes Australian and British
programs (2009)
Internet country code:
.nr
Internet hosts:
4,158 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 140
Transportation ::Nauru
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 215
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 24 km
country comparison to the world: 219
paved: 24 km (2002)
Ports and terminals:
Nauru
Military ::Nauru
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,682 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,683
females age 16-49: 3,059 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 174
female: 168 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Military - note:
Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement,
defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues ::Nauru
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Navassa Island (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Navassa Island
Background:
This uninhabited island was claimed by the US in 1857 for its guano.
Mining took place between 1865 and 1898. The lighthouse, built in
1917, was shut down in 1996 and administration of Navassa Island
transferred from the Coast Guard to the Department of the Interior.
A 1998 scientific expedition to the island described it as a unique
preserve of Caribbean biodiversity; the following year it became a
National Wildlife Refuge and annual scientific expeditions have
continued.
Geography ::Navassa Island
Location:
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, 35 miles west of Tiburon
Peninsula of Haiti
Geographic coordinates:
18 25 N, 75 02 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 5.4 sq km
country comparison to the world: 245
land: 5.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
8 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
marine, tropical
Terrain:
raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by
vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 m high)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation on southwest side 77 m
Natural resources:
guano
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock with numerous solution holes but with
enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig trees,
scattered cactus
People ::Navassa Island
Population:
uninhabited
note: transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island
Government ::Navassa Island
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Navassa Island
Dependency status:
unorganized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the
Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior from the
Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Boqueron, Puerto Rico;
in September 1996 the Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenance
of Navassa Island Light a 46-meter-tall lighthouse on the southern
side of the island; there has also been a private claim advanced
against the island
Legal system:
the laws of the US where applicable apply
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of the US)
Flag description:
the flag of the US is used
Economy ::Navassa Island
Economy - overview:
Subsistence fishing and commercial trawling occur within refuge
waters.
Communications ::Navassa Island
Broadcast media:
no television or radio broadcast stations (2009)
Transportation ::Navassa Island
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military ::Navassa Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues ::Navassa Island
Disputes - international:
claimed by Haiti, source of subsistence fishing
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@Nepal (South Asia)
Introduction ::Nepal
Background:
In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule
by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of
government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy
within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. An insurgency led
by Maoist extremists broke out in 1996. The ensuing ten-year civil
war between insurgents and government forces witnessed the
dissolution of the cabinet and parliament and assumption of absolute
power by the king. Several weeks of mass protests in April 2006 were
followed by several months of peace negotiations between the Maoists
and government officials, and culminated in a November 2006 peace
accord and the promulgation of an interim constitution. Following a
nation-wide election in April 2008, the newly formed Constituent
Assembly declared Nepal a federal democratic republic and abolished
the monarchy at its first meeting the following month. The
Constituent Assembly elected the country's first president in July.
The Maoists, who received a plurality of votes in the Constituent
Assembly election, formed a coalition government in August 2008, but
resigned in May 2009 after the president overruled a decision to
fire the chief of the army staff. The Communist Party of
Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist and the Nepali Congress party then
formed a new coalition government with several smaller parties. In
June 2010, the prime minister resigned but, as of December 2010,
continued to lead a caretaker government while the parties debate
who should lead the next government. Disagreements among the
political parties over issues such as the future of former Maoist
combatants has hindered the drafting of a new constitution -- due in
May 2011 -- and the formal conclusion of the peace process.
Geography ::Nepal
Location:
Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates:
28 00 N, 84 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 147,181 sq km
country comparison to the world: 93
land: 143,351 sq km
water: 3,830 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Arkansas
Land boundaries:
total: 2,926 km
border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical
summers and mild winters in south
Terrain:
Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill
region, rugged Himalayas in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m
Natural resources:
quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of
lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 16.07%
permanent crops: 0.85%
other: 83.08% (2005)
Irrigated land:
11,700 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
210.2 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 10.18 cu km/yr (3%/1%/96%)
per capita: 375 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
severe thunderstorms; flooding; landslides; drought and famine
depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer
monsoons
Environment - current issues:
deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives);
contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural
runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular
emissions
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, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains
eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest and
Kanchenjunga - the world's tallest and third tallest - on the
borders with China and India respectively
People ::Nepal
Population:
28,951,852 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.6% (male 5,327,484/female 5,127,178)
15-64 years: 59.2% (male 8,094,494/female 8,812,675)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 566,666/female 634,880) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.2 years
male: 20.2 years
female: 22.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.419% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Birth rate:
22.43 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Death rate:
6.89 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Net migration rate:
-1.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Urbanization:
urban population: 17% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 46 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 56
male: 45.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 46.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.81 years
country comparison to the world: 163
male: 64.62 years
female: 67.05 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.53 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
70,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
5,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: Japanese encephalitis, malaria, and dengue
fever (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Nepalese
Ethnic groups:
Chhettri 15.5%, Brahman-Hill 12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang
5.5%, Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 3.9%, Yadav 3.9%, other 32.7%,
unspecified 2.8% (2001 census)
Religions:
Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9%
(2001 census)
Languages:
Nepali (official) 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu
(Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi
2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census)
note: many in government and business also speak English (2001 est.)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.6%
male: 62.7%
female: 34.9% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 8 years (2003)
Education expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 116
Government ::Nepal
Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
conventional short form: Nepal
local long form: Sanghiya Loktantrik Ganatantra Nepal
local short form: Nepal
Government type:
federal democratic republic
Capital:
name: Kathmandu
geographic coordinates: 27 43 N, 85 19 E
time difference: UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri,
Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi,
Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti
Independence:
1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 29 May; Democracy Day, 24 April
Constitution:
15 January 2007 (interim Constitution); note - in April 2008, a
Constituent Assembly was elected to draft and promulgate a new
constitution by May 2010, but the deadline has been extended to May
2011
Legal system:
based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ram Baran YADAV (since 23 July 2008); Vice
President Paramananda JHA (since 23 July 2008)
head of government: vacant; Prime Minister Madhav Kumar NEPAL
resigned on 30 June 2010 but leads a caretaker government
cabinet: cabinet was formed in May 2009 by a majority coalition made
up of the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist, Nepali
Congress, Madhesi People's Rights Forum, Nepal-Democratic, and
several smaller parties
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by Parliament; term extends until the
new constitution is promulgated; election last held on 21 July 2008;
date of next election NA
election results: Ram Baran YADAV elected president by the
Constituent Assembly in a second round of voting on 21 July 2008;
Ram Baran YADAV 308, Ram Jaja Prasad SINGH 282
Legislative branch:
unicameral Constituent Assembly (601 seats; 240 members elected by
direct popular vote, 335 by proportional representation, and 26
appointed by the Cabinet (Council of Ministers))
elections: last held on 10 April 2008 (next to be held NA)
election results: percent of vote by party - CPN-M 38%, NC 19%,
CPN-UML 19%,Madhesi People's Right Forum 9%, Terai Madhes Democratic
Party and Sadbhawana Party 5%, other 15%; seats by party - CPN-M
220, NC 110, CPN-UML 103, Madhesi People's Rights Forum 52, Terai
Madhes Democratic Party 20, Sadbhawana Party 9, other smaller
parties 56; note - 26 seats filled by the new Cabinet and are
included in the seat totals above
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Sarbochha Adalat (the president appoints the chief
justice on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; the chief
justice appoints other judges on the recommendation of the Judicial
Council)
Political parties and leaders:
Chure Bhawar Rastriya Ekata Party [Keshav Prasad MAINALI]; Communist
Party of Nepal-Maoist (inactive); Communist Party of Nepal-Marxist
Leninist or CPN-ML [C.P. MAINALI]; Communist Party of Nepal-Unified
[Raj Singh SHRIS]; Communist Party of Nepal-United [Chandra Dev
JOSHI]; Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist or CPN-UML
[Jhalanath KHANAL]; Dalit Janajati Party [Vishwendraman PASHWAN];
Federal Democratic National Forum; Madhesi People's Rights
Forum-Democratic [Bijay Kumar GACHHADAR]; Madhesi People's Rights
Forum-Nepal [Upendra YADAV]; Nepal Loktantrik Samajbadi Dal [Upendra
GACHCHHADAR]; Nepal Pariwar Dal [Eknath DHAKAL]; Nepal Sadbhavana
Party-Anandi Devi [Sarita GIRI]; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party or
[Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE]; Nepali Congress or NC [Sushil KOIRALA];
Nepali Janata Dal [Harish Chandra SHA]; Newa Rastriya Party [Keshav
Man SHAKYA]; Rastriya Janamorcha [Chitra Bahadur K.C.]; Rastriya
Janamukti Party [Malwar Singh THAPA]; Rastriya Janashakti Party or
RJP [Surya Bahadur THAPA]; Rastriya Prajantantra Party [Pashupati
Shumsher RANA]; Rastriya Prajantantra Party Nepal [Kamal THAPA];
Sadbhavana Party [Rajendra MAHATO]; Samajbadi Prajatantrik Janata
Party Nepal [Prem Bahadur SINGH]; Terai Madhes Democratic Party
[Mahantha THAKUR]; Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) [Pushpa
Kamal DAHAL, also known as PRACHANDA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: several small armed Madhesi groups along the southern border
with India; a variety of groups advocating regional autonomy for
individual ethnic groups
International organization participation:
ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO,
NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Shankar Prasad SHARMA
chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550
FAX: [1] (202) 667-5534
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Scott H. DELISI
embassy: Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [977] (1) 400-7200
FAX: [977] (1) 400-7272
Flag description:
red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping
right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized
moon and the larger, lower triangle displays a white 12-pointed sun;
the color red represents the rhododendron (Nepal's national flower)
and is a sign of victory and bravery, the blue border signifies
peace and harmony; the two right triangles are a combination of two
single pennons (pennants) that originally symbolized the Himalaya
Mountains while their charges represented the families of the king
(upper) and the prime minister, but today they are understood to
denote Hinduism and Buddhism, the country's two main religions; the
moon represents the serenity of the Nepalese people and the shade
and cool weather in the Himalayas, while the sun depicts the heat
and higher temperatures of the lower parts of Nepal; the moon and
the sun are also said to express the hope that the nation will
endure as long as these heavenly bodies
note: Nepal is the only country in the world whose flag is not
rectangular or square
National anthem:
name: "Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka" (Hundreds of Flowers)
lyrics/music: Pradeep Kumar RAI/Ambar GURUNG
note: adopted 2007; after the abolition of the monarchy in 2006, a
new anthem was required because of the previous anthem's praise for
the king
Economy ::Nepal
Economy - overview:
Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the
world, with almost one-quarter of its population living below the
poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing
a livelihood for three-fourths of the population and accounting for
about one-third of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the
processing of agricultural products, including pulses, jute,
sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Nepal has considerable scope for
exploiting its potential in hydropower, with an estimated 42,000 MW
of feasible capacity, but political instability hampers foreign
investment. Additional challenges to Nepal's growth include its
landlocked geographic location, civil strife and labor unrest, and
its susceptibility to natural disaster.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$35.31 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
$34.11 billion (2009 est.)
$32.58 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$15.11 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
4.7% (2009 est.)
5.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
$1,200 (2009 est.)
$1,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 33%
industry: 15%
services: 52% (FY09 est.)
Labor force:
18 million
country comparison to the world: 32
note: severe lack of skilled labor (2009 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 75%
industry: 7%
services: 18% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
46% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
42% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
24.7% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 6%
highest 10%: 40.6% (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
47.2 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 34
36.7 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.6% (September 2010)
country comparison to the world: 193
13.2% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 66
6.5% (31 December 2009)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
8% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$3.03 billion (July 2010)
country comparison to the world: 110
$2.72 billion (July 2009)
Stock of broad money:
$10.01 billion (July 2010)
country comparison to the world: 99
$10.67 billion (July 2009)
Stock of domestic credit:
$9 billion (July 2010)
country comparison to the world: 96
$7.7 billion (July 2009)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$5.2 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 78
$5.485 billion (31 December 2009)
$4.894 billion (31 December 2008)
Agriculture - products:
pulses, rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, jute, root crops; milk, water
buffalo meat
Industries:
tourism, carpets, textiles; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed
mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production
Industrial production growth rate:
1.8% (FY08)
country comparison to the world: 135
Electricity - production:
2.6 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Electricity - consumption:
2.243 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
213 million kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Oil - consumption:
18,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Oil - imports:
16,920 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Current account balance:
-$449 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 114
$537 million (2009)
Exports:
$849 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 156
$907 million (2008)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, pulses, carpets, textiles, juice, pashima, jute goods
Exports - partners:
India 65.6%, US 8%, Bangladesh 6.04%, Germany 5% (2009)
Imports:
$5.26 billion (2009)
country comparison to the world: 110
$4.1 billion (2008)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, machinery and equipment, gold, electrical goods,
medicine
Imports - partners:
India 57%, China 13% (2009)
Debt - external:
$4.5 billion (2009)
country comparison to the world: 108
$3.285 billion (2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar - 72.56 (2010), 77.44 (2009),
65.21 (2008), 70.35 (2007), 72.446 (2006)
Communications ::Nepal
Telephones - main lines in use:
820,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 85
Telephones - mobile cellular:
7.618 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 77
Telephone system:
general assessment: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair
radiotelephone communication service and mobile-cellular telephone
network
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone service
subscribership base only about 30 per 100 persons
international: country code - 977; radiotelephone communications;
microwave landline to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Indian Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:
state operates 2 television stations as well as national and
regional radio stations; more than 60 independent radio stations and
a small number of independent television stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.np
Internet hosts:
43,928 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 91
Internet users:
577,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 116
Transportation ::Nepal
Airports:
47 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 93
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 31 (2010)
Railways:
total: 59 km
country comparison to the world: 130
narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 17,282 km
country comparison to the world: 119
paved: 10,142 km
unpaved: 7,140 km (2007)
Military ::Nepal
Military branches:
Nepal Army (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for
military training; no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,699,614
females age 16-49: 7,388,240 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,053,600
females age 16-49: 5,730,116 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 374,882
female: 361,848 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 93
Transnational Issues ::Nepal
Disputes - international:
joint border commission continues to work on contested sections of
boundary with India, including the 400 square kilometer dispute over
the source of the Kalapani River; India has instituted a stricter
border regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents and illegal
cross-border activities; approximately 106,000 Bhutanese Lhotshampas
(Hindus) have been confined in refugee camps in southeastern Nepal
since 1990
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 107,803 (Bhutan); 20,153 (Tibet/China)
IDPs: 50,000-70,000 (remaining from ten-year Maoist insurgency that
officially ended in 2006; displacement spread across the country)
(2007)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and
international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast
Asia to the West
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Netherlands (Europe)
Introduction ::Netherlands
Background:
The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in
1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and
commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world.
After a 20-year French occupation, a Kingdom of the Netherlands was
formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate
kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I, but
suffered invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. A
modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large
exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member
of NATO and the EEC (now the EU), and participated in the
introduction of the euro in 1999. In October 2010, the former
Netherlands Antilles was dissolved and the three smallest islands -
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba - became special municipalities in
the Netherlands administrative structure. The larger islands of Sint
Maarten and Curacao joined the Netherlands and Aruba as constituent
countries forming the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Geography ::Netherlands
Location:
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Geographic coordinates:
52 30 N, 5 45 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 41,543 sq km
country comparison to the world: 134
land: 33,893 sq km
water: 7,650 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 1,027 km
border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
Coastline:
451 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
Terrain:
mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in
southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m
highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m (on the island of Saba in the
Caribbean, now considered an integral part of the Netherlands
following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles)
note: the highest point on continental Netherlands is Vaalserberg at
322 m
Natural resources:
natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel,
arable land
Land use:
arable land: 21.96%
permanent crops: 0.77%
other: 77.27% (2005)
Irrigated land:
5,650 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
89.7 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 8.86 cu km/yr (6%/60%/34%)
per capita: 544 cu m/yr (2001)
Natural hazards:
flooding
Environment - current issues:
water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and
nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from
vehicles and refining activities; acid rain
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, 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, Kyoto Protocol, 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: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or
Meuse, and Schelde)
People ::Netherlands
Population:
16,783,092 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.4% (male 1,485,873/female 1,416,999)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 5,720,387/female 5,604,014)
65 years and over: 14.9% (male 1,070,496/female 1,418,230) (2010
est.)
Median age:
total: 40.8 years
male: 40 years
female: 41.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.39% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Birth rate:
10.3 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Death rate:
8.78 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Net migration rate:
2.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Urbanization:
urban population: 82% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.052 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.66 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 193
male: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.55 years
country comparison to the world: 34
male: 76.94 years
female: 82.3 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.66 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
18,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Nationality:
noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
adjective: Dutch
Ethnic groups:
Dutch 80.7%, EU 5%, Indonesian 2.4%, Turkish 2.2%, Surinamese 2%,
Moroccan 2%, Caribbean 0.8%, other 4.8% (2008 est.)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other
Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
Languages:
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 17 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 45
Government ::Netherlands
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands
conventional short form: Netherlands
local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
local short form: Nederland
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Amsterdam
geographic coordinates: 52 23 N, 4 54 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
note: The Hague is the seat of government; time descriptions apply
to the continental Netherlands only, not to the Caribbean components
Administrative divisions:
12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland,
Fryslan (Friesland), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant
(North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Utrecht,
Zeeland (Zealand), Zuid-Holland (South Holland)
Dependent areas:
Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten
Independence:
23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries
conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581
they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration;
however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of
Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)
National holiday:
Queen's Day (Birthday of deceased Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession
to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and
1980)
Constitution:
adopted 1815; amended many times, most recently in 2002
Legal system:
based on civil law system incorporating French penal theory;
constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States
General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent
WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Mark RUTTE (since 14 October
2010); Deputy Prime Minister Maxime VERHAGEN (since 14 October 2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber
elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority
coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; deputy
prime ministers appointed by the monarch
note: there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir
apparent, and councilors that provides consultations to the cabinet
on legislative and administrative policy
Legislative branch:
bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of the First
Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by the
country's 12 provincial councils to serve four-year terms) and the
Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: First Chamber - last held 29 May 2007 (next to be held in
May 2011); Second Chamber - last held 9 June 2010 (next to be held
by May 2015)
election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - CDA 21, PvdA 14, VVD 14, Socialist Party 11,
Christian Union 4, Green Left Party 4, D66 2, other 5; Second
Chamber - percent of vote by party - VVD 20.5%, PvdA 19.6%, PVV,
15.4%, CDA 13.6%, SP 9.8%, D66 6.9%, GL 6.7%, CU 3.2, other 4.3%;
seats by party - VVD 31, PvdA 30, PVV 24, CDA 21, SP 15, D66 10, GL
10, CU 5, other 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the
monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Maxime VERHAGEN]; Christian
Union [Andre ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 or D66 [Alexander PECHTOLD];
Green Left [Jolande SAP]; Labor Party or PvdA [Job COHEN]; Party for
Freedom or PVV [Geert WILDERS]; Party for the Animals or PvdD
[Marianne THIEME]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy or VVD
[Mark RUTTE] (Liberal); Reformed Political Party of SGP [Kees VAN
DER STAAIJ]; Socialist Party [Emile ROEMER]; plus a few minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Christian Trade Union Federation or CNV [Jaap SMIT]; Confederation
of Netherlands Industry and Employers or VNO-NCW [Bernard WIENTJES];
Federation for Small and Medium-sized businesses or MKB [Loek
HERMANS]; Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV [Agnes
JONGERIUS]; Social Economic Council or SER [Alexander RINNOOY KAN];
Trade Union Federation of Middle and High Personnel or MHP [Richard
STEENBORG]
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council
(observer), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CBSS (observer), CE,
CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA,
Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Regina "Renee" JONES-BOS
chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300, [1] 877-388-2443
FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
consulate(s): Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Fay HARTOG LEVIN
embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague
mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
telephone: [31] (70) 310-2209
FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688
consulate(s) general: Amsterdam
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar
to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer;
the colors were those of WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange, who led the
Dutch Revolt against Spanish sovereignty in the latter half of the
16th century; originally the upper band was orange, but because it
tended to fade to red over time, the red shade was eventually made
the permanent color; the banner is perhaps the oldest tricolor in
continuous use
National anthem:
name: "Het Wilhelmus" (The William)
lyrics/music: Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde
(presumed)/unknown
note: adopted 1932, in use since the 17th century, making it the
oldest national anthem in the world; also known as "Wilhelmus van
Nassouwe" (William of Nassau), it is in the form of an acrostic,
where the first letter of each stanza spells the name of the leader
of the Dutch Revolt
Economy ::Netherlands
Economy - overview:
The Netherlands economy is noted for stable industrial relations,
moderate unemployment and inflation, a sizable current account
surplus, and an important role as a European transportation hub.
Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals,
petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly mechanized
agricultural sector employs only 2% of the labor force but provides
large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports.
The Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating
the euro currency on 1 January 2002. The country has been one of the
leading European nations for attracting foreign direct investment
and is one of the four largest investors in the US. After 26 years
of uninterrupted economic growth, the Netherlands' economy - which
is highly open and dependent on foreign trade and financial services
- was hard-hit by global economic crisis. Dutch GDP contracted 3.9%
in 2009, while exports declined nearly 25% due to a sharp
contraction in world demand. The Dutch financial sector has also
suffered, due in part to the high exposure of some Dutch banks to
U.S. mortgage-backed securities. In response to turmoil in financial
markets, the government nationalized two banks and injected billions
of dollars into a third, to prevent further systemic risk. The
government also sought to boost the domestic economy by accelerating
infrastructure programs, offering corporate tax breaks for employers
to retain workers, and expanding export credit facilities. The
stimulus programs and bank bailouts, however, resulted in a
government budget deficit of nearly 4.6% of GDP in 2009 and 5.6% in
2010 that contrasts sharply with a surplus of 0.7% of GDP in 2008.
With unemployment weighing on private-sector consumption, the
government of Prime Minister Mark RUTTE is likely to come under
increased pressure to keep the budget deficit in check while
promoting economic recovery.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$680.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$669 billion (2009 est.)
$696.1 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$770.3 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
-3.9% (2009 est.)
1.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$40,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
$40,000 (2009 est.)
$41,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.6%
industry: 24.9%
services: 72.4% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
7.86 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 18%
services: 80% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
4.8% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
10.5% (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 22.9% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30.9 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 107
32.6 (1994)
Investment (gross fixed):
18% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Public debt:
64.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
60.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
1.2% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 126
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.01% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
9.66% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$368.1 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 12
$351.6 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro
area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating
within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$1.124 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
$1.133 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.083 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$1.824 trillion (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$542.5 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 19
$387.9 billion (31 December 2008)
$956.5 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Industries:
agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery
and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics,
fishing
Industrial production growth rate:
3.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Electricity - production:
108.2 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Electricity - consumption:
124.1 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Electricity - exports:
10.56 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
15.45 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
57,190 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Oil - consumption:
922,800 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Oil - exports:
1.66 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Oil - imports:
2.426 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Oil - proved reserves:
100 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Natural gas - production:
79.58 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Natural gas - consumption:
48.6 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Natural gas - exports:
55.59 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Natural gas - imports:
24.6 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.416 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Current account balance:
$46.69 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$39.58 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$451.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$421.3 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Germany 25.54%, Belgium 12.49%, France 9.27%, UK 8.17%, Italy 5.07%,
US 3.97% (2009)
Imports:
$408.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$371.9 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs,
clothing
Imports - partners:
Germany 17.16%, China 11.58%, Belgium 8.68%, US 7.77%, UK 5.72%,
Russia 4.47%, France 4.4% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$39.61 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$NA (30 June 2010)
$3.733 trillion (31 December 2009)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$687.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$654.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$950.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
$932.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.774 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Netherlands
Telephones - main lines in use:
7.32 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 26
Telephones - mobile cellular:
21.182 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 39
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed and well maintained
domestic: extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; large cellular
telephone system with 5 major operators utilizing the third
generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
technology; one in five households now use Voice over the Internet
Protocol (VoIP) services
international: country code - 31; submarine cables provide links to
the US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 5 (3 Intelsat - 1
Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (2007)
Broadcast media:
more than 90% of households are connected to cable or satellite TV
systems that provide a wide range of domestic and foreign channels;
public service broadcast system includes multiple broadcasters, 3
with a national reach and the remainder operating in regional and
local markets; 2 major nationwide commercial television companies,
each with 3 or more stations, and a large number of commercial TV
stations in regional and local markets; nearly 600 radio stations
operating with a mix of public and private stations providing
national or regional coverage (2008)
Internet country code:
.nl
Internet hosts:
12.607 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 10
Internet users:
14.872 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 27
Transportation ::Netherlands
Airports:
27 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 125
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 20
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 3,816 km; oil 365 km; refined products 716 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,896 km
country comparison to the world: 58
standard gauge: 2,896 km 1.435-m gauge (2,064 km electrified) (2009)
Roadways:
total: 136,827 km (includes 2,582 km of expressways) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 36
Waterways:
6,215 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2007)
country comparison to the world: 22
Merchant marine:
total: 706
country comparison to the world: 15
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 464, carrier 21, chemical tanker 57,
container 73, liquefied gas 19, passenger 17, passenger/cargo 15,
petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 21,
specialized tanker 3
foreign-owned: 217 (Australia 1, Denmark 36, Finland 14, France 2,
Germany 92, Ireland 7, Italy 9, Japan 1, Norway 18, Sweden 18, UAE
4, US 15)
registered in other countries: 240 (Antigua and Barbuda 18,
Australia 1, Bahamas 22, Belize 1, Cambodia 1, Canada 1, Cyprus 24,
Gibraltar 33, Liberia 35, Luxembourg 2, Malta 2, Marshall Islands
16, former Netherlands Antilles 52, Panama 8, Paraguay 1,
Philippines 18, Portugal 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2,
Singapore 1, unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Amsterdam, IJmuiden, Moerdijk, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen
Military ::Netherlands
Military branches:
Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air
Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke
Luchtmacht, KLu), Royal Military Police (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
20 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,927,311
females age 16-49: 3,831,110 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,213,954
females age 16-49: 3,133,972 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 104,694
female: 99,874 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Transnational Issues ::Netherlands
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
major European producer of synthetic drugs, including ecstasy, and
cannabis cultivator; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and
hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large
financial sector vulnerable to money laundering; significant
consumer of ecstasy
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Netherlands Antilles (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Netherlands Antilles
Background:
Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, the island of Curacao
was hard hit by the abolition of slavery in 1863. Its prosperity
(and that of neighboring Aruba) was restored in the early 20th
century with the construction of oil refineries to service newly
discovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of Saint Martin is
shared with France; its southern portion is named Sint Maarten and
is part of the Netherlands Antilles; its northern portion, called
Saint Martin, is an overseas collectivity of France.
Geography ::Netherlands Antilles
Location:
Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - composed of five
islands, Curacao and Bonaire located off the coast of Venezuela, and
Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius lie east of the US Virgin
Islands
Geographic coordinates:
Bonaire: 12 12 N, 68 15 W
Curacao: 12 10 N, 69 00 W
Saba: 17 38 N, 63 14 W
Sint Eustatius: 17 30 N, 62 58 W
Sint Maarten: 18 04 N, 63 04 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 800 sq km
country comparison to the world: 187
land: 800 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint
Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)
Area - comparative:
more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 15 km
border countries: Saint Martin 15 km
Coastline:
364 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate:
tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds
Terrain:
generally hilly, volcanic interiors
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m
Natural resources:
phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 90% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes
from July to October; Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean
hurricane belt and are rarely threatened
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles are divided
geographically into the Leeward Islands (northern) group (Saba, Sint
Eustatius, and Sint Maarten) and the Windward Islands (southern)
group (Bonaire and Curacao); the island of Saint Martin is the
smallest landmass in the world shared by two independent states, the
French territory of Saint Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint
Maarten
People ::Netherlands Antilles
Population:
228,693 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.7% (male 26,429/female 25,162)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 74,183/female 79,434)
65 years and over: 9.6% (male 8,875/female 12,966) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.1 years
male: 32.1 years
female: 35.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.712% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Birth rate:
14.05 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Death rate:
6.54 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Net migration rate:
-0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Urbanization:
urban population: 93% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.83 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 157
male: 9.49 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.86 years
country comparison to the world: 66
male: 74.52 years
female: 79.31 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.97 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Dutch Antillean(s)
adjective: Dutch Antillean
Ethnic groups:
mixed black 85%, other 15% (includes Carib Amerindian, white, East
Asian)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 72%, Pentecostal 4.9%, Protestant 3.5%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 3.1%, Methodist 2.9%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.7%, other
Christian 4.2%, Jewish 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.2%, none 5.2%
(2001 census)
Languages:
Papiamento 65.4% (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect),
English 15.9% (widely spoken), Dutch 7.3% (official), Spanish 6.1%,
Creole 1.6%, other 1.9%, unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.7%
male: 96.7%
female: 96.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2002)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Netherlands Antilles
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles
local long form: none
local short form: Nederlandse Antillen
former: Curacao and Dependencies
Dependency status:
an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full
autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954; Dutch Government
responsible for defense and foreign affairs
Government type:
parliamentary
Capital:
name: Willemstad (on Curacao)
geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 68 56 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
note: each island has its own government
Independence:
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National holiday:
Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the
throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)
Constitution:
29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as amended
Legal system:
based on Dutch civil law system with some English common law
influence
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April
1980); represented by Governor General Frits GOEDGEDRAG (since 1
July 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE (since 26
March 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten (legislature)
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections,
the leader of the majority party usually elected prime minister by
the Staten; election last held on 22 January 2010 (next to be held
by 2014)
note: government coalition - PAR, PNP, NA, UPB, WIPM Saba, DP-St. E
Legislative branch:
unicameral States or Staten (22 seats; Curacao 14, Bonaire 3, St.
Maarten 3, St. Eustatius 1, Saba 1; members elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 22 January 2010 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PAR 6, LdK 5, National Alliance 3, PS 2, UPB 2, PNP 1, DP-St. E 1,
PDB 1, WIPM 1
note: the government is a coalition of several parties
Judicial branch:
Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Bonaire: Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM];
Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramonsito BOOI]
Curacao: Ban Vota [Norbert GEORGE]; C-93 [Stanley BROWN]; Democratic
Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; E Mayoria [Aurelio PEDRO];
Forsa Korsou [Nelson NAVARRO]; Lista di Kambio or LdK (coalition of
MAN, NPA, and FK); Liste Ni'un Paso Atras [Nelson PIERRE];
Movemiento Patriotiko Korsou [Reginald LAK]; New Antilles Movement
or MAN [Charles COOPER]; Partido Akshon Pa Prosperidat I Seguridat
[Sonja BERKEMEYER]; Partido Laboral Krusada Popular or PLKP [Errol
COVA]; Party for the Restructured Antilles or PAR [Emily de
JONGH-ELHAGE]; People's National Party or PNP [Ersilia DE LANNOOY];
Pidjin [Jasmin PINEDO]; Pueblo Soberano or PS [Herman WIELS];
Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT]
Saba: Saba Labor Party [Akilah LEVENSTONE]; Windward Islands
People's Movement or WIPM [Ray HASSELL]
Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E
[Julian WOODLEY]; Progressive Labor Party [Clyde VAN PUTTEN]; St.
Eustatius Alliance [Ingrid HOUTMAN-WHITFIELD]
Sint Maarten: Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah
WESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Freedom Slate of National Democratic Party
[Theophilus PRIEST]; National Alliance or NA [William MARLIN];
People's Progressive Alliance or PPA [Gracita ARRINDELL]; St.
Maarten People's Party [Johan LEONARD]; United People's Labor Party
[Bienvenido RICHARDSON]
note: political parties are indigenous to each island
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Employers Association (VBC); Unions (AVBO)
International organization participation:
Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO
(associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr.
Jeffrey CORRION, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy
of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Timothy J. DUNN
consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad, Curacao
mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
telephone: [599] (9) 461-3066
FAX: [599] (9) 461-6489
Flag description:
white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a
vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed stars are
arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the
colors reflect those of the Netherlands; the five stars represent
the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and
Sint Maarten
Economy ::Netherlands Antilles
Economy - overview:
Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays
of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world.
Although GDP has declined or grown slightly in each of the past
eight years, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and a
well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in the
region. The Venezuelan state oil company owns the single refinery on
the island; most of the oil for the refinery is imported from
Venezuela. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with
the US, Braxil, Italy, and Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor
soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of
agriculture. Budgetary problems hamper reform of the health and
pension systems of an aging population. The Netherlands provides
financial aid to support the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.8 billion (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$16,000 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 15%
services: 84% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
91,470 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 183
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 20%
services: 79% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15.5% (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $757.9 million
expenditures: $949.5 million (2004)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
NA% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.51% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
8.33% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.517 billion (31 December 2009)
$1.295 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$4.286 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
$3.881 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.408 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 116
$3.286 billion (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 19
$488.6 billion (2003)
Agriculture - products:
aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Industries:
tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire), petroleum refining
(Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire),
light manufacturing (Curacao)
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.22 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - consumption:
1.013 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Oil - consumption:
69,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Oil - exports:
224,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Oil - imports:
298,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Exports:
$3.71 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 120
Exports - commodities:
petroleum products
Exports - partners:
US 13.09%, Guatemala 10.84%, Singapore 10.65%, Dominican Republic
9.6%, Haiti 7.6%, Bahamas 6.05%, Honduras 4.54%, Mexico 4.2% (2009)
Imports:
$15.74 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 79
Imports - commodities:
crude petroleum, food, manufactures
Imports - partners:
Venezuela 57.3%, US 19.18%, Brazil 8.11% (2009)
Debt - external:
$2.68 billion (2004)
country comparison to the world: 135
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar - 1.79 (2009),
1.79 (2008), 1.79 (2007), 1.79 (2006)
Communications ::Netherlands Antilles
Telephones - main lines in use:
88,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 146
Telephones - mobile cellular:
200,000 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 173
Telephone system:
general assessment: generally adequate facilities
domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
international: country code - 599; the Americas Region Caribbean
Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the Americas-2 submarine cable systems
provide connectivity to Central America, parts of South America and
the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast media:
government-run television on Curacao provides service to Bonaire and
Saba; the Leeward Broadcasting Corporation provides television
service to Sint Maarten; cable TV subscription service provides
access to programming from Venezuela and the US; roughly 30 radio
stations and repeaters operating (2007)
Internet country code:
.an
Internet hosts:
72,165 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 81
Transportation ::Netherlands Antilles
Airports:
5 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 181
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 845 km
country comparison to the world: 185
Merchant marine:
total: 120
country comparison to the world: 46
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 2, cargo 59, carrier 18,
chemical tanker 1, container 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger 1,
petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 26, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 101 (Angola 2, Cuba 1, Denmark 1, Estonia 1, Germany
32, Hong Kong 1, Netherlands 52, Norway 2, Sweden 1, Turkey 8)
registered in other countries: 1 (Cook Islands 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Bopec Terminal, Willemstad
Military ::Netherlands Antilles
Military branches:
no regular military forces; National Guard (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for National Guard recruitment; no conscription
(2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 56,267
females age 16-49: 57,334 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 46,824
females age 16-49: 47,447 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,934
female: 1,839 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Transnational Issues ::Netherlands Antilles
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US and
Europe; money-laundering center
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@New Caledonia (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::New Caledonia
Background:
Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th
century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. It served
as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation for
independence during the 1980s and early 1990s ended in the 1998
Noumea Accord, which over a period of 15 to 20 years will transfer
an increasing amount of governing responsibility from France to New
Caledonia. The agreement also commits France to conduct a referendum
between 2014 and 2019 to decide whether New Caledonia should assume
full sovereignty and independence.
Geography ::New Caledonia
Location:
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Geographic coordinates:
21 30 S, 165 30 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 18,575 sq km
country comparison to the world: 155
land: 18,275 sq km
water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
2,254 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Terrain:
coastal plains with interior mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m
Natural resources:
nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Land use:
arable land: 0.32%
permanent crops: 0.22%
other: 99.46% (2005)
Irrigated land:
100 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
cyclones, most frequent from November to March
volcanism: Matthew and Hunter Islands are historically active
Environment - current issues:
erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires
Geography - note:
consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of the largest in
the Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyaute, and numerous
small, sparsely populated islands and atolls
People ::New Caledonia
Population:
252,352 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.8% (male 31,191/female 29,870)
15-64 years: 65.8% (male 75,189/female 74,552)
65 years and over: 7.3% (male 7,681/female 8,953) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.8 years
male: 29.3 years
female: 30.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.561% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Birth rate:
16.52 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Death rate:
5.23 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Net migration rate:
4.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 21
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New
Caledonia (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 65% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 179
male: 6.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.56 years
country comparison to the world: 68
male: 72.46 years
female: 80.86 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.09 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: New Caledonian(s)
adjective: New Caledonian
Ethnic groups:
Melanesian 44.1%, European 34.1%, Wallisian & Futunian 9%, Tahitian
2.6%, Indonesian 2.5%, Vietnamese 1.4%, Ni-Vanuatu 1.1%, other 5.2%
(1996 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
Languages:
French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.2%
male: 96.8%
female: 95.5% (1996 census)
Government ::New Caledonia
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
conventional short form: New Caledonia
local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances
local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie
Dependency status:
territorial collectivity of France since 1998
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Noumea
geographic coordinates: 22 16 S, 166 27 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 3 provinces named Province des Iles, Province Nord, and Province
Sud
Independence:
none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum on
independence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new referendum is
scheduled for 2014
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
based on French civil law; the 1988 Matignon Accords grant
substantial autonomy to the islands
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007);
represented by High Commissioner Albert DUPUY (since 6 October 2010)
head of government: President of the Government Philippe GOMES
(since 5 June 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet consisting of 11 members elected from and by the
Territorial Congress
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the
advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the
government elected by the members of the Territorial Congress for a
five-year term (no term limits); note - last election held on 5 June
2009
Legislative branch:
elections: unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres du territoire
(54 seats; members belong to the three Provincial Assemblies or
Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms) last held on 9 May 2009 (next to be held on 10 May 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
UMP 13, Caledonia Together 10, UC 8, UNI 8, AE 6, FLNKS 3, Labor
Party 3, other 3
note: New Caledonia holds two seats in the French Senate; elections
last held on 21 September 2008 (next to be held not later than
September 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - UMP 2; New Caledonia also elects two seats to the French
National Assembly; elections last held on 10 and 17 June 2007 (next
to be held in June 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - UMP 2
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; Joint Commerce
Tribunal Court; Children's Court
Political parties and leaders:
Caledonia My Country; Caledonia Together [Philippe GOMES];
Caledonian Union or UC [Nicholas ABOUT]; Communist Republican and
Left Party or CRC-SPG [Nichole BORVO COHEN-SEAT]; Democratic and
European Social Rally or R.D.S.E. [Yvon COLLIN]; Front National or
FN [Jean-Marie LE PEN]; Kanak Socialist Front for National
Liberation or FLNKS (includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM); National
Union for Independence-Kanak and Socialist National Liberation
Front; Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE];
Renewed Caledonian Union; Socialist Group [Jean Pierre BEL];
Socialist Kanak Liberation or LKS [Nidoish NAISSELINE]; The Future
Together or AE [Didier LEROUX]; The Rally or UMP [Gerard LONGUET];
Union Nationale pour l'Independance or UNI; Union of
Pro-Independence Co-operation Committees [Francois BURCK]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ITUC, PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
National anthem:
name: "Soyons unis, devenons freres" (Let Us Be United, Let Us
Become Brothers)
lyrics/music: Chorale Melodia (a local choir)
note: adopted 2008; the anthem contains a mixture of lyrics in both
French and Nengone (an indigenous language); as a self-governing
territory of France, in addition to the local anthem, "La
Marseillaise" is official (see France)
Economy ::New Caledonia
Economy - overview:
New Caledonia has about 25% of the world's known nickel resources.
Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and
food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel,
substantial financial support from France - equal to more than 15%
of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the economy.
Substantial new investment in the nickel industry, combined with the
recovery of global nickel prices, brightens the economic outlook for
the next several years.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.158 billion (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.3 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,000 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 15%
industry: 8.8%
services: 76.2% (2003)
Labor force:
102,600 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 182
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 20%
services: 60% (2002)
Unemployment rate:
17.1% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 158
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.4% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products; fish
Industries:
nickel mining and smelting
Electricity - production:
1.825 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Electricity - consumption:
1.697 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Oil - consumption:
13,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Oil - exports:
645 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Oil - imports:
14,430 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Exports:
$1.341 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 143
Exports - commodities:
ferronickels, nickel ore, fish
Exports - partners:
France 27.52%, Japan 14.87%, Taiwan 10.51%, Spain 7.74%, China
7.31%, Australia 6.64%, Belgium 5.13%, South Korea 4.2% (2009)
Imports:
$1.998 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 151
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
France 39.89%, Singapore 14.12%, Australia 12.5%, NZ 5.42% (2009)
Debt - external:
$79 million (1998 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 87.59
(2007), 94.97 (2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003)
Communications ::New Caledonia
Telephones - main lines in use:
65,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 154
Telephones - mobile cellular:
208,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 172
Telephone system:
general assessment: a submarine cable network connection between New
Caledonia and Australia, completed in 2007, is expected to
significantly increase network capacity and improve high-speed
connectivity and access to international networks
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone
subscribership exceeds 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 687; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:
the publicly-owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which operates in
France's overseas departments and territories, broadcasts over the
RFO Nouvelle Caledonie television and radio stations; a small number
of privately-owned radio stations also broadcast (2008)
Internet country code:
.nc
Internet hosts:
22,456 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 106
Internet users:
85,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 164
Transportation ::New Caledonia
Airports:
25 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 131
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 8 (2010)
Heliports:
8 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 5,622 km (2006)
country comparison to the world: 151
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 3 (France 3) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 139
Ports and terminals:
Noumea
Military ::New Caledonia
Military branches:
no regular military forces; French military, police, and gendarmerie
(2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 59,612 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 49,173
females age 16-49: 49,619 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,138
female: 2,061 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues ::New Caledonia
Disputes - international:
Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France
and Vanuatu
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@New Zealand (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::New Zealand
Background:
The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840,
their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of
Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while
retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began
the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars
between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples.
The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in
1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New
Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed
by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address
longstanding Maori grievances.
Geography ::New Zealand
Location:
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
Geographic coordinates:
41 00 S, 174 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 267,710 sq km
country comparison to the world: 75
land: 267,710 sq km
water: NA
note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands,
Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Area - comparative:
about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
15,134 km
Maritime claims:
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:
temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain:
predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 m
Natural resources:
natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold,
limestone
Land use:
arable land: 5.54%
permanent crops: 6.92%
other: 87.54% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,850 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
397 cu km (1995)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.11 cu km/yr (48%/9%/42%)
per capita: 524 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity
volcanism: New Zealand experiences significant volcanism on North
Island; Ruapehu (elev. 2,797 m, 9,177 ft), which last erupted in
2007, has a history of large eruptions in the past century; Taranaki
has the potential to produce dangerous avalanches and lahars; other
historically active volcanoes include Okataina, Raoul Island,
Tongariro, and White Island
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by
invasive species
Environment - international agreements:
party to: 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, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
almost 90% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is the
southernmost national capital in the world
People ::New Zealand
Population:
4,252,277 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.7% (male 447,174/female 424,522)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 1,404,143/female 1,399,530)
65 years and over: 12.8% (male 244,986/female 293,063) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 36.8 years
male: 36 years
female: 37.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.901% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Birth rate:
13.81 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Death rate:
7.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Net migration rate:
2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Urbanization:
urban population: 87% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.048 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 187
male: 5.45 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.48 years
country comparison to the world: 22
male: 78.52 years
female: 82.53 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.09 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,400 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Nationality:
noun: New Zealander(s)
adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic groups:
European 56.8%, Asian 8%, Maori 7.4%, Pacific islander 4.6%, mixed
9.7%, other 13.5% (2006 Census)
Religions:
Anglican 13.8%, Roman Catholic 12.6%, Presbyterian, Congregational,
and Reformed 10%, Christian (no denomination specified) 4.6%,
Methodist 3%, Pentecostal 2%, Baptist 1.4%, other Christian 3.8%,
Maori Christian 1.6%, Hindu 1.6%, Buddhist 1.3%, other religions
2.2%, none 32.2%, other or unidentified 9.9% (2006 Census)
Languages:
English 91.2% (official), Maori 3.9% (official), Samoan 2.1%, French
1.3%, Hindi 1.1%, Yue 1.1%, Northern Chinese 1%, other 12.9%, New
Zealand Sign Language (official)
note: shares sum to 114.6% due to multiple responses on census (2006
Census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 19 years
male: 19 years
female: 20 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
6.2% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 35
Government ::New Zealand
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: New Zealand
abbreviation: NZ
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Wellington
geographic coordinates: 41 28 S, 174 51 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends
first Sunday in April
note: New Zealand is divided into two time zones - New Zealand
standard time (12 hours in advance of UTC), and Chatham Islands time
(45 minutes in advance of New Zealand standard time)
Administrative divisions:
16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury,
Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui,
Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman,
Waikato, Wellington, West Coast
Dependent areas:
Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence:
26 September 1907 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty
over New Zealand), 6 February (1840); ANZAC Day (commemorated as the
anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New
Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25
April (1915)
Constitution:
consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts of
the UK and New Zealand parliaments, as well as The Constitution Act
1986, which is the principal formal charter; adopted 1 January 1987,
effective 1 January 1987
Legal system:
based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts
for the Maori; 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 Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August
2006)
head of government: Prime Minister John KEY (since 19 November
2008); Deputy Prime Minister Bill ENGLISH (since 19 November 2008)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the
recommendation of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of a majority coalition usually
appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime
minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament
(usually 120 seats; 70 members elected by popular vote in
single-member constituencies including 7 Maori constituencies, 50
proportional seats chosen from party lists; serve three-year terms)
elections: last held on 8 November 2008 (next to be held not later
than 27 November 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - National Party 44.9%,
Labor Party 34%, Green Party 6.7%, NZ First 4%, ACT Party 3.7%,
Maori 2.4%, Progressive 0.9%, United Front 0.9%, other 6.6%; seats
by party - National Party 58, Labor Party 43, Green Party 9, ACT
Party 5, Maori 5, Progressive 1, United Front 1
note: results of 2008 election saw the total number of seats
increase to 122
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; High Court; note - judges appointed
by the governor general
Political parties and leaders:
ACT New Zealand [Rodney HIDE]; Green Party [Russel NORMAN and
Metiria TUREI]; Maori Party [Tariana TURIA and Dr. Pita SHARPLES];
New Zealand National Party [John KEY]; New Zealand First Party or NZ
First [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand Labor Party [Phil GOFF]; Jim
Anderton's Progressive Party [James (Jim) ANDERTON]; United Future
New Zealand [Peter DUNNE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Women's Electoral Lobby or WEL
other: apartheid groups; civil rights groups; farmers groups; Maori;
nuclear weapons groups; women's rights groups
International organization participation:
ADB, ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August
1986), APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C,
CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Paris Club
(associate), PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael K. MOORE
chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800
FAX: [1] (202) 667-5227
consulate(s) general: New York, Santa Monica
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David HUEBNER
embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington
mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, APO AP
96531-1034
telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000
FAX: [64] (4) 499-0490
consulate(s) general: Auckland
Flag description:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with
four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer
half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross
constellation
National anthem:
name: "God Defend New Zealand"
lyrics/music: Thomas BRACKEN [English], Thomas Henry SMITH
[Maori]/John Joseph WOODS
note: adopted 1940 as national song, adopted 1977 as co-national
anthem; New Zealand has two national anthems with equal status; as a
commonwealth realm, in addition to "God Defend New Zealand," "God
Save the Queen" serves as a national anthem (see United Kingdom);
"God Save the Queen" normally is played only when a member of the
royal family or the governor-general is present; in all other cases,
"God Defend New Zealand" is played
Government - note:
while not an official symbol, the Kiwi, a small native flightless
bird, represents New Zealand
Economy ::New Zealand
Economy - overview:
Over the past 20 years the government has transformed New Zealand
from an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market
access to a more industrialized, free market economy that can
compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes - but
left behind some at the bottom of the ladder - and broadened and
deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector.
Per capita income rose for ten consecutive years until 2007 in
purchasing power parity terms, but fell in 2008-09. Debt-driven
consumer spending drove robust growth in the first half of the
decade, helping fuel a large balance of payments deficit that posed
a challenge for economic managers. Inflationary pressures caused the
central bank to raise its key rate steadily from January 2004 until
it was among the highest in the OECD in 2007-08; international
capital inflows attracted to the high rates further strengthened the
currency and housing market, however, aggravating the current
account deficit. The economy fell into recession before the start of
the global financial crisis and contracted for five consecutive
quarters in 2008-09. In line with global peers, the central bank cut
interest rates aggressively and the government developed fiscal
stimulus measures. The economy posted a 1.7% decline in 2009, but
pulled out of recession late in the year, and achieved 2.1% growth
in 2010. Nevertheless, key trade sectors remain vulnerable to weak
external demand. The government plans to raise productivity growth
and develop infrastructure, while reining in government spending.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$119.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
$116.8 billion (2009 est.)
$118.8 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$138 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
-1.7% (2009 est.)
-0.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$28,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$27,700 (2009 est.)
$28,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.6%
industry: 24%
services: 71.4% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
2.32 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 19%
services: 74% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
6.2% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: %NA
highest 10%: %NA
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.2 (1997)
country comparison to the world: 83
Investment (gross fixed):
19.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Public debt:
25.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
22.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
2.1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
2.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 90
5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.39% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
12.21% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$24.15 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 61
$21.81 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$118.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$108.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$206.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$180.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$67.06 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 57
$24.17 billion (31 December 2008)
$47.45 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
dairy products, lamb and mutton; wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses,
fruits, vegetables; wool, beef; fish
Industries:
food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery,
transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Electricity - production:
42.4 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Electricity - consumption:
39.24 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
61,150 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Oil - consumption:
154,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Oil - exports:
54,560 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Oil - imports:
143,900 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Oil - proved reserves:
60 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Natural gas - production:
4.305 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Natural gas - consumption:
4.32 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Natural gas - imports:
NA (2008 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
33.98 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Current account balance:
-$4.504 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
-$3.693 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$33.24 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$25.35 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery
Exports - partners:
Australia 23.36%, US 9.64%, China 9.21%, Japan 7.1%, UK 4.21% (2009)
Imports:
$30.24 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$23.95 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum,
electronics, textiles, plastics
Imports - partners:
Australia 18.4%, China 15.09%, US 10.45%, Japan 7.24%, Germany
4.16%, Singapore 4.12% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$17.85 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
$15.59 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$64.33 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$62.47 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$67.18 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$66.63 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA (31 December 2009)
$59.08 billion (31 December 2008)
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4015 (2010), 1.6002
(2009), 1.4151 (2008), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006)
Communications ::New Zealand
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.87 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 58
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.7 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 99
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international systems
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone
subscribership exceeds 150 per 100 persons
international: country code - 64; the Southern Cross submarine cable
system provides links to Australia, Fiji, and the US; satellite
earth stations - 8 (1 Inmarsat - Pacific Ocean, 7 other)
Broadcast media:
state-owned Television New Zealand operates multiple television
networks while state-owned Radio New Zealand operates 3 radio
networks and an external shortwave radio service to the South
Pacific region; a small number of national commercial television and
radio stations and a large number of regional commercial television
and radio stations are available; cable and satellite TV systems are
accessible (2008)
Internet country code:
.nz
Internet hosts:
2.47 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 33
Internet users:
3.4 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 62
Transportation ::New Zealand
Airports:
122 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 50
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 40
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 24
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 82
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 32
under 914 m: 47 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 331 km; gas 1,838 km; liquid petroleum gas 172 km; oil
288 km; refined products 198 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 4,128 km
country comparison to the world: 39
narrow gauge: 4,128 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 93,911 km
country comparison to the world: 50
paved: 61,879 km (includes 172 km of expressways)
unpaved: 32,032 km (2009)
Merchant marine:
total: 14
country comparison to the world: 103
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, container 1,
passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 7 (Australia 1, Germany 2, Hong Kong 1, South Africa
1, Switzerland 2)
registered in other countries: 6 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Cook
Islands 1, France 1, Samoa 1, UK 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Auckland, Lyttelton, Manukau Harbor, Marsden Point, Tauranga,
Wellington
Military ::New Zealand
Military branches:
New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal New
Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (Te Hokowhitu o Kahurangi,
RNZAF) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be
deployed until the age of 18; no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,017,575
females age 16-49: 1,003,087 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 840,977
females age 16-49: 828,081 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 30,956
female: 29,236 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Transnational Issues ::New Zealand
Disputes - international:
asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)
Illicit drugs:
significant consumer of amphetamines
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Nicaragua (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Nicaragua
Background:
The Pacific coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from
Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was
declared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in
1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the
19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region in
subsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation
and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a
short-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas
to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador
caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through
much of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990, 1996, and 2001, saw the
Sandinistas defeated, but voting in 2006 announced the return of
former Sandinista President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra. The 2008
municipal elections were characterized by widespread irregularities.
Nicaragua's infrastructure and economy - hard hit by the earlier
civil war and by Hurricane Mitch in 1998 - are slowly being rebuilt,
but democratic institutions face new challenges under the ORTEGA
administration.
Geography ::Nicaragua
Location:
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North
Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Geographic coordinates:
13 00 N, 85 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 130,370 sq km
country comparison to the world: 97
land: 119,990 sq km
water: 10,380 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New York state
Land boundaries:
total: 1,231 km
border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline:
910 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: natural prolongation
Climate:
tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain:
extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior
mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m
Natural resources:
gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land use:
arable land: 14.81%
permanent crops: 1.82%
other: 83.37% (2005)
Irrigated land:
610 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
196.7 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.3 cu km/yr (15%/2%/83%)
per capita: 237 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes; volcanoes; landslides; extremely
susceptible to hurricanes
volcanism: Nicaragua experiences significant volcanic activity;
Cerro Negro (elev. 728 m, 2,388 ft), which last erupted in 1999, is
one of Nicaragua's most active volcanoes; its lava flows and ash
have been known to cause significant damage to farmland and
buildings; other historically active volcanoes include Concepcion,
Cosiguina, Las Pilas, Masaya, Momotombo, San Cristobal, and Telica
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwater
body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua
People ::Nicaragua
Population:
5,995,928 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.8% (male 1,013,866/female 976,430)
15-64 years: 62.9% (male 1,847,756/female 1,857,264)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 85,782/female 110,101) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.5 years
male: 22.1 years
female: 22.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.74% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Birth rate:
22.77 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Death rate:
4.28 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Net migration rate:
-1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Urbanization:
urban population: 57% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 24.16 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 87
male: 27.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.78 years
country comparison to the world: 128
male: 69.61 years
female: 74.05 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.51 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
7,700 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Nicaraguan(s)
adjective: Nicaraguan
Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%,
Amerindian 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 58.5%, Evangelical 21.6%, Moravian 1.6%, Jehovah's
Witness 0.9%, other 1.7%, none 15.7% (2005 census)
Languages:
Spanish 97.5% (official), Miskito 1.7%, other 0.8% (1995 census)
note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.5%
male: 67.2%
female: 67.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2003)
Education expenditures:
3.1% of GDP (2003)
country comparison to the world: 146
Government ::Nicaragua
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua
conventional short form: Nicaragua
local long form: Republica de Nicaragua
local short form: Nicaragua
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Managua
geographic coordinates: 12 09 N, 86 17 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
Administrative divisions:
15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2
autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region
autonoma); Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*, Boaco, Carazo,
Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz,
Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
9 January 1987; revised in 1995, 2000, and 2005
Legal system:
civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January
2007); Vice President Jaime MORALES Carazo (since 10 January 2007);
note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10
January 2007); Vice President Jaime MORALES Carazo (since 10 January
2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term so
long as it is not consecutive); election last held on 5 November
2006 (next to be held by November 2011)
election results: Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra elected president - 38.1%,
Eduardo MONTEALEGRE 29%, Jose RIZO 26.2%, Edmundo JARQUIN 6.4%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 seats; 90
members elected by proportional representation and party lists to
serve five-year terms; 1 seat for the previous president, 1 seat for
the runner-up in previous presidential election)
elections: last held on 5 November 2006 (next to be held by November
2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
FSLN 38, PLC 25, ALN 23 (22 plus one for presidential candidate
Eduardo MONTEALEGRE, runner-up in the 2006 presidential election),
MRS 5, APRE 1 (outgoing President Enrique BOLANOS); note - as of 1
May 2009: seats by party - FSLN 38, PLC 20, BDN 17, ALN 6, MRS 3,
APRE 1, Independent 7
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (16 judges elected for
five-year terms by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for the Republic or APRE; Conservative Party or PC
[Alejandro BOLANOS Davis]; Independent Liberal Party or PLI
[Indalecio RODRIGUEZ]; Liberal Constitutionalist Party or PLC [Jorge
CASTILLO Quant]; Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance or ALN [Alejandro MEJIA
Ferreti]; Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN [Daniel
ORTEGA Saavedra]; Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS [Enrique
SAENZ Navarrete]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
National Workers Front or FNT (a Sandinista umbrella group of eight
labor unions including: Farm Workers Association or ATC, Health
Workers Federation or FETASALUD, Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of
Professional Associations or CONAPRO, National Association of
Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN, National Union of Employees or UNE,
National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG, Sandinista Workers
Central or CST, and Union of Journalists of Nicaragua or UPN);
Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT (an umbrella group of four
non-Sandinista labor unions including: Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers
Central or CTN-A, Confederation of Labor Unification or CUS,
Independent General Confederation of Labor or CGT-I, and Labor
Action and Unity Central or CAUS); Nicaraguan Workers' Central or
CTN (an independent labor union); Superior Council of Private
Enterprise or COSEP (a confederation of business groups)
International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
PetroCaribe, RG, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union
Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco Obadiah CAMPBELL Hooker
chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570, 6573
FAX: [1] (202) 939-6545
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San
Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert J. CALLAHAN
embassy: Kilometer 5.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
mailing address: American Embassy Managua, APO AA 34021
telephone: [505] 252-7100, 252-7888; 252-7634 (after hours)
FAX: [505] 252-7304
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the
national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms
features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on
the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; the banner is based on
the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central
America; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the
Caribbean Sea, while the white band represents the land between the
two bodies of water
note: similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round
emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA
CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of
Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern
centered in the white band
National anthem:
name: "Salve a ti, Nicaragua" (Hail to Thee, Nicaragua)
lyrics/music: Salomon Ibarra MAYORGA/traditional, arranged by Luis
Abraham DELGADILLO
note: although only officially adopted in 1971, the music was
approved in 1918 and the lyrics in 1939; the tune, originally from
Spain, was used as an anthem for Nicaragua from the 1830"s until 1876
Economy ::Nicaragua
Economy - overview:
Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America and the second
poorest in the Hemisphere, has widespread underemployment and
poverty. The US-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) has
been in effect since April 2006 and has expanded export
opportunities for many agricultural and manufactured goods. Textiles
and apparel account for nearly 60% of Nicaragua's exports, but
increases in the minimum wage during the ORTEGA administration will
likely erode its comparative advantage in this industry. ORTEGA's
promotion of mixed business initiatives, owned by the Nicaraguan and
Venezuelan state oil firms, together with the weak rule of law,
could undermine the investment climate for domestic and
international private firms in the near-term. Nicaragua relies on
international economic assistance to meet internal- and
external-debt financing obligations. Foreign donors have curtailed
this funding, however, in response to November 2008 electoral fraud.
Managua has an IMF extended Credit Facility program, which could
help keep the government's fiscial deficit on target during the 2011
election year and encourage transparency in the use of Venezuelan
off-budget loans and assistance. In early 2004, Nicaragua secured
some $4.5 billion in foreign debt reduction under the Heavily
Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, however, Managua still
struggles with a high public debt burden. Nicaragua is gradually
recovering from the global economic crisis as increased exports
drove positive growth in 2010. The economy is expected to grow at a
rate of about 3% in 2011.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$17.34 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
$16.87 billion (2009 est.)
$17.12 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$6.375 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
-1.5% (2009 est.)
2.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
$2,900 (2009 est.)
$3,000 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17.6%
industry: 26.5%
services: 56% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
2.343 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 28%
industry: 19%
services: 53% (2010 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
8.2% (2009 est.)
note: underemployment was 46.5% in 2008
Population below poverty line:
48% (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 41.8% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
43.1 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 48
60.3 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
22.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Public debt:
78% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
63% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
3.7% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
NA% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.04% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
13.17% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.273 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 131
$989.5 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$2.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
$2.586 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$4.083 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
$4.161 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame,
soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products; shrimp,
lobsters
Industries:
food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, knit and
woven apparel, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages,
footwear, wood
Industrial production growth rate:
1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Electricity - production:
3.286 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Electricity - consumption:
2.569 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
63.95 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Oil - consumption:
29,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Oil - exports:
213 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Oil - imports:
29,570 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Current account balance:
-$819 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
-$841.1 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$3.182 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
$2.593 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, beef, shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold, peanuts;
textiles and apparel
Exports - partners:
US 61.98%, El Salvador 7.74%, Costa Rica 3.67% (2009)
Imports:
$4.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
$3.481 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum
products
Imports - partners:
US 22.63%, Venezuela 12.27%, Mexico 9.05%, Costa Rica 8.66%, China
7.16%, Guatemala 6.59%, El Salvador 5.63% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.58 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
$1.573 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.03 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
$3.633 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
cordobas (NIO) per US dollar - 21.35 (2010), 20.34 (2009), 19.374
(2008), 18.457 (2007), 17.582 (2006)
Communications ::Nicaragua
Telephones - main lines in use:
255,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 121
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.204 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 112
Telephone system:
general assessment: system being upgraded by foreign investment;
nearly all installed telecommunications capacity now uses digital
technology, owing to investments since privatization of the formerly
state-owned telecommunications company
domestic: since privatization, access to fixed-line and
mobile-cellular services has improved but teledensity still lags
behind other Central American countries; fixed-line teledensity
roughly 5 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership
is increasing and reached 55 per 100 persons in 2009; connected to
Central American Microwave System
international: country code - 505; the Americas Region Caribbean
Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic submarine cable provides
connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean,
and the US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic
Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
multiple privately-owned terrestrial television networks,
supplemented by cable TV in most urban areas; of more than 100 radio
broadcast stations, nearly all are privately owned; Radio Nicaragua
is government-owned and Radio Sandino is controlled by the
Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) (2007)
Internet country code:
.ni
Internet hosts:
157,162 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 70
Internet users:
199,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 141
Transportation ::Nicaragua
Airports:
143 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 40
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 132
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 115 (2010)
Pipelines:
oil 54 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 19,137 km
country comparison to the world: 112
paved: 2,033 km
unpaved: 17,104 km (2009)
Waterways:
2,220 km (navigable waterways as well as the use of the large Lake
Managua and Lake Nicaragua; rivers serve only the sparsely populated
eastern part of the country) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 41
Ports and terminals:
Bluefields, Corinto
Military ::Nicaragua
Military branches:
National Army of Nicaragua (Ejercito Nacional de Nicaragua, ENN;
includes Navy, Air Force) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for voluntary military service; tour of duty 18-36
months (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,605,398
females age 16-49: 1,594,270 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,318,762
females age 16-49: 1,374,652 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 71,171
female: 68,948 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 158
Transnational Issues ::Nicaragua
Disputes - international:
memorials and countermemorials were filed by the parties in
Nicaragua's 1999 and 2001 proceedings against Honduras and Colombia
at the ICJ over the maritime boundary and territorial claims in the
western Caribbean Sea, final public hearings are scheduled for 2007;
the 1992 ICJ ruling for El Salvador and Honduras advised a
tripartite resolution to establish a maritime boundary in the Gulf
of Fonseca, which considers Honduran access to the Pacific; legal
dispute over navigational rights of San Juan River on border with
Costa Rica
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US and
transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Niger (Africa)
Introduction ::Niger
Background:
Niger became independent from France in 1960 and experienced
single-party and military rule until 1991, when Gen. Ali SAIBOU was
forced by public pressure to allow multiparty elections, which
resulted in a democratic government in 1993. Political infighting
brought the government to a standstill and in 1996 led to a coup by
Col. Ibrahim BARE. In 1999, BARE was killed in a counter coup by
military officers who restored democratic rule and held elections
that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year.
TANDJA was reelected in 2004 and in 2009 spearheaded a
constitutional amendment that would allow him to extend his term as
president. In February 2010, a military coup deposed TANDJA,
immediately suspended the constitution and dissolved the Cabinet,
and promised that elections would be held following a transitional
period of unspecified duration. Niger is one of the poorest
countries in the world with minimal government services and
insufficient funds to develop its resource base. The largely
agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by
extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. A
predominately Tuareg ethnic group emerged in February 2007, the
Nigerien Movement for Justice (MNJ), and attacked several military
targets in Niger's northern region throughout 2007 and 2008.
Successful government offensives in 2009 limited the rebels'
operational capabilities.
Geography ::Niger
Location:
Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Geographic coordinates:
16 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1.267 million sq km
country comparison to the world: 22
land: 1,266,700 sq km
water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,697 km
border countries: Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km,
Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain:
predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains
in south; hills in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Niger River 200 m
highest point: Idoukal-n-Taghes 2,022 m
Natural resources:
uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum,
salt, petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 11.43%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 88.56% (2005)
Irrigated land:
730 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
33.7 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.18 cu km/yr (4%/0%/95%)
per capita: 156 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
recurring droughts
Environment - current issues:
overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife
populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion)
threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world; northern
four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna, suitable for
livestock and limited agriculture
People ::Niger
Population:
15,878,271 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Age structure:
0-14 years: 49.6% (male 3,840,379/female 3,758,674)
15-64 years: 48% (male 3,658,361/female 3,690,373)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 159,984/female 198,481) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 15.2 years
male: 15 years
female: 15.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.66% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Birth rate:
51.08 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Death rate:
14.47 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Urbanization:
urban population: 16% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 114.5 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 3
male: 119.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 109.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.99 years
country comparison to the world: 204
male: 51.75 years
female: 54.26 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
7.68 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
60,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
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
animal contact disease: rabies
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Nigerien(s)
adjective: Nigerien
Ethnic groups:
Haoussa 55.4%, Djerma Sonrai 21%, Tuareg 9.3%, Peuhl 8.5%, Kanouri
Manga 4.7%, other 1.2% (2001 census)
Religions:
Muslim 80%, other (includes indigenous beliefs and Christian) 20%
Languages:
French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 28.7%
male: 42.9%
female: 15.1% (2005 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 5 years
male: 5 years
female: 4 years (2009)
Education expenditures:
3.7% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 124
Government ::Niger
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Niger
conventional short form: Niger
local long form: Republique du Niger
local short form: Niger
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Niamey
geographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
8 regions (regions, singular - region) includes 1 capital district*
(communite urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua,
Tillaberi, Zinder
Independence:
3 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 18 December (1958); note - commemorates the founding
of the Republic of Niger which predated independence from France in
1960
Constitution:
adopted 18 July 1999
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Djibo SALOU, chairman of the Supreme Council for the
Restoration of Democracy, and a leader of the military coup that
deposed President Mamadou TANDJA on 18 February 2010
head of government: Prime Minister Mahamadou DANDA (since 19
February 2010); appointed by the president and shares some executive
responsibilities with the president
cabinet: 26-member Cabinet appointed by the president (Cabinet
dissolved following the 18 February 2010 coup)
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); second round of election last held on
4 December 2004; a presidential election to restore civilian rule is
scheduled for 31 January 2011
election results: Mamadou TANDJA reelected president; percent of
vote - Mamadou TANDJA 65.5%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 34.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (113 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 20 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MNSD 76, RSD 15, RDP 7, PNA-Alouma 1, Alkalami 1, Nigerien Party of
the Masses for Labor 1, independents 12
Judicial branch:
State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
Alkalama; Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama
[Mahamane OUSMANE]; National Movement for a Developing
Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [Hama AMADOU]; Niger Social
Democratic Party or PSDN; Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social
Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDP-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni DJERMAKOYE];
Nigerien Party for Autonomy or PNA-Alouma [Sanousi JACKOU]; Nigerien
Party for Democracy and Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya [Issifou
MAHAMADOU]; Nigerien Party of the Masses for Labor; Nigerien
Progressive Party or PPN-RDA; Rally for Democracy and Progress or
RDP-jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]; Social and Democratic Rally or
RSD-Gaskiyya [Cheiffou AMADOU]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
The Nigerien Movement for Justice or MNJ, a predominantly Tuareg
rebel group
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS (suspended), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB
(regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aminata Djibrilla Maiga TOURE
chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227
FAX: [1] (202)483-3169
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bisa WILLIAMS
embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey
mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey
telephone: [227] 20-72-26-61 thru 64
FAX: [227] 20-73-31-67
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with
a small orange disk centered in the white band; the orange band
denotes the drier northern regions of the Sahara; white stands for
purity and innocence; green symbolizes hope and the fertile and
productive southern and western areas, as well as the Niger River;
the orange disc represents the sun and the sacrifices made by the
people
note: similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel
centered in the white band
National anthem:
name: "La Nigerienne" (The Nigerian)
lyrics/music: Maurice Albert THIRIET/Robert JACQUET and Nicolas Abel
Francois FRIONNET
note: adopted 1961
Economy ::Niger
Economy - overview:
Niger is a landlocked, Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on
subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest
uranium deposits. Drought, desertification, and strong population
growth have undercut the economy. Niger shares a common currency,
the CFA franc, and a common central bank, the Central Bank of West
African States (BCEAO), with seven other members of the West African
Monetary Union. In December 2000, Niger qualified for enhanced debt
relief under the International Monetary Fund program for Highly
Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and concluded an agreement with the
Fund on a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). Debt relief
provided under the enhanced HIPC initiative significantly reduces
Niger's annual debt service obligations, freeing funds for
expenditures on basic health care, primary education, HIV/AIDS
prevention, rural infrastructure, and other programs geared at
poverty reduction. In December 2005, Niger received 100%
multilateral debt relief from the IMF, which translates into the
forgiveness of approximately US $86 million in debts to the IMF,
excluding the remaining assistance under HIPC. In 2010, the Niger
economy was recovering from the effects of a 2009 drought that
reduced grain and cowpea production and decimated livestock herds.
The economy was also hurt when the international community cut off
non-humanitarian aid in response to TANDJA's moves to extend his
term as president. Nearly half of the government's budget is derived
from foreign donor resources. Future growth may be sustained by
exploitation of oil, gold, coal, and other mineral resources.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$10.58 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
$10.22 billion (2009 est.)
$10.35 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.603 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
-1.2% (2009 est.)
9.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224
$700 (2009 est.)
$700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 39%
industry: 17%
services: 44% (2001)
Labor force:
4.688 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 77
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 90%
industry: 6%
services: 4% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
63% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 35.7% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.5 (1995)
country comparison to the world: 21
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 96
4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$782.6 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 145
$617.9 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$1.038 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
$844.6 million (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$683.6 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 158
$313.5 million (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice;
cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry
Industries:
uranium mining, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing,
chemicals, slaughterhouses
Industrial production growth rate:
5.1% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Electricity - production:
150 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Electricity - consumption:
589.5 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
450 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Oil - consumption:
6,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Oil - imports:
5,367 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Current account balance:
-$321 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Exports:
$428 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 170
Exports - commodities:
uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions
Exports - partners:
France 52.63%, Nigeria 22.43%, US 18.24% (2009)
Imports:
$800 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 177
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals
Imports - partners:
China 16.32%, France 15.95%, Netherlands 7.66%, Algeria 7.15%,
French Polynesia 6.11%, Nigeria 5.48%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.15%, US 4.05%
(2009)
Debt - external:
$2.1 billion (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 506.04
(2009), 447.81 (2008), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006)
note: since 1 January 1999, the West African CFA franc (XOF) has
been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro;
West African CFA franc (XOF) coins and banknotes are not accepted in
countries using Central African CFA francs (XAF), and vice versa,
even though the two currencies trade at par
Communications ::Niger
Telephones - main lines in use:
65,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 155
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.599 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 121
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate; small system of wire, radio
telephone communications, and microwave radio relay links
concentrated in the southwestern area of Niger
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
remains less than 20 per 100 persons despite a rapidly increasing
cellular subscribership base; domestic satellite system with 3 earth
stations and 1 planned
international: country code - 227; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-run TV station; 3 private TV stations provide a mix of local
and foreign programming; only national radio station with national
reach is state-run; about 30 private radio stations operate locally;
as many as 100 community radio stations broadcast; transmissions of
multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.ne
Internet hosts:
172 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 198
Internet users:
115,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 155
Transportation ::Niger
Airports:
27 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 123
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 17
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 18,949 km
country comparison to the world: 113
paved: 3,912 km
unpaved: 15,037 km (2008)
Waterways:
300 km; (the Niger, the only major river, is navigable to Gaya
between September and March) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 94
Military ::Niger
Military branches:
Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army,
Nigerien Air Force (Force Aerienne du Niger) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
17-21 years of age for selective compulsory or voluntary military
service; enlistees must be Nigerien citizens and unmarried; 2-year
service term; women may serve in health care (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,202,237
females age 16-49: 3,151,521 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,104,378
females age 16-49: 2,129,985 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 177,985
female: 172,180 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 117
Transnational Issues ::Niger
Disputes - international:
Libya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute in
the Tommo region; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint
with Nigeria, remains undemarcated; only Nigeria and Cameroon have
heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the
delimitation treaty that also includes the Chad-Niger and
Niger-Nigeria boundaries
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Niger is a source, transit, and destination
country for children and women trafficked for forced labor and
sexual exploitation; caste-based slavery practices, rooted in
ancestral master-slave relationships, continue in isolated areas of
the country - an estimated 8,800 to 43,000 Nigeriens live under
conditions of traditional slavery; children are trafficked within
Niger for forced begging, forced labor in gold mines, domestic
servitude, sexual exploitation, and possibly for forced labor in
agriculture and stone quarries; women and children from neighboring
states are trafficked to and through Niger for domestic servitude,
sexual exploitation, forced labor in mines and on farms, and as
mechanics and welders
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the Government of Niger does not
fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of
trafficking and is not making any significant efforts to do so; the
government demonstrated marginal efforts to combat human
trafficking, including traditional slavery, during the last year
(2009)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Nigeria (Africa)
Introduction ::Nigeria
Background:
British influence and control over what would become Nigeria and
Africa's most populous country grew through the 19th century. A
series of constitutions after World War II granted Nigeria greater
autonomy; independence came in 1960. Following nearly 16 years of
military rule, a new constitution was adopted in 1999, and a
peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. The
government continues to face the daunting task of reforming a
petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through
corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In
addition, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and
religious tensions. Although both the 2003 and 2007 presidential
elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence,
Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian
rule since independence. The general elections of April 2007 marked
the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's
history. In January 2010, Nigeria assumed a nonpermanent seat on the
UN Security Council for the 2010-11 term.
Geography ::Nigeria
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and
Cameroon
Geographic coordinates:
10 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 923,768 sq km
country comparison to the world: 32
land: 910,768 sq km
water: 13,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 4,047 km
border countries: Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger
1,497 km
Coastline:
853 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
Terrain:
southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains
in southeast, plains in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
Natural resources:
natural gas, petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium,
lead, zinc, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 33.02%
permanent crops: 3.14%
other: 63.84% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,820 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
286.2 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 8.01 cu km/yr (21%/10%/69%)
per capita: 61 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; flooding
Environment - current issues:
soil degradation; rapid deforestation; urban air and water
pollution; desertification; oil pollution - water, air, and soil;
has suffered serious damage from oil spills; loss of arable land;
rapid urbanization
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the Niger enters the country in the northwest and flows southward
through tropical rain forests and swamps to its delta in the Gulf of
Guinea
People ::Nigeria
Population:
152,217,341
country comparison to the world: 8
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.5% (male 31,624,050/female 30,242,637)
15-64 years: 55.5% (male 42,240,641/female 40,566,672)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 2,211,840/female 2,343,250) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.1 years
male: 19 years
female: 19.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.966% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Birth rate:
36.07 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Death rate:
16.31 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Net migration rate:
-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Urbanization:
urban population: 48% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 92.99 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 10
male: 98.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 86.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.24 years
country comparison to the world: 220
male: 46.46 years
female: 48.08 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.82 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2.6 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
170,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria and yellow fever
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: one of the most highly
endemic areas for Lassa fever
water contact disease: leptospirosis and shistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Nigerian(s)
adjective: Nigerian
Ethnic groups:
Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than
250 ethnic groups; the following are the most populous and
politically influential: Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo
(Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%
Religions:
Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
Languages:
English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani, over 500
additional indigenous languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68%
male: 75.7%
female: 60.6% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 8 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (1991)
country comparison to the world: 183
Government ::Nigeria
Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form: Nigeria
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
name: Abuja
geographic coordinates: 9 05 N, 7 32 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra,
Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo,
Ekiti, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory*, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa,
Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger,
Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara
Independence:
1 October 1960 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)
Constitution:
adopted 5 May 1999; effective 29 May 1999
Legal system:
based on English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states),
and traditional law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Goodluck JONATHAN (since 5 May 2010,
acting since 9 February 2010); note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government; JONATHAN assumed the
presidency on 5 May 2010 following the death of President YAR'ADUA,
he was declared Acting President on 9 February 2010 by the National
Assembly during the extended illness of the former president
head of government: President Goodluck JONATHAN (since 5 May 2010,
acting since 9 February 2010)
cabinet: Federal Executive Council
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 April 2007
(next to be held on 22 January 2011)
election results: Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA elected president; percent of
vote - Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA 69.8%, Muhammadu BUHARI 18.7%, Atiku
ABUBAKAR 7.5%, Orji Uzor KALU 1.7%, other 2.3%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (109 seats, 3
from each state plus 1 from Abuja; members elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms) and House of Representatives (360 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 21 April 2007 (next to be held in
April 2011); House of Representatives - last held on 21 April 2007
(next to be held on 15 January 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PDP 85, ANPP 16, AC 6, PPA 1, ACCORD 1; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDP 65.1%, ANPP 21.6%,
AC 8.8%, PPA 0.8%, LP 0.8%; seats by party - PDP 263, ANPP 63, AC
30, PPA 3, LP 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges recommended by the National Judicial Council
and appointed by the president); Federal Court of Appeal (judges are
appointed by the federal government from a pool of judges
recommended by the National Judicial Council)
Political parties and leaders:
Accord Party [Augustine MAZIE, acting]; Action Congress or AC [Bisi
AKANDE]; All Nigeria Peoples Party or ANPP [Edwin UME-EZEOKE]; All
Progressives Grand Alliance or APGA [Victor C. UMEH]; Alliance for
Democracy or AD [Mojisoluwa AKINFENWA]; Conference of Nigerian
Political Parities or CNPP [Abdulkadir Balarabe MUSA]; Democratic
Peoples Party or DPP [Jeremiah USENI]; Fresh Democratic Party [Chris
OKOTIE]; Labor Party [Dan NWANYANWU]; National Democratic Party or
NDP [Aliyu Habu FARI]; Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Vincent
OGBULAFOR]; Peoples Progressive Alliance [Larry ESIN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Academic Staff Union for Universities or ASUU; Campaign for
Democracy or CD; Civil Liberties Organization or CLO; Committee for
the Defense of Human Rights or CDHR; Constitutional Right Project or
CRP; Human Right Africa; National Association of Democratic Lawyers
or NADL; National Association of Nigerian Students or NANS; Nigerian
Bar Association or NBA; Nigerian Labor Congress or NLC; Nigerian
Medical Association or NMA; the press; Universal Defenders of
Democracy or UDD
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, D-8, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UN
Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Adebowale Ibidapo ADEFUYE
chancery: 3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 986-8400
FAX: [1] (202) 775-1385
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robin R. SANDERS
embassy: 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja
mailing address: P. O. Box 5760, Garki, Abuja
telephone: [234] (9) 461-4000
FAX: [234] (9) 461-4036
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green;
the color green represents the forests and abundant natural wealth
of the country, white stands for peace and unity
National anthem:
name: "Arise Oh Compatriots, Nigeria's Call Obey"
lyrics/music: John A. ILECHUKWU, Eme Etim AKPAN, B. A. OGUNNAIKE,
Sotu OMOIGUI and P. O. ADERIBIGBE/Benedict Elide ODIASE
note: adopted 1978; the lyrics are a mixture of five of the top
entries in a national contest
Economy ::Nigeria
Economy - overview:
Oil-rich Nigeria has been hobbled by political instability,
corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and poor macroeconomic
management but in 2008 began pursuing economic reforms. Nigeria's
former military rulers failed to diversify the economy away from its
overdependence on the capital-intensive oil sector, which provides
95% of foreign exchange earnings and about 80% of budgetary
revenues. Following the signing of an IMF stand-by agreement in
August 2000, Nigeria received a debt-restructuring deal from the
Paris Club and a $1 billion credit from the IMF, both contingent on
economic reforms. Nigeria pulled out of its IMF program in April
2002, after failing to meet spending and exchange rate targets,
making it ineligible for additional debt forgiveness from the Paris
Club. In November 2005, Abuja won Paris Club approval for a
debt-relief deal that eliminated $18 billion of debt in exchange for
$12 billion in payments - a total package worth $30 billion of
Nigeria's total $37 billion external debt. Since 2008 the government
has begun to show the political will to implement the
market-oriented reforms urged by the IMF, such as modernizing the
banking system, curbing inflation by blocking excessive wage
demands, and resolving regional disputes over the distribution of
earnings from the oil industry. GDP rose strongly in 2007-10 because
of increased oil exports and high global crude prices in 2010.
President JONATHAN has pledged to continue the economic reforms of
his predecessor with emphasis on infrastructure improvements.
Infrastructure is the main impediment to growth and in August 2010
JONATHAN unveiled a power sector blueprint that includes
privatization of the state-run electricity generation and
distribution facilities. The government also is working toward
developing stronger public-private partnerships for roads. Nigeria's
financial sector was hurt by the global financial and economic
crises and the Central Bank governor has taken measures to
strengthen that sector.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$369.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$346.2 billion (2009 est.)
$327.9 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$206.7 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
5.6% (2009 est.)
6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
$2,300 (2009 est.)
$2,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 31.9%
industry: 32.9%
services: 35.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
48.33 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 70%
industry: 10%
services: 20% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Population below poverty line:
70% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 32.4% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
43.7 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 46
50.6 (1997)
Investment (gross fixed):
11.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Public debt:
13.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
11.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
13.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
11.5% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 49
9.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
18.36% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
15.48% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$40.41 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 47
$33.61 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$91.97 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$72.31 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$77.43 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$62.18 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$33.32 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 49
$49.8 billion (31 December 2008)
$86.35 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
cocoa, peanuts, cotton, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet,
cassava (tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; timber;
fish
Industries:
crude oil, coal, tin, columbite; rubber products, wood; hides and
skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food
products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel
Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Electricity - production:
21.92 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Electricity - consumption:
19.21 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
2.211 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Oil - consumption:
280,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Oil - exports:
2.327 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Oil - imports:
170,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Oil - proved reserves:
37.5 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Natural gas - production:
32.82 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Natural gas - consumption:
12.28 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Natural gas - exports:
20.55 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Natural gas - proved reserves:
5.246 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Current account balance:
$27.77 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$22.89 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$76.33 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$59.32 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber
Exports - partners:
US 35.08%, India 10.43%, Brazil 9.32%, Spain 7.19%, France 4.65%
(2009)
Imports:
$34.18 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$29.05 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food
and live animals
Imports - partners:
China 14.89%, US 8.88%, Netherlands 8.18%, South Korea 5.46%, UK
4.63%, France 4.19% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$43.36 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
$44.76 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$11.02 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
$10.11 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$67.23 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$61.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$6.071 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
$5.821 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
nairas (NGN) per US dollar - 150.88 (2010), 148.84 (2009), 117.8
(2008), 127.46 (2007), 127.38 (2006)
Communications ::Nigeria
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.419 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 66
Telephones - mobile cellular:
73.099 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 16
Telephone system:
general assessment: further expansion and modernization of the
fixed-line telephone network is needed; network quality remains a
problem
domestic: the addition of a second fixed-line provider in 2002
resulted in faster growth but subscribership remains only about 1
per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services growing rapidly, in part
responding to the shortcomings of the fixed-line network; multiple
cellular providers operate nationally with subscribership reaching
50 per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 234; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC
fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and
Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1
Indian Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
nearly 70 federal-government-controlled national and regional TV
stations; all 36 states operate TV stations; several private TV
stations operational; cable and satellite TV subscription services
are available; network of federal-government-controlled national,
regional, and state radio stations; roughly 40
state-government-owned radio stations typically carry their own
programs except for news broadcasts; about 20 private radio stations
also operate; transmissions of international broadcasters are
available (2007)
Internet country code:
.ng
Internet hosts:
1,378 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 163
Internet users:
43.989 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 9
Transportation ::Nigeria
Airports:
54 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 86
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 38
over 3,047 m: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Heliports:
4 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 26 km; gas 2,565 km; liquid petroleum gas 97 km; oil
3,424 km; refined products 4,090 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 3,505 km
country comparison to the world: 49
narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 193,200 km
country comparison to the world: 26
paved: 28,980 km
unpaved: 164,220 km (2004)
Waterways:
8,600 km (Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers and creeks)
(2009)
country comparison to the world: 15
Merchant marine:
total: 98
country comparison to the world: 51
by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 30, liquefied gas 2,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 60, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 4 (India 1, Spain 1, UK 2)
registered in other countries: 37 (Bahamas 2, Belize 2, Bermuda 11,
Comoros 1, Italy 1, Liberia 4, Malaysia 1, Malta 1, North Korea 1,
Panama 7, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Seychelles 1, unknown
4) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Bonny Inshore Terminal, Calabar, Lagos
Transportation - note:
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and
offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea as high risk
for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial
vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while
underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen
Military ::Nigeria
Military branches:
Nigerian Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 36,203,921
females age 16-49: 34,409,821 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 20,298,351
females age 16-49: 19,355,456 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,731,734
female: 1,652,632 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 101
Transnational Issues ::Nigeria
Disputes - international:
Joint Border Commission with Cameroon reviewed 2002 ICJ ruling on
the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences, including
June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately cedes sovereignty of
the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a phase-out of Nigerian
control within two years while resolving patriation issues; the ICJ
ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial
Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but
imprecisely defined coordinates in the ICJ decision and a
sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an
island at the mouth of the Ntem River all contribute to the delay in
implementation; 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): 5,778 (Liberia)
IDPs: undetermined (communal violence between Christians and Muslims
since President OBASANJO's election in 1999; displacement is mostly
short-term) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
a transit point for heroin and cocaine intended for European, East
Asian, and North American markets; consumer of amphetamines; safe
haven for Nigerian narcotraffickers operating worldwide; major
money-laundering center; massive corruption and criminal activity;
Nigeria has improved some anti-money-laundering controls, resulting
in its removal from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's)
Noncooperative Countries and Territories List in June 2006;
Nigeria's anti-money-laundering regime continues to be monitored by
FATF
page last updated on January 24, 2011
======================================================================
@Niue (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Niue
Background:
Niue's remoteness, as well as cultural and linguistic differences
between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the rest of the Cook
Islands, have caused it to be separately administered. The
population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in
1966 to an estimated 1,398 in 2009) with substantial emigration to
New Zealand 2,400 km to the southwest.
Geography ::Niue
Location:
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
Geographic coordinates:
19 02 S, 169 52 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 260 sq km
country comparison to the world: 212
land: 260 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
64 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Terrain:
steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation near Mutalau settlement 68 m
Natural resources:
fish, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 11.54%
permanent crops: 15.38%
other: 73.08% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
typhoons
Environment - current issues:
increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of
soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
Geography - note:
one of world's largest coral islands
People ::Niue
Population:
1,354 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 235
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.032% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Birth rate:
NA
Death rate:
NA
Net migration rate:
NA
Urbanization:
urban population: 39% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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: Niuean(s)
adjective: Niuean
Ethnic groups:
Niuen 78.2%, Pacific islander 10.2%, European 4.5%, mixed 3.9%,
Asian 0.2%, unspecified 3% (2001 census)
Religions:
Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely related
to the London Missionary Society) 61.1%, Latter-Day Saints 8.8%,
Roman Catholic 7.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist
1.4%, other 8.4%, unspecified 8.7%, none 1.9% (2001 census)
Languages:
English (official), Niuean a Polynesian language closely related to
Tongan and Samoan; English
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA
female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Niue
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Niue
note: pronunciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like
new-wee
former: Savage Island
Dependency status:
self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974; Niue
fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains
responsibility for external affairs and defense; however, these
responsibilities confer no rights of control and are only exercised
at the request of the Government of Niue
Government type:
self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Alofi
geographic coordinates: 19 01 S, 169 55 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as
defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the
second order
Independence:
19 October 1974 (Niue became a self-governing parliamentary
government in free association with New Zealand)
National holiday:
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty
over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution:
19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
Legal system:
English common law; note - Niue is self-governing with the power to
make its laws
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND
(since 23 August 2006); the UK and New Zealand are represented by
New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since May 2000)
head of government: Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and 3 ministers
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; premier elected by the
Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held on 18
June 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: Toke TALAGI defeats incumbent Young VIVIAN in
Legislative Assembly vote; Toke TALAGI - 14, Young VIVIAN - 5
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve three-year terms; six elected from a common
roll and 14 are village representatives)
elections: last held on 7 June 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 20
independents
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of Independents or AI; Niue People's Action Party or NPP
[Young VIVIAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO,
WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Flag description:
yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the
flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large star
on a blue disk in the center and a smaller star on each arm of the
bold red cross; the larger star stands for Niue, the smaller stars
recall the Southern Cross constellation on the New Zealand flag and
symbolize links with that country; yellow represents the bright
sunshine of Niue and the warmth and friendship between Niue and New
Zealand
National anthem:
name: "Ko e Iki he Lagi" (The Lord in Heaven)
lyrics/music: unknown/unknown, prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA
note: adopted 1974
Economy ::Niue
Economy - overview:
The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of
geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population.
Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfall
is made up by critically needed grants from New Zealand that are
used to pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut government
expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. The
agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening,
although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists
primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil,
honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign
collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent
years has suffered a serious loss of population because of
emigration to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include the
promotion of tourism and financial services, although the
International Banking Repeal Act of 2002 resulted in the termination
of all offshore banking licenses. Economic aid from New Zealand in
FY08/09 was US$5.7 million. Niue suffered a devastating typhoon in
January 2004, which decimated nascent economic programs. While in
the process of rebuilding, Niue has been dependent on foreign aid.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$10.01 million (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 227
GDP (official exchange rate):
$10.01 million (2003)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.2% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,800 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 23.5%
industry: 26.9%
services: 49.5% (2003)
Labor force:
663 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 227
Labor force - by occupation:
note: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in
government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board
Unemployment rate:
12% (2001)
country comparison to the world: 128
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 116
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava
(tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
Industries:
handicrafts, food processing
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
3 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Electricity - consumption:
2.79 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Oil - consumption:
NA bbl/day (2009 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Oil - imports:
31 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Exports:
$201,400 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 220
Exports - commodities:
canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit products,
pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
Imports:
$9.038 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 221
Imports - commodities:
food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels,
lubricants, chemicals, drugs
Debt - external:
$418,000 (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4015 (2010), 1.6002
(2009), 1.4151 (2008), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006)
Communications ::Niue
Telephones - main lines in use:
1,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 227
Telephones - mobile cellular:
600 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 219
Telephone system:
domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on
island
international: country code - 683 (2001)
Broadcast media:
1 government-owned television station with many of the programs
supplied by Television New Zealand; 1 government-owned radio station
broadcasting in AM and FM (2009)
Internet country code:
.nu
Internet hosts:
397,270 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 52
Internet users:
1,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 213
Transportation ::Niue
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 229
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 120 km
country comparison to the world: 212
paved: 120 km (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Alofi
Military ::Niue
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Transnational Issues ::Niue
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Norfolk Island (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Norfolk Island
Background:
Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal colony
(1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In 1856, the
island was resettled by Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of the
Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.
Geography ::Norfolk Island
Location:
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Geographic coordinates:
29 02 S, 167 57 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 36 sq km
country comparison to the world: 234
land: 36 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
32 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Bates 319 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
typhoons (especially May to July)
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
most of the 32 km coastline consists of almost inaccessible cliffs,
but the land slopes down to the sea in one small southern area on
Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is situated
People ::Norfolk Island
Population:
2,155 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 231
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.2%
15-64 years: 63.9%
65 years and over: 15.9% (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.006% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
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: Norfolk Islander(s)
adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)
Ethnic groups:
descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander,
Polynesian
Religions:
Anglican 31.8%, Roman Catholic 11.5%, Uniting Church in Australia
10.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.2%, other Christian 5.6%, none 19.9%,
unspecified 16.6% (2006 census)
Languages:
English (official), Norfolk - a mixture of 18th century English and
ancient Tahitian
Literacy:
NA
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Norfolk Island
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form: Norfolk Island
Dependency status:
self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by
the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Kingston
geographic coordinates: 29 03 S, 167 58 E
time difference: UTC+11.5 (16.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
none (territory of Australia)
National holiday:
Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June
(1856)
Constitution:
Norfolk Island Act of 1979 as amended in 2005
Legal system:
based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and acts; English
common law applies in matters not covered by either Australian or
Norfolk Island law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator Owen WALSH (since October 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council made up of 4 of the 9 members of the
Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and acts
as an advisor to the administrator
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by
the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and
Australia
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by
electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes can be
given to any one candidate; members to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held on 17 March 2010 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: seats - independents 9 (note - no political
parties)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of Australia)
Flag description:
three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a
large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider
white band; green stands for the rich vegetation on the island, and
the pine tree - endemic to the island - is a symbol of Norfolk Island
note: somewhat reminiscent of the flag of Canada with its use of
only two colors and depiction of a prominent local floral symbol in
the central white band
National anthem:
name: "Come Ye Blessed"
lyrics/music: New Testament/John Prindle SCOTT
note: the local anthem, whose lyrics consist of the words from
Matthew 25:34-36, 40, is also known as "The Pitcairn Anthem;" as a
territory of Australia, "God Save the Queen" is official (see
Australia), however, the island does not recognize "Advance
Australia Fair"
Economy ::Norfolk Island
Economy - overview:
Tourism, the primary economic activity, has steadily increased over
the years and has brought a level of prosperity unusual among
inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The agricultural sector has
become self sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$NA
Labor force:
978 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 226
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 10%
industry and services: 90%
Agriculture - products:
Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables,
fruit; cattle, poultry
Industries:
tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Exports:
$1.5 million (FY91/92)
country comparison to the world: 217
Exports - commodities:
postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm,
small quantities of avocados
Imports:
$17.9 million c.i.f. (FY91/92); $17.9 million
country comparison to the world: 218
Imports - commodities:
NA
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.1151 (2010), 1.2822
(2009), 1.2059 (2008), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006)
Communications ::Norfolk Island
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,532; note - a mix of analog (2,500) and digital (32) circuits
(2004)
country comparison to the world: 221
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 220
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate
domestic: free local calls
international: country code - 672; undersea coaxial cable links with
Australia and New Zealand; satellite earth station - 1
Broadcast media:
1 local radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio and
television stations are received via satellite (2009)
Internet country code:
.nf
Internet hosts:
93 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 202
Transportation ::Norfolk Island
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 228
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 80 km
country comparison to the world: 215
paved: 53 km
unpaved: 27 km (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Kingston
Military ::Norfolk Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues ::Norfolk Island
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Northern Mariana Islands (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Northern Mariana Islands
Background:
Under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the
Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided in the
1970s not to seek independence but instead to forge closer links
with the US. Negotiations for territorial status began in 1972. A
covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the US
was approved in 1975, and came into force on 24 March 1976. A new
government and constitution went into effect in 1978.
Geography ::Northern Mariana Islands
Location:
Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of
the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates:
15 12 N, 145 45 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 464 sq km
country comparison to the world: 195
land: 464 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: consists of 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,482 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal
temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season
July to October
Terrain:
southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing
coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation on Agrihan 965 m
Natural resources:
arable land, fish
Land use:
arable land: 13.04%
permanent crops: 4.35%
other: 82.61% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August
to November)
Environment - current issues:
contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease;
clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts
with development
Geography - note:
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
People ::Northern Mariana Islands
Population:
48,317 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 7,203/female 6,180)
15-64 years: 70.9% (male 16,751/female 19,747)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 784/female 819) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.3 years
male: 29.9 years
female: 29.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-5.567% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 232
Birth rate:
21.05 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Death rate:
3.17 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
Net migration rate:
-73.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
Urbanization:
urban population: 91% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.059 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.89 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 178
male: 6.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.9 years
country comparison to the world: 65
male: 74.27 years
female: 79.68 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.18 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: NA (US citizens)
adjective: NA
Ethnic groups:
Asian 56.3%, Pacific islander 36.3%, Caucasian 1.8%, other 0.8%,
mixed 4.8% (2000 census)
Religions:
Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and
taboos may still be found)
Languages:
Philippine languages 24.4%, Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro 22.4%, English
10.8%, other Pacific island languages 9.5%, other 9.6% (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 96% (1980 est.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Northern Mariana Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands
abbreviation: CNMI
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands
District
Dependency status:
commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the
Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior,
Office of Insular Affairs
Government type:
commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor,
lieutenant governor, and legislature
Capital:
name: Saipan
geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (commonwealth in political union with the US); there are no
first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are four municipalities at the second order:
Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian
Independence:
none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
National holiday:
Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Constitution:
Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
effective 1 January 1978; Covenant Agreement fully effective 4
November 1986
Legal system:
based on US system except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and
taxation
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens
but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009);
Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
head of government: Governor Benigno R. FITIAL (since 9 January
2006); Lieutenant Governor Eloy S. INOS (since 1 May 2009)
cabinet: the cabinet consists of the heads of the 10 principal
departments under the executive branch who are appointed by the
governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; other members
include special assistants to the governor and office heads
appointed by and reporting directly to the governor
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice
president; however, they may vote in the Democratic and Republican
party presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant
governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year
terms (eligible for a second term); election last held on 7 November
2009 (run-off election was held on 23 November 2009)
election results: percent of vote - Benigno R. FITIAL reelected with
51.4% over Heinz HOFSCHNEIDER (48.6%) in the run-off election held
on 23 November 2009
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year staggered terms) and the
House of Representatives (20 seats; members elected by popular vote
to serve two-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 7 November 2009 (next to be held in
November 2011); House of Representatives - last held on 7 November
2009 (next to be held in November 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Covenant Party 3, Republican Party 3, Democratic Party 1,
independents 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party
- NA; seats by party - Republican Party 12, Covenant Party 4,
Democratic Party 1, independents 3
note: the Northern Mariana Islands elects one nonvoting delegate to
the US House of Representatives; election last held on 2 November
2010 (next to be held in November 2012); seats by party -
independent 1
Judicial branch:
Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court
Political parties and leaders:
Covenant Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]; Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S.
CAMACHO]; Republican Party [Juan S. REYES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
SPC, UPU
Flag description:
blue, with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on a gray latte
stone (the traditional foundation stone used in building) in the
center, surrounded by a wreath; blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean,
the star represents the Commonwealth; the latte stone and the floral
head wreath display elements of the native Chamorro culture
National anthem:
name: "Gi Talo Gi Halom Tasi" (In the Middle of the Sea)
lyrics/music: Jose S. PANGELINAN [Chamoru], David PETER
[Carolinian]/Wilhelm GANZHORN
note: adopted 1996; the Carolinian version of the song is known as
"Satil Matawal Pacifico;" as a commonwealth of the United States, in
addition to the local anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official
(see United States)
Economy ::Northern Mariana Islands
Economy - overview:
The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from
the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated
government revenues have grown. The key tourist industry employs
about 50% of the work force and accounts for roughly one-fourth of
GDP. Japanese tourists predominate. Annual tourist entries have
exceeded one-half million in recent years, but financial
difficulties in Japan have caused a temporary slowdown. The
agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms
producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Garment
production is by far the most important industry with the employment
of 17,500 mostly Chinese workers and sizable shipments to the US
under duty and quota exemptions.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$900 million (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy
GDP (official exchange rate):
$633.4 million (2000)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,500 (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
38,450 total indigenous labor force; 28,717 foreign workers (2005
est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
8% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
3.9% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-0.8% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 8
Agriculture - products:
vegetables and melons, fruits and nuts; ornamental plants;
livestock, poultry and eggs, fish and aquaculture products
Industries:
banking, construction, fishing, garment, tourism, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
60,600 kWh (January 2009)
country comparison to the world: 213
Electricity - consumption:
48,300 kWh (January 2009)
country comparison to the world: 214
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (January 2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (January 2009 est.)
Exports:
$98.2 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 193
Exports - commodities:
garments
Imports:
$214.4 million (2001)
country comparison to the world: 199
Imports - commodities:
food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications ::Northern Mariana Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
25,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 184
Telephones - mobile cellular:
20,500 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 209
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-670; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast media:
1 TV broadcast station on Saipan; multi-channel cable TV services
are available on Saipan; 9 licensed radio broadcast stations (2009)
Internet country code:
.mp
Internet hosts:
9 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 223
Transportation ::Northern Mariana Islands
Airports:
5 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 181
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 536 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 192
Ports and terminals:
Saipan, Tinian, Rota
Military ::Northern Mariana Islands
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 9,359
females age 16-49: 12,385 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 430
female: 346 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues ::Northern Mariana Islands
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on December 13, 2010
======================================================================
@Norway (Europe)
Introduction ::Norway
Background:
Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off following the
adoption of Christianity by King Olav TRYGGVASON in 994. Conversion
of the Norwegian kingdom occurred over the next several decades. In
1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that lasted more
than four centuries. In 1814, Norwegians resisted the cession of
their country to Sweden and adopted a new constitution. Sweden then
invaded Norway but agreed to let Norway keep its constitution in
return for accepting the union under a Swedish king. Rising
nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905 referendum
granting Norway independence. Although Norway remained neutral in
World War I, it suffered heavy losses to its shipping. Norway
proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II, but was
nonetheless occupied for five years by Nazi Germany (1940-45). In
1949, neutrality was abandoned and Norway became a member of NATO.
Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s
boosted Norway's economic fortunes. The current focus is on
containing spending on the extensive welfare system and planning for
the time when petroleum reserves are depleted. In referenda held in
1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU.
Geography ::Norway
Location:
Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, west of Sweden
Geographic coordinates:
62 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 323,802 sq km
country comparison to the world: 67
land: 304,282 sq km
water: 19,520 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 2,542 km
border countries: Finland 727 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 196 km
Coastline:
25,148 km (includes mainland 2,650 km, as well as long fjords,
numerous small islands, and minor indentations 22,498 km; length of
island coastlines 58,133 km)
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 10 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder
interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy
year-round on west coast
Terrain:
glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by
fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented
by fjords; arctic tundra in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Galdhopiggen 2,469 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium,
pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 2.7%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.3% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,270 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
381.4 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.4 cu km/yr (23%/67%/10%)
per capita: 519 cu m/yr (1996)
Natural hazards:
rockslides, avalanches
volcanism: Beerenberg (elev. 2,227 m, 7,306 ft) on Jan Mayen Island
in the Norwegian Sea is the country's only active volcano
Environment - current issues:
water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting
lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its
much-indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes
and air routes in North Atlantic; one of the most rugged and longest
coastlines in the world
People ::Norway
Population:
4,676,305 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.5% (male 441,508/female 422,050)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 1,564,482/female 1,522,519)
65 years and over: 15.2% (male 305,120/female 404,860) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.7 years
male: 38.8 years
female: 40.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.334% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Birth rate:
10.9 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Death rate:
9.26 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Net migration rate:
1.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Urbanization:
urban population: 77% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.054 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.55 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 211
male: 3.88 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.08 years
country comparison to the world: 25
male: 77.42 years
female: 82.89 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.77 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Nationality:
noun: Norwegian(s)
adjective: Norwegian
Ethnic groups:
Norwegian 94.4% (includes Sami, about 60,000), other European 3.6%,
other 2% (2007 estimate)
Religions:
Church of Norway 85.7%, Pentecostal 1%, Roman Catholic 1%, other
Christian 2.4%, Muslim 1.8%, other 8.1% (2004)
Languages:
Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small
Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities; note - Sami is official in
six municipalities
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 18 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
6.7% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 27
Government ::Norway
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway
conventional short form: Norway
local long form: Kongeriket Norge
local short form: Norge
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Oslo
geographic coordinates: 59 55 N, 10 45 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:
19 counties (fylker, singular - fylke); Akershus, Aust-Agder,
Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland,
Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane,
Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold
Dependent areas:
Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
Independence:
7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26
October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)
Constitution:
17 May 1814; amended many times
Legal system:
mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common law
traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature
when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent
Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS, son of the monarch (born 20 July 1973)
head of government: Prime Minister Jens STOLTENBERG (since 17
October 2005)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of
parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following parliamentary
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch
with the approval of the parliament
Legislative branch:
modified unicameral Parliament or Storting (169 seats; members
elected by popular vote by proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held on 14 September 2009 (next to be held in
September 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - DNA 35.4%, FrP 22.9%, H
17.2%, SV 6.2%, Sp 6.2%, KrF 5.5%, V 3.9%, other 2.7%; seats by
party - DNA 64, FrP 41, H 30, SV 11, Sp 11, KrF 10, V 2
note: for certain purposes, the parliament divides itself into two
chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership in the Lagting and
three-fourths of its membership in the Odelsting
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (justices appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Center Party (Senterpartiet or Sp) [Liv Signe NAVARSETE]; Christian
People's Party (Kristelig Folkeparti or KrF) [Dagfinn HOYBRATEN];
Conservative Party (Hoyre or H) [Erna SOLBERG]; Labor Party (Det
norske Arbeiderpartiet or DNA) [Jens STOLTENBERG]; Liberal Party
(Venstre or V) [Trine SKEI-GRANDE]; Progress Party (Framstegspartiet
or FrP) [Siv JENSEN]; Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk
Venstreparti or SV) [Kristin HALVORSEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Norwegian Aid Committee or NORWAC; Norwegian Association of the
Disabled; Pure Salmon Campaign; The Consumer Council (consumer
advocacy group)
other: environmental groups; media; reform movements
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council,
Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, ESA, FAO,
FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Wegger C. STROMMEN
chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6000
FAX: [1] (202) 337-0870
consulate(s) general: Houston, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Barry B. WHITE
embassy: Henrik Ibsens gate 48, 0244 Oslo; note - the embassy will
move to Huseby in the near future
mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
telephone: [47] 22 44 85 50
FAX: [47] 22 44 33 63, 22 56 27 51
Flag description:
red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of
the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist
side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the colors recall
Norway's past political unions with Denmark (red and white) and
Sweden (blue)
National anthem:
name: "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" (Yes, We Love This Country)
lyrics/music: Bjornstjerne BJORNSON/Rikard NORDRAAK
note: adopted 1864; in addition to the national anthem,
"Kongesangen" (Song of the King), which uses the tune of "God Save
the Queen," serves as the royal anthem
Economy ::Norway
Economy - overview:
The Norwegian economy is a prosperous bastion of welfare capitalism,
featuring a combination of free market activity and government
intervention. The government controls key areas, such as the vital
petroleum sector, through large-scale state-majority-owned
enterprises. The country is richly endowed with natural resources -
petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly
dependent on the petroleum sector, which accounts for nearly half of
exports and over 30% of state revenue. Norway is the world's
second-largest gas exporter; its position as an oil exporter has
slipped to ninth-largest as production has begun to decline. Norway
opted to stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994;
nonetheless, as a member of the European Economic Area, it
contributes sizably to the EU budget. In anticipation of eventual
declines in oil and gas production, Norway saves almost all state
revenue from the petroleum sector in the world's second largest
sovereign wealth fund, valued at over $500 billion in 2010. After
lackluster growth of less than 1.5% in 2002-03, GDP growth picked up
to 2.5-6.2% in 2004-07, partly due to higher oil prices. Growth fell
to 1.8% in 2008, and the economy contracted by 1.4% in 2009 as a
result of the slowing world economy and the drop in oil prices.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$276.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$272.3 billion (2009 est.)
$276.2 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$413.5 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
-1.4% (2009 est.)
1.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$59,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$58,400 (2009 est.)
$59,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 40.1%
services: 57.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
2.59 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.9%
industry: 21.1%
services: 76% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
3.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
3.2% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 23.4% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
25 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 133
25.8 (1995)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Public debt:
47.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
49.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
2.1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 72
6.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
4.28% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
7.28% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$122.2 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 27
$118.3 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$256.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$243.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$414.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
$379.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$227.2 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 31
$125.9 billion (31 December 2008)
$357.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, potatoes; pork, beef, veal, milk; fish
Industries:
petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper
products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:
0.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Electricity - production:
142.7 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Electricity - consumption:
128.8 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Electricity - exports:
17.29 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
3.414 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
2.35 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Oil - consumption:
204,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Oil - exports:
2.061 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Oil - imports:
107,500 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Oil - proved reserves:
6.68 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Natural gas - production:
103.5 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Natural gas - consumption:
4.62 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Natural gas - exports:
98.85 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.313 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Current account balance:
$60.23 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
$53.53 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$137 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$122 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment, metals,
chemicals, ships, fish
Exports - partners:
UK 24.28%, Germany 13.4%, Netherlands 10.87%, France 8.55%, Sweden
5.76%, US 4.82% (2009)
Imports:
$74.02 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$66.68 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Sweden 13.86%, Germany 12.89%, China 7.8%, Denmark 6.78%, US 6.16%,
UK 6.01% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$48.86 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.232 trillion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 7
$475.9 billion (31 December 2008)
note: Norway is a net external creditor
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$132.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$128.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$226.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
$206 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar - 6.1533 (2010), 6.2883 (2009),
5.6361 (2008), 5.86 (2007), 6.418 (2006)
Communications ::Norway
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.9 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 57
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.336 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 93
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern in all respects; one of the most advanced
telecommunications networks in Europe
domestic: Norway has a domestic satellite system; the prevalence of
rural areas encourages the wide use of mobile-cellular systems
international: country code - 47; 2 buried coaxial cable systems;
submarine cables provide links to other Nordic countries and Europe;
satellite earth stations - NA Eutelsat, NA Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note -
Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic
countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden) (1999)
Broadcast media:
state-owned public radio-TV broadcaster operates 3 nationwide
television stations, 3 nationwide radio stations, and 16 regional
radio stations; roughly a dozen privately-owned television stations
broadcast nationally and roughly another 25 local TV stations are
available; nearly 75% of households have access to multi-channel
cable or satellite TV systems; 2 privately-owned radio stations
broadcast nationwide and another 240 stations operate locally (2008)
Internet country code:
.no
Internet hosts:
3.352 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 27
Internet users:
4.431 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 53
Transportation ::Norway
Airports:
98 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 61
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 67
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 25 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 31
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 25 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 31 km; gas 64 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 4,114 km
country comparison to the world: 40
standard gauge: 4,114 km 1.435-m gauge (2,552 km electrified) (2009)
Roadways:
total: 92,946 km
country comparison to the world: 52
paved: 72,033 km (includes 664 km of expressways)
unpaved: 20,913 km (2007)
Waterways:
1,577 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 53
Merchant marine:
total: 632
country comparison to the world: 19
by type: bulk carrier 43, cargo 133, carrier 5, chemical tanker 139,
combination ore/oil 12, container 1, liquefied gas 53, passenger 3,
passenger/cargo 116, petroleum tanker 58, refrigerated cargo 14,
roll on/roll off 9, vehicle carrier 46
foreign-owned: 104 (Bermuda 5, Canada 1, China 25, Cyprus 1, Denmark
11, Estonia 1, Finland 1, France 4, Iceland 3, Italy 3, Lithuania 1,
Monaco 1, Poland 2, Saudi Arabia 3, Sweden 33, US 9)
registered in other countries: 940 (Antigua and Barbuda 9, Australia
1, Bahamas 198, Barbados 41, Belize 3, Bermuda 5, Brazil 3, Canada
4, Chile 1, Comoros 2, Cook Islands 6, Croatia 2, Cyprus 12, Denmark
2, Dominica 1, Equatorial Guinea 1, Estonia 2, Faroe Islands 6,
Finland 2, France 1, Gibraltar 42, Hong Kong 49, Indonesia 4,
Ireland 3, Isle of Man 26, Italy 6, Japan 1, Liberia 42, Libya 1,
Malta 84, Marshall Islands 57, Netherlands 18, former Netherlands
Antilles 2, Panama 89, Portugal 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 12, Singapore 132, Spain 10, Sweden 3, UK
39, US 10, Vanuatu 1, Venezuela 1, unknown 4) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Bergen, Haugesund, Maaloy, Mongstad, Narvik, Sture
Military ::Norway
Military branches:
Norwegian Army (Haeren), Royal Norwegian Navy (Kongelige Norske
Sjoeforsvaret, RNoN; includes Coastal Rangers and Coast Guard
(Kystvakt)), Royal Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige Norske
Luftforsvaret, RNoAF), Home Guard (Heimevernet, HV) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-44 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16 years of
age in wartime; 17 years of age for male volunteers; 18 years of age
for women; 12-month service obligation, in practice shortened to 8
to 9 months; although all males between ages of 18 and 44 are liable
for service, in practice they are seldom called to duty after age
30; reserve obligation to age 35-60; 16 years of age for volunteers
to the Home Guard, who serve 6-month duty tours (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,078,562
females age 16-49: 1,049,529 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 888,310
females age 16-49: 864,344 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 32,045
female: 30,610 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Transnational Issues ::Norway
Disputes - international:
Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land
and its continental shelf); Russia and Norway reached an agreement
on how to align Barents Sea and Arctic Ocean boundaries over EEZ and
continental shelf in an agreement signed on 15 September 2010; this
agreement is pending ratification by the respective national
assemblies
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Oman (Middle East)
Introduction ::Oman
Background:
The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered on Indian
Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, a newly established sultanate
in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship treaties with
Britain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British political and
military advisors increased, but it never became a British colony.
In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al-Said overthrew the restrictive rule of
his father; he has ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive
modernization program has opened the country to the outside world
while preserving the longstanding close ties with the UK. Oman's
moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good
relations with all Middle Eastern countries.
Geography ::Oman
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian
Gulf, between Yemen and UAE
Geographic coordinates:
21 00 N, 57 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 309,500 sq km
country comparison to the world: 70
land: 309,500 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries:
total: 1,374 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
Coastline:
2,092 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong
southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Terrain:
central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium,
gypsum, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 0.12%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 99.74% (2005)
Irrigated land:
720 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
1 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.36 cu km/yr (7%/2%/90%)
per capita: 529 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in
interior; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; limited
natural fresh water resources
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, 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:
strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of
Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
People ::Oman
Population:
2,967,717
country comparison to the world: 136
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 744,265/female 714,116)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 1,079,511/female 783,243)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 55,180/female 41,770) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.9 years
male: 25.4 years
female: 22.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.996% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Birth rate:
23.9 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Death rate:
3.47 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
Net migration rate:
-0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Urbanization:
urban population: 72% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.34 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 1.23 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 118
male: 16.28 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.97 years
country comparison to the world: 105
male: 72.15 years
female: 75.88 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.87 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,300 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Nationality:
noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani
Ethnic groups:
Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan,
Bangladeshi), African
Religions:
Ibadhi Muslim 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, Hindu)
25%
Languages:
Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 81.4%
male: 86.8%
female: 73.5% (2003 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
4% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 107
Government ::Oman
Country name:
conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form: Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
local short form: Uman
former: Muscat and Oman
Government type:
monarchy
Capital:
name: Muscat
geographic coordinates: 23 37 N, 58 35 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
5 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 4 governorates*
(muhafazat, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al
Buraymi*, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat (Muscat)*,
Musandam*, Zufar (Dhofar)*
Independence:
1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
National holiday:
Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)
Constitution:
none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree
promulgating a basic law considered by the government to be a
constitution which, among other things, clarifies the royal
succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from
holding interests in companies doing business with the government,
establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil
liberties for Omani citizens
Legal system:
based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the
monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and
security forces are not allowed to vote
Executive branch:
chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al-Said
(sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972);
note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said
Al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July
1972)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary
Legislative branch:
bicameral Majlis Oman consists of Majlis al-Dawla or upper chamber
(71 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has only advisory
powers and Majlis al-Shura or lower chamber (84 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; body has only
advisory powers)
elections: last held on 27 October 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: new candidates won 46 seats and 38 members of the
outgoing Majlis kept their positions; none of the 20 female
candidates was elected
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has
judges who practice secular and sharia law
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmad
al-MUGHAIRI
chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980
FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard J. SCHMIERER
embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat
mailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos,
Muscat
telephone: [968] 24-643-400
FAX: [968] 24-699771
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with
a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem
(a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords
in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical
band; white represents peace and prosperity, red recalls battles
against foreign invaders, and green symbolizes the Jebel Akhdar
(Green Mountains) and fertility
National anthem:
name: "Nashid as-Salaam as-Sultani" (The Sultan's Anthem)
lyrics/music: Rashid bin Uzayyiz al KHUSAIDI/James Frederick MILLS,
arranged by Bernard EBBINGHAUS
note: adopted 1932; new words were written after QABOOS bin Said al
Said gained power in 1970; the anthem was first performed by the
band of a British ship as a salute to the Sultan during a 1932 visit
to Muscat; the bandmaster of the HMS Hawkins was asked to write a
salutation to the Sultan on the occasion of his visiting the ship
Economy ::Oman
Economy - overview:
Oman is a middle-income economy that is heavily dependent on
dwindling oil resources. Because of declining reserves, Muscat has
actively pursued a development plan that focuses on diversification,
industrialization, and privatization, with the objective of reducing
the oil sector's contribution to GDP to 9% by 2020. Tourism and
gas-based industries are key components of the government's
diversification strategy. By using enhanced oil recovery techniques,
Oman succeeded in increasing oil production, giving the country more
time to diversify, and the increase in global oil prices thoughout
2010 provides the government greater financial resources to invest
in non-oil sectors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$76.53 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$73.87 billion (2009 est.)
$72.42 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$53.78 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
2% (2009 est.)
12.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$25,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$25,400 (2009 est.)
$25,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 48.2%
services: 50.3% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
968,800
country comparison to the world: 142
note: about 60% of the labor force is non-national (2007)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
15% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
26.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Public debt:
4.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
5.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
3.5% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
0.05% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 135
0.91% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.44% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
7.1% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$7.257 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 78
$6.15 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$22.35 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$20.52 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$22.05 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$19.34 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$17.3 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 63
$14.91 billion (31 December 2008)
$23.06 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish
Industries:
crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas
(LNG) production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals,
optic fiber
Industrial production growth rate:
4.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Electricity - production:
13.58 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Electricity - consumption:
11.36 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
816,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Oil - consumption:
84,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Oil - exports:
593,700 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Oil - imports:
17,290 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Oil - proved reserves:
5.5 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Natural gas - production:
24 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Natural gas - consumption:
13.46 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Natural gas - exports:
10.89 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Natural gas - imports:
350 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Natural gas - proved reserves:
849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Current account balance:
$2.724 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
-$2.143 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$36.12 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$27.65 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles
Exports - partners:
China 26.98%, South Korea 17.19%, Japan 12.12%, UAE 11.23%, Thailand
7.64% (2009)
Imports:
$19.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$16.13 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
livestock, lubricants
Imports - partners:
UAE 22.9%, Japan 13.99%, US 6.46%, China 5.64%, India 5.27%, France
5.19%, South Korea 4.65% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$14 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$12.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$8.829 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$7.061 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar - 0.3845 (2010), 0.3845 (2009),
0.3845 (2008), 0.3845 (2007), 0.3845 (2006)
Communications ::Oman
Telephones - main lines in use:
300,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 114
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.971 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 104
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire,
microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited
coaxial cable; domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations
domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership both
increasing with fixed-line phone service gradually being introduced
to remote villages using wireless local loop systems
international: country code - 968; the Fiber-Optic Link Around the
Globe (FLAG) and the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable provide
connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2008)
Broadcast media:
1 state-run TV broadcaster; TV stations transmitting from Saudi
Arabia, the UAE, and Yemen are accessible via satellite TV;
state-run radio operates multiple stations; first private radio
station began operation in 2007 and 2 additional stations now
operating (2007)
Internet country code:
.om
Internet hosts:
9,114 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 126
Internet users:
1.465 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 83
Transportation ::Oman
Airports:
130 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 45
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 119
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 51
914 to 1,523 m: 33
under 914 m: 26 (2010)
Heliports:
3 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 4,209 km; oil 3,558 km; refined products 263 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 68,467 km
country comparison to the world: 69
paved: 23,223 km (includes 1,384 km of expressways)
unpaved: 30,207 km (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 4
country comparison to the world: 134
by type: chemical tanker 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2
registered in other countries: 9 (Panama 8, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Mina' Qabus, Salalah, Suhar
Military ::Oman
Military branches:
Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman,
Royal Air Force of Oman (al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanat) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 964,200
females age 16-49: 714,421 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 816,579
females age 16-49: 622,927 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 31,827
female: 30,148 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
11.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Transnational Issues ::Oman
Disputes - international:
boundary agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in 2003
for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah
exclave, but details of the alignment have not been made public
page last updated on January 13, 2011
======================================================================
@Pacific Ocean (Oceans)
Introduction ::Pacific Ocean
Background:
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the world's five oceans
(followed by the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and
Arctic Ocean). Strategically important access waterways include the
La Perouse, Tsugaru, Tsushima, Taiwan, Singapore, and Torres
Straits. The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization
in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth ocean, the Southern Ocean,
removed the portion of the Pacific Ocean south of 60 degrees south.
Geography ::Pacific Ocean
Location:
body of water between the Southern Ocean, Asia, Australia, and the
Western Hemisphere
Geographic coordinates:
0 00 N, 160 00 W
Map references:
Political Map of the World
Area:
total: 155.557 million sq km
note: includes Bali Sea, Bering Sea, Bering Strait, Coral Sea, East
China Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Gulf of Tonkin, Philippine Sea, Sea of
Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea, Tasman Sea, and other
tributary water bodies
Area - comparative:
about 15 times the size of the US; covers about 28% of the global
surface; almost equal to the total land area of the world
Coastline:
135,663 km
Climate:
planetary air pressure systems and resultant wind patterns exhibit
remarkable uniformity in the south and east; trade winds and
westerly winds are well-developed patterns, modified by seasonal
fluctuations; tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of
Mexico from June to October and affect Mexico and Central America;
continental influences cause climatic uniformity to be much less
pronounced in the eastern and western regions at the same latitude
in the North Pacific Ocean; the western Pacific is monsoonal - a
rainy season occurs during the summer months, when moisture-laden
winds blow from the ocean over the land, and a dry season during the
winter months, when dry winds blow from the Asian landmass back to
the ocean; tropical cyclones (typhoons) may strike southeast and
east Asia from May to December
Terrain:
surface currents in the northern Pacific are dominated by a
clockwise, warm-water gyre (broad circular system of currents) and
in the southern Pacific by a counterclockwise, cool-water gyre; in
the northern Pacific, sea ice forms in the Bering Sea and Sea of
Okhotsk in winter; in the southern Pacific, sea ice from Antarctica
reaches its northernmost extent in October; the ocean floor in the
eastern Pacific is dominated by the East Pacific Rise, while the
western Pacific is dissected by deep trenches, including the Mariana
Trench, which is the world's deepest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench -10,924 m
highest point: sea level 0 m
Natural resources:
oil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand and gravel
aggregates, placer deposits, fish
Natural hazards:
surrounded by a zone of violent volcanic and earthquake activity
sometimes referred to as the "Pacific Ring of Fire"; subject to
tropical cyclones (typhoons) in southeast and east Asia from May to
December (most frequent from July to October); tropical cyclones
(hurricanes) may form south of Mexico and strike Central America and
Mexico from June to October (most common in August and September);
cyclical El Nino/La Nina phenomenon occurs in the equatorial
Pacific, influencing weather in the Western Hemisphere and the
western Pacific; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme
north from October to May; persistent fog in the northern Pacific
can be a maritime hazard from June to December
Environment - current issues:
endangered marine species include the dugong, sea lion, sea otter,
seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in Philippine Sea and
South China Sea
Geography - note:
the major chokepoints are the Bering Strait, Panama Canal, Luzon
Strait, and the Singapore Strait; the Equator divides the Pacific
Ocean into the North Pacific Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean;
dotted with low coral islands and rugged volcanic islands in the
southwestern Pacific Ocean
Economy ::Pacific Ocean
Economy - overview:
The Pacific Ocean is a major contributor to the world economy and
particularly to those nations its waters directly touch. It provides
low-cost sea transportation between East and West, extensive fishing
grounds, offshore oil and gas fields, minerals, and sand and gravel
for the construction industry. In 1996, over 60% of the world's fish
catch came from the Pacific Ocean. Exploitation of offshore oil and
gas reserves is playing an ever-increasing role in the energy
supplies of the US, Australia, NZ, China, and Peru. The high cost of
recovering offshore oil and gas, combined with the wide swings in
world prices for oil since 1985, has led to fluctuations in new
drillings.
Transportation ::Pacific Ocean
Ports and terminals:
Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong (China), Kao-hsiung (Taiwan), Los
Angeles (US), Manila (Philippines), Pusan (South Korea), San
Francisco (US), Seattle (US), Shanghai (China), Singapore, Sydney
(Australia), Vladivostok (Russia), Wellington (NZ), Yokohama (Japan)
Transportation - note:
the Inside Passage offers protected waters from southeast Alaska to
Puget Sound (Washington state); the International Maritime Bureau
reports the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore
waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed
robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been
attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked
vessels are often disguised and cargoes stolen; crew and passengers
are often held for ransom, murdered, or cast adrift
Transnational Issues ::Pacific Ocean
Disputes - international:
some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@Pakistan (South Asia)
Introduction ::Pakistan
Background:
The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world and
dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of what is
presently Pakistan. During the second millennium B.C., remnants of
this culture fused with the migrating Indo-Aryan peoples. The area
underwent successive invasions in subsequent centuries from the
Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Arabs (who brought Islam), Afghans, and
Turks. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries;
the British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The
separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of
Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India was
never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan fought two
wars - in 1947-48 and 1965 - over the disputed Kashmir territory. A
third war between these countries in 1971 - in which India
capitalized on Islamabad's marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistani
politics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of
Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan
conducted its own tests in 1998. India-Pakistan relations have been
rocky since the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, but both countries are
taking small steps to put relations back on track. In February 2008,
Pakistan held parliamentary elections and in September 2008, after
the resignation of former President MUSHARRAF, elected Asif Ali
ZARDARI to the presidency. Pakistani government and military leaders
are struggling to control domestic insurgents, many of whom are
located in the tribal areas adjacent to the border with Afghanistan.
Geography ::Pakistan
Location:
Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east
and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north
Geographic coordinates:
30 00 N, 70 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 796,095 sq km
country comparison to the world: 36
land: 770,875 sq km
water: 25,220 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 6,774 km
border countries: Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912
km, Iran 909 km
Coastline:
1,046 km
Maritime claims:
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 hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north
Terrain:
flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest;
Balochistan plateau in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m
Natural resources:
land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor
quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 24.44%
permanent crops: 0.84%
other: 74.72% (2005)
Irrigated land:
182,300 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
233.8 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 169.39 cu km/yr (2%/2%/96%)
per capita: 1,072 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and
west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August)
Environment - current issues:
water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural
runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; most of the
population does not have access to potable water; deforestation;
soil erosion; desertification
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, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes
between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent
People ::Pakistan
Population:
184,404,791 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.7% (male 33,037,943/female 31,092,572)
15-64 years: 59.1% (male 53,658,173/female 49,500,786)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 3,495,350/female 3,793,734) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.2 years
male: 21.2 years
female: 21.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.589% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Birth rate:
25.3 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Death rate:
7.06 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Net migration rate:
-2.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Urbanization:
urban population: 36% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 65.32 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 26
male: 68.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 61.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.63 years
country comparison to the world: 165
male: 63.84 years
female: 67.5 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.28 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
96,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
5,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
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
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Pakistani(s)
adjective: Pakistani
Ethnic groups:
Punjabi 44.68%, Pashtun (Pathan) 15.42%, Sindhi 14.1%, Sariaki
8.38%, Muhajirs 7.57%, Balochi 3.57%, other 6.28%
Religions:
Muslim 95% (Sunni 75%, Shia 20%), other (includes Christian and
Hindu) 5%
Languages:
Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%,
Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English
(official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government
ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 49.9%
male: 63%
female: 36% (2005 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 7 years
male: 8 years
female: 6 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
2.9% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 153
Government ::Pakistan
Country name:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
conventional short form: Pakistan
local long form: Jamhuryat Islami Pakistan
local short form: Pakistan
former: West Pakistan
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
name: Islamabad
geographic coordinates: 33 42 N, 73 10 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan,
Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**,
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly North-West Frontier Province), Punjab,
Sindh
note: the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and
Kashmir region consists of two administrative entities: Azad Kashmir
and Gilgit-Baltistan
Independence:
14 August 1947 (from British India)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 23 March (1956)
Constitution:
12 April 1973; suspended 5 July 1977, restored 30 December 1985;
suspended 15 October 1999, restored in stages in 2002; amended 31
December 2003; suspended 3 November 2007; restored on 15 December
2007; amended 19 April 2010
Legal system:
based on English common law with provisions to accommodate
Pakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; joint electorates and reserved
parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Asif Ali ZARDARI (since 9 September 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza GILANI (since 25
March 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the advice of the
prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the president elected by secret ballot through an
Electoral College comprising the members of the Senate, National
Assembly, and the provincial assemblies for a five-year term;
election last held on 6 September 2008 (next to be held not later
than 2013); note - any person who is a Muslim and not less than 45
years of age and is qualified to be elected as a member of the
National Assembly can contest the presidential election; the prime
minister selected by the National Assembly; election last held on 24
March 2008
election results: Asif Ali ZARDARI elected president; ZARDARI 481
votes, SIDDIQUE 153 votes, SYED 44 votes; Syed Yousuf Raza GILANI
elected prime minister; GILANI 264 votes, Pervaiz ELAHI 42 votes;
several abstentions
Legislative branch:
bicameral parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (100
seats; members indirectly elected by provincial assemblies and the
territories' representatives in the National Assembly to serve
six-year terms; one half are elected every three years) and the
National Assembly (342 seats; 272 members elected by popular vote;
60 seats reserved for women; 10 seats reserved for non-Muslims;
members serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 3 March 2009 (next to be held in
March 2012); National Assembly - last held on 18 February 2008 with
by-elections on 26 June 2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PPPP 27, PML-Q 21, MMA 9, PML-N 7, ANP 6, MQM 6, JUI-F 4,
BNP-A 2, JWP 1, NPP 1, PKMAP 1, PML-F 1, PPP 1, independents 13;
National Assembly - percent of votes by party - NA; seats by party
as of October 2010 - PPPP 127, PML-N 90, PML 51, MQM 25, ANP 13,
JUI-F 8, PML-F 5, BNP-A 1, NPP 1, PPP-S 1, independents 18, unfilled
seats - 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president); Federal Islamic
or Sharia Court
Political parties and leaders:
Awami National Party or ANP [Asfandyar Wali KHAN]; Balochistan
National Party-Awami or BNP-A [Moheem Khan BALOCH]; Balochistan
National Party-Hayee Group or BNP-H [Dr. Hayee BALOCH]; Balochistan
National Party-Mengal or BNP-M [Sardar Ataullah MENGAL]; Jamaat-i
Islami or JI [Syed Munawar HASAN]; Jamhoori Watan Party or JWP;
Jamiat Ahle Hadith or JAH [Sajid MIR]; Jamiat Ulema-i Islam Fazl-ur
Rehman or JUI-F [Fazl-ur REHMAN]; Jamiat Ulema-i Islam Sami-ul HAQ
or JUI-S [Sami ul-HAQ]; Jamiat Ulema-i Pakistan or JUP [Shah Faridul
HAQ]; Muttahida Majlis-e Amal or MMA [Qazi Hussain AHMED]; Muttahida
Qaumi Movement or MQM [Altaf HUSSAIN]; National Alliance or NA
[Ghulam Mustapha JATOI] (merged with PML); National Peoples Party or
NPP; Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party or PKMAP [Mahmood Khan
ACHAKZAI]; Pakistan Awami Tehrik or PAT [Tahir ul QADRI]; Pakistan
Muslim League or PML [Chaudhry Shujaat HUSSAIN]; Pakistan Muslim
League-Functional or PML-F [Pir PAGARO]; Pakistan Muslim
League-Nawaz or PML-N [Nawaz SHARIF]; Pakistan Peoples Party
Parliamentarians or PPPP [Bilawal Bhutto ZARDARI, chairman; Asif Ali
ZARDARI, co-chairman]; Pakistan Peoples Party-SHERPAO or PPP-S
[Aftab Ahmed Khan SHERPAO]; Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaaf or PTI [Imran
KHAN]; Tehrik-i Islami [Allama Sajid NAQVI]
note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: military (most important political force); ulema (clergy);
landowners; industrialists; small merchants
International organization participation:
ADB, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), C, CICA, CP, D-8, ECO, FAO,
G-11, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW,
PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Husain HAQQANI
chancery: 3517 International Court, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 243-6500
FAX: [1] (202) 686-1544
consulate(s) general: Boston (Honorary Consulate General), Chicago,
Houston, Los Angeles, New York
consulate(s): Chicago, Houston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cameron MUNTER
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200
telephone: [92] (51) 208-0000
FAX: [92] (51) 2276427
consulate(s) general: Karachi
consulate(s): Lahore, Peshawar
Flag description:
green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of religious
minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star are
centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color green are
traditional symbols of Islam
National anthem:
name: "Qaumi Tarana" (National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Abu-Al-Asar Hafeez JULLANDHURI/Ahmed Ghulamali CHAGLA
note: adopted 1954; the anthem is also known as "Pak sarzamin shad
bad" (Blessed Be the Sacred Land)
Economy ::Pakistan
Economy - overview:
Pakistan, an impoverished and underdeveloped country, has suffered
from decades of internal political disputes and low levels of
foreign investment. Between 2001-07, however, poverty levels
decreased by 10%, as Islamabad steadily raised development spending.
Between 2004-07, GDP growth in the 5-8% range was spurred by gains
in the industrial and service sectors - despite severe electricity
shortfalls - but growth slowed in 2008-09 and unemployment rose.
Inflation remains the top concern among the public, climbing from
7.7% in 2007 to more than 13% in 2010. In addition, the Pakistani
rupee has depreciated since 2007 as a result of political and
economic instability. The government agreed to an International
Monetary Fund Standby Arrangement in November 2008 in response to a
balance of payments crisis, but during 2009-10 its current account
strengthened and foreign exchange reserves stabilized - largely
because of lower oil prices and record remittances from workers
abroad. Record floods in July-August 2010 lowered agricultural
output and contributed to a jump in inflation, and reconstruction
costs will strain the limited resources of the government. Textiles
account for most of Pakistan's export earnings, but Pakistan's
failure to expand a viable export base for other manufactures has
left the country vulnerable to shifts in world demand. Other long
term challenges include expanding investment in education,
healthcare, and electricity production, and reducing dependence on
foreign donors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$451.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$439.4 billion (2009 est.)
$421.2 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$174.8 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
4.3% (2009 est.)
3.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
$2,400 (2009 est.)
$2,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 21.8%
industry: 23.6%
services: 54.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
55.77 million
country comparison to the world: 10
note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use
of child labor (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 43%
industry: 20.3%
services: 36.6% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
14% (2009 est.)
note: substantial underemployment exists
Population below poverty line:
24% (FY05/06 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 26.5% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30.6 (FY07/08)
country comparison to the world: 109
41 (FY98/99)
Investment (gross fixed):
15% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Public debt:
49.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
49.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
13.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
13.6% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
12.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 20
15% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA%
Stock of narrow money:
$59.75 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 43
$47.23 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$85.22 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
$65.13 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$71.45 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$63.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$33.24 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 58
$23.49 billion (31 December 2008)
$70.26 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk, beef,
mutton, eggs
Industries:
textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, construction
materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp
Industrial production growth rate:
4.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Electricity - production:
90.8 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Electricity - consumption:
72.2 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
59,140 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Oil - consumption:
373,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Oil - exports:
30,090 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Oil - imports:
319,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Oil - proved reserves:
436.2 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Natural gas - production:
37.5 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Natural gas - consumption:
37.5 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Natural gas - proved reserves:
840.2 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Current account balance:
-$2.641 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
-$3.583 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$20.29 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$18.33 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
textiles (garments, bed linen, cotton cloth, yarn), rice, leather
goods, sports goods, chemicals, manufactures, carpets and rugs
Exports - partners:
US 15.87%, UAE 12.35%, Afghanistan 8.48%, UK 4.7%, China 4.44% (2009)
Imports:
$32.71 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$28.53 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, plastics, transportation
equipment, edible oils, paper and paperboard, iron and steel, tea
Imports - partners:
China 15.35%, Saudi Arabia 10.54%, UAE 9.8%, US 4.81%, Kuwait 4.73%,
Malaysia 4.43%, India 4.02% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$16.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$13.77 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$57.21 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$53.62 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$30.09 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$28.09 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.047 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$1.017 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Pakistani rupees (PKR) per US dollar - 85.27 (2010), 81.7129 (2009),
70.64 (2008), 60.6295 (2007), 60.35 (2006)
Communications ::Pakistan
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.058 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 38
Telephones - mobile cellular:
103 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 9
Telephone system:
general assessment: the telecommunications infrastructure is
improving dramatically with foreign and domestic investments in
fixed-line and mobile-cellular networks; system consists of
microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, cellular,
and satellite networks;
domestic: mobile-cellular subscribership has skyrocketed, exceeding
100 million in 2009, up from only about 300,000 in 2000;
approximately 90 percent of Pakistanis live within areas that have
cell phone coverage and more than half of all Pakistanis have access
to a cell phone; fiber systems are being constructed throughout the
country to aid in network growth; fixed line availability has risen
only marginally over the same period and there are still
difficulties getting fixed-line service to rural areas
international: country code - 92; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable systems that provide links to Asia,
the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat
(1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational international
gateway exchanges (1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad); microwave radio
relay to neighboring countries (2009)
Broadcast media:
media is government regulated; 1 dominant state-owned TV
broadcaster, Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV), operates a
network consisting of 6 channels; private TV broadcasters are
permitted and some foreign satellite channels are carried by cable
TV operators; the state-owned radio network operates more than 40
stations; privately-owned radio stations mostly limit programming to
music and talk shows (2007)
Internet country code:
.pk
Internet hosts:
330,466 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 57
Internet users:
20.431 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 20
Transportation ::Pakistan
Airports:
148 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 38
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 101
over 3,047 m: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 39
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 9 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 47
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 25 (2010)
Heliports:
20 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 10,402 km; oil 2,011 km; refined products 787 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 7,791 km
country comparison to the world: 28
broad gauge: 7,479 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 312 km 1.000-m gauge (2007)
Roadways:
total: 259,197 km
country comparison to the world: 20
paved: 172,827 km (includes 711 km of expressways)
unpaved: 86,370 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 10
country comparison to the world: 114
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 4, petroleum tanker 5
registered in other countries: 14 (Comoros 3, Georgia 1, Marshall
Islands 1, Panama 5, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Karachi, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim
Military ::Pakistan
Military branches:
Army (includes National Guard), Navy (includes Marines and Maritime
Security Agency), Pakistan Air Force (Pakistan Fiza'ya) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
17-23 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot
be deployed for combat until age 18; the Pakistani Air Force and
Pakistani Navy have inducted their first female pilots and sailors
(2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 45,829,360
females age 16-49: 41,716,682 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 35,774,936
females age 16-49: 34,572,451 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,144,574
female: 2,000,479 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3% of GDP (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Transnational Issues ::Pakistan
Disputes - international:
various talks and confidence-building measures cautiously have begun
to defuse tensions over Kashmir, particularly since the October 2005
earthquake in the region; Kashmir nevertheless remains the 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); UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP)
has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does
not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in
1964; India and Pakistan have maintained their 2004 cease fire in
Kashmir and initiated discussions on defusing the armed stand-off in
the Siachen glacier region; Pakistan protests India's fencing the
highly militarized Line of Control and construction of the Baglihar
Dam on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, which is part of the
larger dispute on water sharing of the Indus River and its
tributaries; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a
maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek technical resolution of
the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann
of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show the
Junagadh claim in India's Gujarat State; by 2005, Pakistan, with UN
assistance, repatriated 2.3 million Afghan refugees leaving slightly
more than a million, many of whom remain at their own choosing;
Pakistan has proposed and Afghanistan protests construction of a
fence and laying of mines along portions of their porous border;
Pakistan has sent troops into remote tribal areas to monitor and
control the border with Afghanistan and to stem terrorist or other
illegal activities
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 1,043,984 (Afghanistan)
IDPs: undetermined (government strikes on Islamic militants in South
Waziristan); 34,000 (October 2005 earthquake; most of those
displaced returned to their home villages in the spring of 2006)
(2007)
Illicit drugs:
significant transit area for Afghan drugs, including heroin, opium,
morphine, and hashish, bound for Iran, Western markets, the Gulf
States, Africa, and Asia; financial crimes related to drug
trafficking, terrorism, corruption, and smuggling remain problems;
opium poppy cultivation estimated to be 2,300 hectares in 2007 with
600 of those hectares eradicated; federal and provincial authorities
continue to conduct anti-poppy campaigns that utilizes forced
eradication, fines, and arrests
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Palau (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Palau
Background:
After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific
under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline
Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the
Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with
the US was approved in 1986 but not ratified until 1993. It entered
into force the following year when the islands gained independence.
Geography ::Palau
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of
the Philippines
Geographic coordinates:
7 30 N, 134 30 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 459 sq km
country comparison to the world: 196
land: 459 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,519 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November
Terrain:
varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of
Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier
reefs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m
Natural resources:
forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed
minerals
Land use:
arable land: 8.7%
permanent crops: 4.35%
other: 86.95% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
typhoons (June to December)
Environment - current issues:
inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the
marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing
practices, and overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six
island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes World War II
battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands
People ::Palau
Population:
20,879 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.9% (male 2,458/female 2,314)
15-64 years: 70.8% (male 8,207/female 6,521)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 401/female 895) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.4 years
male: 32.2 years
female: 33 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.374% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Birth rate:
10.68 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Death rate:
7.81 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Net migration rate:
0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Urbanization:
urban population: 81% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.065 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.25 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.43 male(s)/female
total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.78 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 134
male: 14.43 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.51 years
country comparison to the world: 129
male: 68.36 years
female: 74.84 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.73 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Palauan(s)
adjective: Palauan
Ethnic groups:
Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 69.9%,
Filipino 15.3%, Chinese 4.9%, other Asian 2.4%, white 1.9%,
Carolinian 1.4%, other Micronesian 1.1%, other or unspecified 3.2%
(2000 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 41.6%, Protestant 23.3%, Modekngei 8.8% (indigenous
to Palau), Seventh-Day Adventist 5.3%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%,
Latter-Day Saints 0.6%, other 3.1%, unspecified or none 16.4% (2000
census)
Languages:
Palauan 64.7% official in all islands except Sonsoral (Sonsoralese
and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and
Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official), Filipino 13.5%,
English 9.4%, Chinese 5.7%, Carolinian 1.5%, Japanese 1.5%, other
Asian 2.3%, other languages 1.5% (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92%
male: 93%
female: 90% (1980 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2001)
Education expenditures:
10.3% of GDP (2002)
country comparison to the world: 5
Government ::Palau
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Palau
conventional short form: Palau
local long form: Beluu er a Belau
local short form: Belau
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Palau District
Government type:
constitutional government in free association with the US; the
Compact of Free Association entered into force on 1 October 1994
Capital:
name: Melekeok
geographic coordinates: 7 29 N, 134 38 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror,
Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar,
Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol
Independence:
1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)
Constitution:
1 January 1981
Legal system:
based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal,
common, and customary laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Johnson TORIBIONG (since 15 January 2009);
Vice President Kerai MARIUR (since 15 January 2009); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Johnson TORIBIONG (since 15 January
2009); Vice President Kerai MARIUR (since 15 January 2009)
cabinet: NA
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets
by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term);
election last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November
2012)
election results: Johnson TORIBIONG (51%) defeats Elias Camsek CHIN
(49%) for president; Kerai MARIUR elected vice president
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) consists of
the Senate (9 seats; members elected by popular vote on a population
basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in
November 2012); House of Delegates - last held on 4 November 2008
(next to be held in November 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote - NA; seats -
independents 9; House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA; seats -
independents 16
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Common Pleas; Land Court
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF,
IOC, IPU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA
chancery: 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC
20006
telephone: [1] (202) 452-6814
FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281
consulate(s): Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires James PANOS
embassy: Koror (no street address)
mailing address: P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940
telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990
FAX: [680] 488-2911
Flag description:
light blue with a large yellow disk shifted slightly to the hoist
side; the blue color represents the ocean, the disk represents the
moon; Palauans consider the full moon to be the optimum time for
human activity; it is also considered a symbol of peace, love, and
tranquility
National anthem:
name: "Belau rekid" (Our Palau)
lyrics/music: multiple/Ymesei O. EZEKIEL
note: adopted 1980
Economy ::Palau
Economy - overview:
The economy consists primarily of tourism, subsistence agriculture,
and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force
relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. The Compact of
Free Association with the US, entered into after the end of the UN
trusteeship on 1 October 1994, provided Palau with up to $700
million in US aid for the following 15 years in return for
furnishing military facilities. Business and tourist arrivals
numbered 85,000 in 2007. The population enjoys a per capita income
roughly 50% higher than that of the Philippines and much of
Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the key tourist sector have been
greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the
rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries, and the
willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$164 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
$124.5 million (2004 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP estimate includes US subsidy
GDP (official exchange rate):
$164 million (2008)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA% (2009)
5.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,100 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
$7,600 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.2%
industry: 12%
services: 81.8% (2003)
Labor force:
9,777 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 215
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 20%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
4.2% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
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.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; fish
Industries:
tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction,
garment making
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Current account balance:
$15.09 million (FY03/04)
country comparison to the world: 59
Exports:
$5.882 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Exports - commodities:
shellfish, tuna, copra, garments
Imports:
$107.3 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs
Debt - external:
$0 (FY99/00)
country comparison to the world: 197
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications ::Palau
Telephones - main lines in use:
7,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 207
Telephones - mobile cellular:
13,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 210
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services available with a
combined subscribership of roughly 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 680; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:
no television broadcast stations; a cable television network covers
the major islands and provides access to rebroadcasts, on a delayed
basis, of a number of US stations as well as access to a number of
real-time satellite TV channels; about a half dozen radio stations
with 1 government-owned (2009)
Internet country code:
.pw
Internet hosts:
3 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 229
Transportation ::Palau
Airports:
3 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 191
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Koror
Military ::Palau
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Palau National Police (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,955 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,223
females age 16-49: 3,949 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 212
female: 218 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US; under a Compact of Free
Association between Palau and the US, the US military is granted
access to the islands for 50 years, but it has not stationed any
military forces there (2008)
Transnational Issues ::Palau
Disputes - international:
maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines,
Indonesia
page last updated on December 15, 2010
======================================================================
@Panama (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Panama
Background:
Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama
broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Ecuador,
and Venezuela - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the latter
dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. With US
backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a
treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US
sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure
(the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army
Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. In 1977, an agreement was
signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama
by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and
increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the
subsequent decades. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was
deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the
Canal, and remaining US military bases were transferred to Panama by
the end of 1999. In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious
plan (estimated to cost $5.3 billion) to expand the Canal. The
project, which began in 2007 and could double the Canal's capacity,
is expected to be completed in 2014-15.
Geography ::Panama
Location:
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North
Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Geographic coordinates:
9 00 N, 80 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 75,420 sq km
country comparison to the world: 117
land: 74,340 sq km
water: 1,080 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 555 km
border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km
Coastline:
2,490 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or edge of continental margin
Climate:
tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May
to January), short dry season (January to May)
Terrain:
interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland
plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan Baru 3,475 m
Natural resources:
copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 7.26%
permanent crops: 1.95%
other: 90.79% (2005)
Irrigated land:
430 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
148 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.82 cu km/yr (67%/5%/28%)
per capita: 254 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area
Environment - current issues:
water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery
resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation
and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution
in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources
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, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge
connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links
North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean
People ::Panama
Population:
3,410,676 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.3% (male 501,950/female 481,750)
15-64 years: 63.9% (male 1,085,435/female 1,061,530)
65 years and over: 6.8% (male 106,934/female 122,875) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.2 years
male: 26.9 years
female: 27.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.463% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Birth rate:
19.71 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Death rate:
4.62 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Net migration rate:
-0.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Urbanization:
urban population: 73% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.045 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.97 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 139
male: 12.75 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.61 years
country comparison to the world: 54
male: 74.85 years
female: 80.5 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.48 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
20,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Panamanian(s)
adjective: Panamanian
Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West
Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Languages:
Spanish (official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians bilingual
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 92.5%
female: 91.2% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 115
Government ::Panama
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Panama
conventional short form: Panama
local long form: Republica de Panama
local short form: Panama
Government type:
constitutional democracy
Capital:
name: Panama City
geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
Administrative divisions:
11 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory*
(comarca); Bocas del Toro, Comarca Kuna Yala, Comarca Ngobe-Bugle,
Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San
Blas* (Kuna Yala), and Veraguas
Independence:
3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28
November 1821)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
Constitution:
11 October 1972; revised in 1978, 1983, 1994, and 2004
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in
the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal (since 1 July
2009); Vice President Juan Carlos VARELA (since 1 July 2009); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal (since 1
July 2009); Vice President Juan Carlos VARELA (since 1 July 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms (not eligible for immediate
reelection; president and vice president must sit out two additional
terms (10 years) before becoming eligible for reelection); election
last held on 3 May 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal elected president;
percent of vote - Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal 60%, Balbina HERRERA
38%, Guillermo ENDARA Galimany 2%
note: government coalition - CD (Democratic Change), Panamenista,
MOLIRENA (Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement), and UP
(Patriotic Union Party)
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (71 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 3 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PRD 26, Panamenista 22, CD 14, UP 4, Independent 2, MOLIRENA 2, PP 1
note: legislators from outlying rural districts chosen on a
plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and
cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based
formula
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges
appointed for 10-year terms); five superior courts; three courts of
appeal
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Change or CD [Ricardo MARTINELLI]; Democratic
Revolutionary Party or PRD [Francisco SANCHEZ Cardenas]; Nationalist
Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Sergio GONZALEZ-Ruiz];
Panamenista Party [Juan Carlos VARELA Rodriguez] (formerly the
Arnulfista Party); Patriotic Union Party or UP (combination of the
Liberal National Party or PLN and the Solidarity Party or PS)[Anibal
GALINDO]; Popular Party or PP [Milton HENRIQUEZ] (formerly Christian
Democratic Party or PDC)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Chamber of Commerce; National Civic Crusade; National Council of
Organized Workers or CONATO; National Council of Private Enterprise
or CONEP; National Union of Construction and Similar Workers
(SUNTRACS); Panamanian Association of Business Executives or APEDE;
Panamanian Industrialists Society or SIP; Workers Confederation of
the Republic of Panama or CTRP
International organization participation:
BCIE, CAN (observer), CSN (observer), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA
(observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, SICA, UN, UNASUR
(observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime Eduardo ALEMAN Healy
chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407
FAX: [1] (202) 483-8416
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New
York, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, Tampa
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Phyllis M. POWERS
embassy: Edificio 783, Avenida Demetrio Basilio Lakas Panama,
Apartado Postal 0816-02561, Zona 5, Panama City
mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002
telephone: [507] 207-7000
FAX: [507] 317-5568
Flag description:
divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white
(hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain
red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with
a red five-pointed star in the center; the blue and red colors are
those of the main political parties (Conservatives and Liberals
respectively) and the white denotes peace between them; the blue
star stands for the civic virtues of purity and honesty, the red
star signifies authority and law
National anthem:
name: "Himno Istemno" (Isthmus Hymn)
lyrics/music: Jeronimo DE LA OSSA/Santos A. JORGE
note: adopted 1925
Economy ::Panama
Economy - overview:
Panama's dollarized economy rests primarily on a well-developed
services sector that accounts for three-quarters of GDP. Services
include operating the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone,
insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. Economic
growth will be bolstered by the Panama Canal expansion project that
began in 2007 and is scheduled to be completed by 2014 at a cost of
$5.3 billion - about 25% of current GDP. The expansion project will
more than double the Canal's capacity, enabling it to accommodate
ships that are now too large to transverse the transoceanic
crossway, and should help to reduce the unemployment rate. The
United States and China are the top users of the Canal. Panama also
plans to construct a metro system in Panama City, valued at $1.2
billion and scheduled to be completed by 2014. Panama's aggressive
infrastructure development projects will likely lead the economy to
continued growth in 2011. Strong economic performance has not
translated into broadly shared prosperity as Panama has the second
worst income distribution in Latin America. About 30% of the
population lives in poverty, however, during TORRIJOS's term poverty
was reduced from 40% to 30% and unemployment dropped from 12% to 6%.
Not a CAFTA signatory, Panama in December 2006 independently
negotiated a free trade agreement with the US, which, when
implemented, will help promote the country's economic growth.
Seeking removal from the Organization of Economic Development's
gray-list of tax havens, Panama has also recently signed various
double taxation treaties with other nations.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$43.48 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
$41.37 billion (2009 est.)
$40.4 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$27.2 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
2.4% (2009 est.)
10.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$12,300 (2009 est.)
$12,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.8%
industry: 16.6%
services: 77.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.49 million
country comparison to the world: 130
note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled
labor (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 18%
services: 76% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
6.7% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
28.6% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 41.4% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
56.1 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 12
48.5 (1997)
Investment (gross fixed):
26.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Public debt:
40.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
44.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
2.4% (2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
8.16% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$5.04 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 88
$4.404 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$24.17 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$21.78 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$23.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$20.17 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$8.048 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 75
$6.568 billion (31 December 2008)
$6.219 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; shrimp
Industries:
construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials,
sugar milling
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Electricity - production:
6.322 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Electricity - consumption:
5.17 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Electricity - exports:
124.9 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
8.74 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
2 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Oil - consumption:
93,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Oil - exports:
4,803 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Oil - imports:
87,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Current account balance:
-$813 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
-$2.33 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$12.52 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
$10.9 billion (2009 est.)
note: includes the Colon Free Zone
Exports - commodities:
bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing
Exports - partners:
Greece 21.03%, US 17.63%, Japan 9.87%, Germany 4.28%, Italy 4.27%
(2009)
Imports:
$16.05 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$12.93 billion (2009 est.)
note: includes the Colon Free Zone
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Japan 36.21%, Singapore 16.86%, US 12.3%, China 7.84% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.525 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
$3.028 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$13.85 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$13.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
balboas (PAB) per US dollar - 1 (2010), 1 (2009), 1 (2008), 1
(2007), 1 (2006)
Communications ::Panama
Telephones - main lines in use:
537,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 95
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.677 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 88
Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic and international facilities well
developed
domestic: mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has increased
rapidly
international: country code - 507; landing point for the Americas
Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), the MAYA-1, and PAN-AM
submarine cable systems that together provide links to the US and
parts of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to
the Central American Microwave System (2008)
Broadcast media:
multiple privately-owned television networks and a government-owned
educational TV station; multi-channel cable and satellite TV
subscription services are available; more than 100 commercial radio
stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.pa
Internet hosts:
9,585 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 123
Internet users:
959,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 104
Transportation ::Panama
Airports:
118 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 52
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 54
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 30 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 64
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 52 (2010)
Heliports:
3 (2010)
Railways:
total: 76 km
country comparison to the world: 127
standard gauge: 76 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 11,978 km
country comparison to the world: 130
paved: 4,300 km
unpaved: 7,678 km (2002)
Waterways:
800 km (includes the 82-km Panama Canal that is being widened) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 72
Merchant marine:
total: 6,379
country comparison to the world: 1
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 2,383, cargo 1,129, carrier
18, chemical tanker 626, combination ore/oil 3, container 751,
liquefied gas 192, passenger 42, passenger/cargo 61, petroleum
tanker 576, refrigerated cargo 212, roll on/roll off 100,
specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 282
foreign-owned: 5,244 (Albania 3, Argentina 7, Australia 5,
Azerbaijan 1, Bahamas 7, Bangladesh 3, Belgium 2, Bermuda 15, Brazil
3, Bulgaria 6, Burma 3, Canada 5, Chile 17, China 574, Colombia 2,
Croatia 2, Cuba 4, Cyprus 8, Denmark 46, Ecuador 6, Egypt 11,
Finland 2, France 13, Gabon 1, Germany 27, Gibraltar 1, Greece 402,
Hong Kong 125, India 17, Indonesia 14, Iran 5, Ireland 1, Isle of
Man 11, Israel 1, Italy 23, Japan 2347, Jordan 13, Kuwait 12, Latvia
4, Lebanon 2, Lithuania 4, Luxembourg 1, Malaysia 12, Maldives 3,
Malta 2, Mexico 6, Monaco 14, Morocco 1, Netherlands 8, Nigeria 7,
Norway 89, Oman 8, Pakistan 5, Peru 12, Philippines 6, Poland 3,
Portugal 9, Qatar 1, Romania 2, Russia 39, Saudi Arabia 8, Singapore
79, South Korea 366, Spain 40, Sweden 1, Switzerland 22, Syria 42,
Taiwan 337, Tanzania 2, Thailand 6, Tunisia 1, Turkey 79, UAE 83, UK
33, Ukraine 11, US 102, Venezuela 8, Vietnam 37, Yemen 4)
registered in other countries: 1 (Honduras 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Balboa, Colon, Cristobal
Military ::Panama
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Panamanian public forces include:
Panamanian National Police (PNP), National Air-Naval Service
(SENAN), National Border Service (SENAFRONT) (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 878,281 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 719,761
females age 16-49: 719,444 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 31,398
female: 30,182 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 132
Military - note:
on 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARA
abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by
creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's
Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting
the creation of a standing military force but allowing the temporary
establishment of special police units to counter acts of "external
aggression"
Transnational Issues ::Panama
Disputes - international:
organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within
the remote border region with Panama
Illicit drugs:
major cocaine transshipment point and primary money-laundering
center for narcotics revenue; money-laundering activity is
especially heavy in the Colon Free Zone; offshore financial center;
negligible signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial
transactions is improving; official corruption remains a major
problem
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Papua New Guinea (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Papua New Guinea
Background:
The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest in the
world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south) in
1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, which
occupied the northern portion during World War I and continued to
administer the combined areas until independence in 1975. A
nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in
1997 after claiming some 20,000 lives.
Geography ::Papua New Guinea
Location:
Oceania, group of islands including the eastern half of the island
of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean,
east of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:
6 00 S, 147 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 462,840 sq km
country comparison to the world: 54
land: 452,860 sq km
water: 9,980 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 820 km
border countries: Indonesia 820 km
Coastline:
5,152 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon
(May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
Natural resources:
gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries
Land use:
arable land: 0.49%
permanent crops: 1.4%
other: 98.11% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
801 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.1 cu km/yr (56%/43%/1%)
per capita: 17 cu m/yr (1987)
Natural hazards:
active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the
country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud
slides; tsunamis
volcanism: Papua New Guinea experiences severe volcanic activity;
Ulawun (elev. 2,334 m, 7,657 ft), one of Papua New Guinea's
potentially most dangerous volcanoes, has been deemed a "Decade
Volcano" by the International Association of Volcanology and
Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its
explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Rabaul
(elev. 688 m, 2,257 ft) destroyed the city of Rabaul in 1937 and
1994; Lamington erupted in 1951 killing 3,000 people; Manam's 2004
eruption forced the island's abandonment; other historically active
volcanoes include Bam, Bagana, Garbuna, Karkar, Langila, Lolobau,
Long Island, Pago, St. Andrew Strait, Victory, and Waiowa
Environment - current issues:
rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing
commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining
projects; severe drought
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest
swamps along southwest coast
People ::Papua New Guinea
Population:
6,064,515 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.3% (male 1,126,214/female 1,088,211)
15-64 years: 59.3% (male 1,815,731/female 1,704,430)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 113,285/female 92,904) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.6 years
male: 21.9 years
female: 21.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.033% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Birth rate:
26.95 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Death rate:
6.62 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 112
Urbanization:
urban population: 12% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 1.2 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 44.59 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 58
male: 48.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 40.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.99 years
country comparison to the world: 162
male: 63.78 years
female: 68.31 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.54 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
54,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective: Papua New Guinean
Ethnic groups:
Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Religions:
Roman Catholic 27%, Evangelical Lutheran 19.5%, United Church 11.5%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, Pentecostal 8.6%, Evangelical Alliance
5.2%, Anglican 3.2%, Baptist 2.5%, other Protestant 8.9%, Bahai
0.3%, indigenous beliefs and other 3.3% (2000 census)
Languages:
Tok Pisin, English, and Hiri Motu are official languages; some 860
indigenous languages spoken (over one-tenth of the world's total)
note: Tok Pisin, a creole language, is widely used and understood;
English is spoken by 1%-2%; Hiri Motu is spoken by less than 2%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.3%
male: 63.4%
female: 50.9% (2000 census)
Education expenditures:
NA
People - note:
the indigenous population of Papua New Guinea is one of the most
heterogeneous in the world; PNG has several thousand separate
communities, most with only a few hundred people; divided by
language, customs, and tradition, some of these communities have
engaged in low-scale tribal conflict with their neighbors for
millennia; the advent of modern weapons and modern migrants into
urban areas has greatly magnified the impact of this lawlessness
Government ::Papua New Guinea
Country name:
conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
local short form: Papuaniugini
former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG
Government type:
constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Port Moresby
geographic coordinates: 9 30 S, 147 10 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
18 provinces, 1 autonomous region*, and 1 district**; Bougainville*,
Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik,
Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital**,
New Ireland, Northern, Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western
Highlands, West New Britain
Independence:
16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Constitution:
16 September 1975
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by acting governor general Michael OGIO (since 20
December 2010)
note: governor general Sir Paulias MATANE (since 29 June 2004) was
replaced on 10 December 2010 when his reappointment to the office in
May 2010 was declared null and void
head of government: Acting Prime Minister Sam ABAL (since 14
December 2010)
note: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2 August 2002)
stepped aside on 14 December 2010 because he was to be referred to a
tribunal for not submitting three annual fiscal returns; Deputy
Prime Minister Don POYLE (since 20 June 2010) was replaced on 9
December 2010 by Sam ABAL
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor
general on the recommendation of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general
nominated by parliament and appointed by the chief of state;
following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or
leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by
the governor general acting in accordance with a decision of the
parliament
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament (109 seats, 89 filled from open
electorates and 20 from provinces and national capital district;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms);
constitution allows up to 126 seats
elections: last held from 30 June to 10 July 2007; next to be held
in June 2012
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA
27, PNGP 8, PAP 6, URP 6, PANGU PATI 5, PDM 5, independents 19,
others 33; note - election to 1 seat was nullified
note: 15 other parties won 4 or fewer seats; association with
political parties is fluid
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor
general on the proposal of the National Executive Council after
consultation with the minister responsible for justice; other judges
are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission)
Political parties and leaders:
National Alliance Party or NA [Michael SOMARE]; Papua and Niugini
Union Party or PANGU PATI [Andrew KUMBAKOR]; Papua New Guinea Party
or PNGP [Sir Mekere MORAUTA]; People's Action Party or PAP [Gabriel
KAPRIS]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Michael OGIO]; United
Resources Party or URP [William DUMA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Ahora [Andrew MAMOKO] (represents local tribes); Centre for
Environment Law and Community Rights or Celcor [Damien ASE];
Community Coalition Against Corruption
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU,
MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Evan Jeremy PAKI
chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC
20036
telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Teddy B. TAYLOR
embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby, N.C.D.
mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State,
Washington DC 20521-4240
telephone: [675] 321-1455
FAX: [675] 321-3423
Flag description:
divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle
is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower
triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the
Southern Cross constellation centered; red, black, and yellow are
traditional colors of Papua New Guinea; the bird of paradise -
endemic to the island of New Guinea - is an emblem of regional
tribal culture and represents the emergence of Papua New Guinea as a
nation; the Southern Cross, visible in the night sky, symbolizes
Papua New Guinea's connection with Australia and several other
countries in the South Pacific
National anthem:
name: "O Arise All You Sons"
lyrics/music: Thomas SHACKLADY
note: adopted 1975
Economy ::Papua New Guinea
Economy - overview:
Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but
exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain and the high cost
of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence
livelihood for 85% of the population. Mineral deposits, including
copper, gold, and oil, account for nearly two-thirds of export
earnings. Natural gas reserves amount to an estimated 227 billion
cubic meters. A consortium led by a major American oil company is
constructing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facility that
could begin exporting in 2013 or 2014. As the largest investment
project in the country's history, it has the potential to double GDP
in the near-term and triple Papua New Guinea's export revenue. The
government faces the challenge of ensuring transparency and
accountability for revenues flowing from this and other large LNG
projects. The government of Prime Minister SOMARE has expended much
of its energy remaining in power. He was the first prime minister
ever to serve a full five-year term. The government has brought
stability to the national budget, largely through expenditure
control; however, it relaxed spending constraints in 2006 and 2007
as elections approached. Numerous challenges still face the
government, including providing physical security for foreign
investors, regaining investor confidence, restoring integrity to
state institutions, promoting economic efficiency by privatizing
moribund state institutions, and balancing relations with Australia,
its former colonial ruler. Other socio-cultural challenges could
upend the economy including an HIV/AIDS epidemic, with the highest
infection rate in all of East Asia and the Pacific, and chronic law
and order and land tenure issues. The global financial crisis had
little impact because of continued high demand for Papua New
Guinea's commodities exports.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$14.93 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
$14.06 billion (2009 est.)
$13.33 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$8.809 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
5.5% (2009 est.)
6.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
$2,400 (2009 est.)
$2,300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 32.2%
industry: 35.7%
services: 32.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
3.809 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 85%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
1.8% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 11
Population below poverty line:
37% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.9 (1996)
country comparison to the world: 19
Investment (gross fixed):
17.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Public debt:
27.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
29.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
6.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.92% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 58
7% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.09% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
9.2% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$2.551 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 116
$2.263 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$4.726 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
$4.14 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.796 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
$2.424 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$6.632 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, copra, palm kernels, tea, sugar, rubber, sweet
potatoes, fruit, vegetables, vanilla; shell fish; poultry, pork
Industries:
copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip
production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil
production, petroleum refining; construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
10% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Electricity - production:
2.885 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Electricity - consumption:
2.683 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
35,090 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Oil - consumption:
36,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Oil - exports:
32,490 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Oil - imports:
14,380 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Oil - proved reserves:
170 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Natural gas - production:
100 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Natural gas - consumption:
100 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Natural gas - proved reserves:
226.5 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Current account balance:
-$99 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
-$446.4 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$5.976 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
$4.392 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish,
prawns
Exports - partners:
Australia 30.05%, Japan 7.48% (2009)
Imports:
$3.547 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
$2.871 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels,
chemicals
Imports - partners:
Australia 43.27%, China 13.29%, Singapore 9.59%, US 6.4%, Japan
4.62% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.017 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
$2.607 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.548 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
$1.436 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
kina (PGK) per US dollar - 2.7517 (2010), 2.7551 (2009), 2.6956
(2008), 3.03 (2007), 3.0643 (2006)
Communications ::Papua New Guinea
Telephones - main lines in use:
60,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 156
Telephones - mobile cellular:
900,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 147
Telephone system:
general assessment: services are minimal; facilities provide
radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and
international radio communication services
domestic: access to telephone services is not widely available;
combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 15 per
100 persons
international: country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia and
Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean);
international radio communication service (2009)
Broadcast media:
2 television stations, 1 commercial station operating since the late
1980s and 1 state-run station launched in 2008; satellite and cable
TV services are available; state-run National Broadcasting
Corporation operates 3 radio networks with multiple repeaters and
about 20 provincial stations; several commercial radio stations with
multiple transmission points as well as several community stations;
transmissions of several international broadcasters are accessible
(2009)
Internet country code:
.pg
Internet hosts:
4,285 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 139
Internet users:
125,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 152
Transportation ::Papua New Guinea
Airports:
562 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 12
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 21
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 541
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 63
under 914 m: 469 (2010)
Heliports:
2 (2010)
Pipelines:
oil 195 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 9,349 km
country comparison to the world: 136
paved: 3,000 km
unpaved: 6,349 km (2011)
Waterways:
11,000 km (2006)
country comparison to the world: 12
Merchant marine:
total: 28
country comparison to the world: 88
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 24, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 7 (Malaysia 1, UAE 6) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Kimbe, Lae, Madang, Rabaul, Wewak
Military ::Papua New Guinea
Military branches:
Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF; includes Maritime Operations
Element, Air Operations Element) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental
consent); no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,532,378
females age 16-49: 1,440,528 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,103,479
females age 16-49: 1,107,479 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 66,139
female: 64,244 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Transnational Issues ::Papua New Guinea
Disputes - international:
relies on assistance from Australia to keep out illegal cross-border
activities from primarily Indonesia, including goods smuggling,
illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters and secessionists
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 10,177 (Indonesia) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Papua New Guinea is a country of destination for
women and children from Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and
China trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation;
internal trafficking of women and children for the purposes of
sexual exploitation and involuntary domestic servitude occurs as well
tier rating: Tier 3 - Papua New Guinea does not fully comply with
the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not
making significant efforts to do so; the current legal framework
does not contain elements of crimes that characterize trafficking;
the government lacks victim protection services or a systematic
procedure to identify victims of trafficking; the government did not
prosecute anyone in 2007 for trafficking; Papua New Guinea has not
ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)
Illicit drugs:
major consumer of cannabis
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Paracel Islands (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Paracel Islands
Background:
The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing grounds and
by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed
the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island;
maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. China has
occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a
South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. China built
a military installation on Woody Island with an airfield and
artificial harbor. The islands also are claimed by Taiwan and
Vietnam.
Geography ::Paracel Islands
Location:
Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South
China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the
northern Philippines
Geographic coordinates:
16 30 N, 112 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: NA sq km
land: NA sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
NA
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
518 km
Maritime claims:
NA
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
mostly low and flat
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
typhoons
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the
northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group
People ::Paracel Islands
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons
Government ::Paracel Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands
Economy ::Paracel Islands
Economy - overview:
The islands have the potential for oil and gas development. Waters
around the islands support commercial fishing, but the islands
themselves are not populated on a permanent basis.
Transportation ::Paracel Islands
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 227
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island
Military ::Paracel Islands
Military - note:
occupied by China
Transnational Issues ::Paracel Islands
Disputes - international:
occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@Paraguay (South America)
Introduction ::Paraguay
Background:
Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain in 1811. In the
disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70) - between Paraguay
and Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay - Paraguay lost two-thirds of all
adult males and much of its territory. The country stagnated
economically for the next half century. Following the Chaco War of
1932-35 with Bolivia, Paraguay gained a large part of the Chaco
lowland region. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo
STROESSNER ended in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in
political infighting in recent years, Paraguay has held relatively
free and regular presidential elections since then.
Geography ::Paraguay
Location:
Central South America, northeast of Argentina
Geographic coordinates:
23 00 S, 58 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 406,752 sq km
country comparison to the world: 59
land: 397,302 sq km
water: 9,450 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:
total: 3,995 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,365 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern
portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
Terrain:
grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco
region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river,
and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point: Cerro Pero 842 m
Natural resources:
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 7.47%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 92.29% (2005)
Irrigated land:
670 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
336 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.49 cu km/yr (20%/8%/71%)
per capita: 80 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly
drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal
pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands
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; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population
concentrated in southern part of country
People ::Paraguay
Population:
6,375,830 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.7% (male 1,304,115/female 1,260,560)
15-64 years: 58.1% (male 2,043,509/female 2,023,317)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 168,554/female 195,600) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.9 years
male: 24.7 years
female: 25.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.31% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Birth rate:
17.73 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Death rate:
4.55 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Net migration rate:
-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Urbanization:
urban population: 60% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 23.83 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 88
male: 27.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.99 years
country comparison to the world: 72
male: 73.39 years
female: 78.71 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.16 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
21,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan
Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other
or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% (2002 census)
Languages:
Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 94.9%
female: 93% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
4% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 106
Government ::Paraguay
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form: Paraguay
local long form: Republica del Paraguay
local short form: Paraguay
Government type:
constitutional republic
Capital:
name: Asuncion
geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends
second Sunday in April
Administrative divisions:
17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1
capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*,
Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion,
Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari,
Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
Independence:
14 May 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May)
Constitution:
promulgated 20 June 1992
Legal system:
based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial
review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez (since 15
August 2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15 August 2008);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez (since 15
August 2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15 August 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held on
20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013)
election results: Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez elected president;
percent of vote - Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez 40.8%, Blanca OVELAR
30.6%, Lino OVIEDO 21.9%, Pedro FADUL 2.4%, other 4.3%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the
Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of
Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held on 20 April 2008 (next to
be held in April 2013); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 20 April
2008 (next to be held in April 2013)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - ANR 15, PLRA 14, UNACE 9, PPQ 4, other 3;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party
- ANR 30, PLRA 27, UNACE 15, PPQ 3, APC 2, other 3; note - as of 1
January 2010, the composition of the Chamber of Deputies is ANR 30,
PLRA 29, UNACE 15, PPQ 4, other 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges
proposed by the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la
Magistratura, and approved by the Senate and president)
Political parties and leaders:
Alianza Patriotica por el Cambio (Patriotic Alliance for Change) or
APC [Fernando LUGO]; Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado
Party or ANR [Lilian SAMANIEGO]; Movimiento Popolar Tekojoja or
Tekojoja [Sixto PEREIRA]; Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos
Eticos or UNACE [Lino Cesar OVIEDO Silva]; Patria Querida (Beloved
Fatherland Party) or PPQ [Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella]; Partido
del Movimiento al Socialismo or P-MAS [Camilo Ernesto SOARES
Machado]; Partido Democratica Progresista or PDP [Rafael Augusto
FILIZZOLA Serra]; Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Fernando
CAMACHO Paredes]; Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Amanda
NUNEZ]; Partido Pais Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA
Pallares]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Ahorristas Estafados or AE; National Coordinating Board of Campesino
Organizations or MCNOC [Luis AGUAYO]; National Federation of
Campesinos or FNC [Odilon ESPINOLA]; National Workers Central or CNT
[Secretary General Juan TORRALES]; Paraguayan Workers Confederation
or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Central or CUT [Jorge
Guzman ALVARENGA Malgarejo]
International organization participation:
CAN (associate), FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA,
MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL,
UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rigoberto GAUTO Vielman
chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962
FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508
consulate(s) general: Kansas City (Kansas), Los Angeles, Miami, New
York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Ambassador Liliana AYALDE
embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion
mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001
telephone: [595] (21) 213-715
FAX: [595] (21) 228-603
Flag description:
three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an
emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem
is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left)
bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a
green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within
two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears a circular
seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and
the words PAZ Y JUSTICIA (Peace and Justice)); red symbolizes
bravery and patriotism, white represents integrity and peace, and
blue denotes liberty and generosity
note: the three color bands resemble those on the flag of the
Netherlands; one of only three national flags that differ on their
obverse and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Saudi Arabia
National anthem:
name: "Paraguayos, Republica o muerte!" (Paraguayans, The Republic
or Death!)
lyrics/music: Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/disputed
note: adopted 1934, in use since 1846; the anthem was officially
adopted following its re-arrangement in 1934
Economy ::Paraguay
Economy - overview:
Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy distinguished by a large
informal sector, featuring re-export of imported consumer goods to
neighboring countries, as well as the activities of thousands of
microenterprises and urban street vendors. A large percentage of the
population, especially in rural areas, derives its living from
agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. Because of the
importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures are
difficult to obtain. On a per capita basis, real income has
stagnated at 1980 levels. The economy grew rapidly between 2003 and
2008 as growing world demand for commodities combined with high
prices and favorable weather to support Paraguay's commodity-based
export expansion. Paraguay is the sixth largest soy producer in the
world. Drought hit in 2008, reducing agricultural exports and
slowing the economy even before the onset of the global recession.
The economy fell 3.8% in 2009, as lower world demand and commodity
prices caused exports to contract. The government reacted by
introducing fiscal and monetary stimulus packages. Growth resumed at
a 6.5% level in 2010. Political uncertainty, corruption, limited
progress on structural reform, and deficient infrastructure are the
main obstacles to growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$30.94 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
$29.06 billion (2009 est.)
$30.2 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$17.17 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
-3.8% (2009 est.)
5.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
$4,600 (2009 est.)
$4,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 21.8%
industry: 18.2%
services: 60.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
3.038 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 26.5%
industry: 18.5%
services: 55% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
6.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
7.9% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
19.4% (2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 42.3% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
53.2 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 17
57.7 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
17.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Public debt:
22.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
24% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
2.6% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
20% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 10
20% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
28.26% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
25.81% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$2.6 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 115
$2.107 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$5.03 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
$4.057 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$4.395 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
$3.607 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$409.1 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava
(tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber
Industries:
sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel,
metallurgic, electric power
Industrial production growth rate:
6.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Electricity - production:
53.19 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Electricity - consumption:
8.5 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Electricity - exports:
45.14 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
31 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Oil - consumption:
27,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Oil - imports:
25,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Current account balance:
-$391 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
-$149.2 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$7.606 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
$5.784 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity, wood, leather
Exports - partners:
Brazil 21%, Uruguay 17%, Chile 12%, Argentina 11%, Russia 4% (2009)
Imports:
$9.242 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
$6.917 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products,
electrical machinery, tractors, chemicals, vehicle parts
Imports - partners:
China 30%, Brazil 23%, Argentina 16%, US 5% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$4.082 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$3.862 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.346 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$3.883 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$2.153 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 87
$2.057 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
guarani (PYG) per US dollar - 4,767.6 (2010), 4,965.4 (2009),
4,337.7 (2008), 5,031 (2007), 5,672.8 (2006)
Communications ::Paraguay
Telephones - main lines in use:
387,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 102
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.619 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 89
Telephone system:
general assessment: the fixed-line market is a state monopoly and
fixed-line telephone service is meager; principal switching center
is in Asuncion
domestic: deficiencies in provision of fixed-line service have
resulted in a rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services fostered
by competition among multiple providers
international: country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:
5 privately-owned TV stations; about 75 commercial and community
radio stations broadcasting; 1 state-owned radio network (2007)
Internet country code:
.py
Internet hosts:
167,281 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 69
Internet users:
1.105 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 94
Transportation ::Paraguay
Airports:
800 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 9
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 785
1,524 to 2,437 m: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 290
under 914 m: 470 (2010)
Railways:
total: 36 km
country comparison to the world: 132
standard gauge: 36 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 29,500 km
country comparison to the world: 98
paved: 14,986 km
unpaved: 14,514 km (2000)
Waterways:
3,100 km (primarily on the Paraguay and Parana river systems) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 33
Merchant marine:
total: 23
country comparison to the world: 96
by type: cargo 15, carrier 1, container 2, passenger 1, petroleum
tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 6 (Argentina 5, Netherlands 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion
Military ::Paraguay
Military branches:
Army, National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Marine Corps, Naval
Aviation), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Paraguay, FAP) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months for
Navy; volunteers for the Air Force must be younger than 22 years of
age with a secondary school diploma (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,640,761
females age 16-49: 1,637,460 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,375,610
females age 16-49: 1,400,597 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 72,455
female: 70,910 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Transnational Issues ::Paraguay
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
Illicit drugs:
major illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which is consumed
in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile; transshipment country for Andean
cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets, and Europe;
weak border controls, extensive corruption and money-laundering
activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; weak
anti-money-laundering laws and enforcement
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Peru (South America)
Introduction ::Peru
Background:
Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations,
most notably that of the Incas whose empire was captured by the
Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peruvian independence was declared in
1821, and remaining Spanish forces defeated in 1824. After a dozen
years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic leadership in
1980, but experienced economic problems and the growth of a violent
insurgency. President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in 1990 ushered in
a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in the economy and
significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity. Nevertheless,
the president's increasing reliance on authoritarian measures and an
economic slump in the late 1990s generated mounting dissatisfaction
with his regime, which led to his ouster in 2000. A caretaker
government oversaw new elections in the spring of 2001, which
ushered in Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique as the new head of government -
Peru's first democratically elected president of Native American
ethnicity. The presidential election of 2006 saw the return of Alan
GARCIA Perez who, after a disappointing presidential term from 1985
to 1990, has overseen a robust macroeconomic performance.
Geography ::Peru
Location:
Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between
Chile and Ecuador
Geographic coordinates:
10 00 S, 76 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 1,285,216 sq km
country comparison to the world: 20
land: 1,279,996 sq km
water: 5,220 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 7,461 km
border countries: Bolivia 1,075 km, Brazil 2,995 km, Chile 171 km,
Colombia 1,800 km, Ecuador 1,420 km
Coastline:
2,414 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to
frigid in Andes
Terrain:
western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center
(sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m
Natural resources:
copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal,
phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 2.88%
permanent crops: 0.47%
other: 96.65% (2005)
Irrigated land:
12,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
1,913 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 20.13 cu km/yr (8%/10%/82%)
per capita: 720 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity
volcanism: Peru experiences volcanic activity in the Andes
Mountains; Ubinas (elev. 5,672 m, 18,609 ft), which last erupted in
2009, is the country's most active volcano; other historically
active volcanoes include El Misti, Huaynaputina, Sabancaya, and
Yucamane
Environment - current issues:
deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of
the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion;
desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and
coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, 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:
shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake,
with Bolivia; a remote slope of Nevado Mismi, a 5,316 m peak, is the
ultimate source of the Amazon River
People ::Peru
Population:
29,907,003 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.1% (male 4,370,923/female 4,216,364)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 9,695,270/female 9,574,018)
65 years and over: 5.7% (male 796,631/female 893,757) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.4 years
male: 26.1 years
female: 26.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.193% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Birth rate:
19 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Death rate:
6.13 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Net migration rate:
-0.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Urbanization:
urban population: 71% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.046 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 27.74 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 79
male: 30.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.03 years
country comparison to the world: 138
male: 69.14 years
female: 73 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.32 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
76,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,300 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial, hepatitis A, and typhoid
fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Peruvian(s)
adjective: Peruvian
Ethnic groups:
Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%,
black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 81.3%, Evangelical 12.5%, other 3.3%, unspecified or
none 2.9% (2007 Census)
Languages:
Spanish 84.1% (official), Quechua 13% (official), Aymara 1.7%,
Ashaninka 0.3%, other native languages 0.7% (includes a large number
of minor Amazonian languages), other 0.2% (2007 Census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.9%
male: 96.4%
female: 89.4% (2007 Census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
2.7% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 158
Government ::Peru
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Peru
conventional short form: Peru
local long form: Republica del Peru
local short form: Peru
Government type:
constitutional republic
Capital:
name: Lima
geographic coordinates: 12 03 S, 77 03 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
Administrative divisions:
25 regions (regiones, singular - region) and 1 province*
(provincia); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho,
Cajamarca, Callao, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La
Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Lima*, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua,
Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali
Independence:
28 July 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 July (1821)
Constitution:
29 December 1993
Legal system:
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July 2006);
First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas (since 28 July 2006);
Second Vice President Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28 July
2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July
2006); First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas (since 28 July
2006); Second Vice President Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28
July 2006)
note: Prime Minister Jose Antonio CHANG Escobedo (since 14 September
2010) does not exercise executive power; this power rests with the
president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for nonconsecutive reelection); presidential and
congressional elections last held on 9 April 2006 with runoff
election held on 4 June 2006; next to be held in April 2011
election results: Alan GARCIA Perez elected president in runoff
election; percent of vote - Alan GARCIA Perez 52.5%, Ollanta HUMALA
Tasso 47.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Congress of the Republic of Peru or Congreso de la
Republica del Peru (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 9 April 2006 (next to be held in April 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - UPP 21.2%, PAP 20.6%,
UN 15.3%, AF 13.1%, FC 7.1%, PP 4.1%, RN 4.0%, other 14.6%; seats by
party - UPP 45, PAP 36, UN 17, AF 13, FC 5, PP 2, RN 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges are
appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary)
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance For Progress (Alianza Para El Progreso) [Cesar ACUNA
Peralta]; Alliance For The Future (Alianza Por El Futuro) or AF (a
coalition of pro-FUJIMORI parties including Cambio 90, Nueva
Mayoria, and Si Cumple); Central Front (Frente Del Centro) or FC (a
coalition of Accion Popular, Somos Peru, and Coordinadora Nacional
de Independientes) [Victor Andres GARCIA Belaunde]; National
Renovation Party (Partido Renovacion Nacional) [Rafael REY];
National Restoration Party (Restauracion Nacional) or RN [Humberto
LAY Sun]; National Solidarity Party (Partido Solidaridad Nacional)
or SN [Luis CASTANEDA Lossio]; Peru Possible (Peru Posible) or PP
[Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique]; Peruvian Aprista Party (Partido Aprista
Peruano) or PAP [Alan GARCIA Perez] (also referred to by its
original name Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana or APRA);
Peruvian Nationalist Party (Partido Nacionalista Peruano) or PNP
[Ollanta HUMALA Tasso]; Popular Christian Party (Partido Popular
Cristiano) or PPC [Lourdes FLORES Nano]; Union for Peru (Union por
el Peru) or UPP [Aldo ESTRADA Choque]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
General Workers Confederation of Peru (Confederacion General de
Trabajadores del Peru) or CGTP [Mario HUAMAN]; Shining Path (Sendero
Luminoso) or SL [Abimael GUZMAN Reynoso (imprisoned), Victor QUISPE
Palomino (top leader at-large)] (leftist guerrilla group)
International organization participation:
APEC, CAN, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur
(associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL,
UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Luis VALDIVIESO Montano
chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869
FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver,
Hartford, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New
Jersey), San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rose M. LIKINS
embassy: Avenida La Encalada, Cuadra 17s/n, Surco, Lima 33
mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima),
APO AA 34031-5000
telephone: [51] (1) 434-3000
FAX: [51] (1) 618-2397
Flag description:
three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red with
the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms
features a shield bearing a vicuna (representing fauna), a cinchona
tree (the source of quinine, signifying flora), and a yellow
cornucopia spilling out coins (denoting mineral wealth); red recalls
blood shed for independence, white symbolizes peace
National anthem:
name: "Himno Nacional del Peru" (National Anthem of Peru)
lyrics/music: Jose DE LA TORRE Ugarte/Jose Bernardo ALZEDO
note: adopted 1822; the song won a national contest for an anthem
Economy ::Peru
Economy - overview:
Peru's economy reflects its varied geography - an arid coastal
region, the Andes further inland, and tropical lands bordering
Colombia and Brazil. Abundant mineral resources are found in the
mountainous areas, and Peru's coastal waters provide excellent
fishing grounds. The Peruvian economy grew by more than 4% per year
during the period 2002-06, with a stable exchange rate and low
inflation. Growth jumped to 9% per year in 2007 and 2008, driven by
higher world prices for minerals and metals and the government's
aggressive trade liberalization strategies, but then fell to less
than 1% in 2009 in the face of the world recession and lower
commodity export prices. Growth resumed in 2010 at nearly 8%, due
partly to increased exports. Peru's rapid expansion has helped to
reduce the national poverty rate by about 15% since 2002, though
underemployment remains high; inflation has trended downward in
2009, to below the Central Bank's 1-3% target. Despite Peru's strong
macroeconomic performance, overdependence on minerals and metals
subjects the economy to fluctuations in world prices, and poor
infrastructure precludes the spread of growth to Peru's non-coastal
areas. Not all Peruvians therefore have shared in the benefits of
growth and despite President GARCIA's pursuit of sound trade and
macroeconomic policies, persistent inequality has cost him political
support. Nevertheless, he remains committed to Peru's free-trade
path. Since 2006, Peru has signed trade deals with the United
States, Canada, Singapore, and China, concluded negotiations with
the European Union, and begun trade talks with Korea, Japan, and
others. The US-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA) entered into
force 1 February 2009, opening the way to greater trade and
investment between the two economies.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$274.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$254.8 billion (2009 est.)
$252.5 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$153.5 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
0.9% (2009 est.)
9.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$8,600 (2009 est.)
$8,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.8%
industry: 33%
services: 52.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
10.58 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 0.7%
industry: 23.8%
services: 75.5% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
6.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
8.1% (2009 est.)
note: data are for metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment
Population below poverty line:
34.8% (2009)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%: 37.9% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
49.6 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 26
46.2 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
25.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Public debt:
23.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
25% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
2.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.7% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
7.25% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
21.04% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
23.67% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$20.53 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 64
$16.77 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$55.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$43.57 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$28.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$23.37 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$69.75 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 47
$55.63 billion (31 December 2008)
$106 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
asparagus, coffee, cocoa, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn,
plantains, grapes, oranges, pineapples, guavas, bananas, apples,
lemons, pears, coca, tomatoes, mango, barley, medicinal plants, palm
oil, marigold, onion, wheat, dry beans; poultry, beef, dairy
products; fish; guinea pigs
Industries:
mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication; petroleum
extraction and refining, natural gas; fishing and fish processing,
textiles, clothing, food processing
Industrial production growth rate:
8.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Electricity - production:
30.57 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Electricity - consumption:
28.97 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
148,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Oil - consumption:
157,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Oil - exports:
68,640 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Oil - imports:
133,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Oil - proved reserves:
470.8 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Natural gas - production:
3.39 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Natural gas - consumption:
3.39 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Natural gas - exports:
NA
note: in 2010 Peru became a net exporter of LNG (2008 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Natural gas - proved reserves:
334.1 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Current account balance:
-$333 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
$246.3 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$33.73 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$26.88 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum products, coffee,
potatoes, asparagus, textiles, fishmeal
Exports - partners:
US 17.86%, China 15.96%, Canada 11.35%, Japan 6.75%, Chile 5.42%,
Germany 4.25% (2009)
Imports:
$25.74 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
$21.01 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, plastics, machinery, vehicles,
iron and steel, wheat, paper
Imports - partners:
US 23.96%, China 10.74%, Ecuador 7.25%, Brazil 7.19%, Chile 5.68%,
Argentina 5.59%, Mexico 5.02% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$37.27 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$33.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$33.29 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
$30.51 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$43.47 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$36.91 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$2.12 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$1.88 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
nuevo sol (PEN) per US dollar - 2.8178 (2010), 3.0115 (2009), 2.91
(2008), 3.1731 (2007), 3.2742 (2006)
Communications ::Peru
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.965 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 50
Telephones - mobile cellular:
24.7 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 36
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate for most requirements; nationwide
microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 12
earth stations
domestic: fixed-line teledensity is only about 10 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular teledensity, spurred by competition among multiple
providers, has increased to roughly 85 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 51; the South America-1 (SAM-1) and
Pan American (PAN-AM) submarine cable systems provide links to parts
of Central and South America, the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
6 major television networks of which only one, Television Nacional
de Peru, is state-owned; multi-channel cable TV services are
available; more than 500 radio stations including a substantial
number of indigenous language stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.pe
Internet hosts:
268,225 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 62
Internet users:
9.158 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 31
Transportation ::Peru
Airports:
211 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 29
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 58
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 4 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 153
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 40
under 914 m: 87 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
extra heavy crude 533 km; gas 1,083 km; liquid petroleum gas 677 km;
oil 1,018 km; refined products 15 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 1,989 km
country comparison to the world: 73
standard gauge: 1,726 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 263 km 0.914-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 102,887 km
country comparison to the world: 42
note: includes 23,838 km of national roads, 19,049 km of
departmental roads, and 60,000 km of local roads (2007)
Waterways:
8,808 km
country comparison to the world: 14
note: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries on Amazon system and 208 km
on Lago Titicaca (2010)
Merchant marine:
total: 13
country comparison to the world: 106
by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 2, petroleum
tanker 7
foreign-owned: 1 (Bahamas 1)
registered in other countries: 13 (Belize 1, Panama 12) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Callao, Iquitos, Matarani, Paita, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas; note -
Iquitos, Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are on the upper reaches of the
Amazon and its tributaries
Military ::Peru
Military branches:
Army of Peru (Ejercito Peruano), Navy of Peru (Marina de Guerra del
Peru, MGP (includes naval air, naval infantry, and Coast Guard)),
Air Force of Peru (Fuerza Aerea del Peru, FAP) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for voluntary male and female military service;
no conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,920,056
females age 16-49: 7,795,130 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,045,256
females age 16-49: 6,501,224 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 312,375
female: 302,452 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 100
Transnational Issues ::Peru
Disputes - international:
Chile and Ecuador rejected Peru's November 2005 unilateral
legislation to shift the axis of their joint treaty-defined maritime
boundaries along the parallels of latitude to equidistance lines
which favor Peru; organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia
have penetrated Peru's shared border; Peru rejects Bolivia's claim
to restore maritime access through a sovereign corridor through
Chile along the Peruvian border
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 60,000-150,000 (civil war from 1980-2000; most IDPs are
indigenous peasants in Andean and Amazonian regions) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
until 1996 the world's largest coca leaf producer, Peru is now the
world's second largest producer of coca leaf, though it lags far
behind Colombia; cultivation of coca in Peru declined to 36,000
hectares in 2007; second largest producer of cocaine, estimated at
210 metric tons of potential pure cocaine in 2007; finished cocaine
is shipped out from Pacific ports to the international drug market;
increasing amounts of base and finished cocaine, however, are being
moved to Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia for use in the
Southern Cone or transshipment to Europe and Africa; increasing
domestic drug consumption
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Philippines (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Philippines
Background:
The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th
century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the
Spanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became a
self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected president and
was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a
10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese
occupation during World War II, and US forces and Filipinos fought
together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the
Republic of the Philippines attained its independence. A 20-year
rule by Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a "people power"
movement in Manila ("EDSA 1") forced him into exile and installed
Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency was hampered by several
coup attempts that prevented a return to full political stability
and economic development. Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992.
His administration was marked by increased stability and by progress
on economic reforms. In 1992, the US closed its last military bases
on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998. He was
succeeded by his vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in January
2001 after ESTRADA's stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges
broke down and another "people power" movement ("EDSA 2") demanded
his resignation. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to a six-year term as
president in May 2004. Her presidency was marred by several
corruption allegations but the Philippine economy was one of the few
to avoid contraction following the 2008 global financial crisis,
expanding each year of her administration. Benigno AQUINO III was
elected to a six-year term as president in May 2010. The Philippine
Government faces threats from several groups on the US Government's
Foreign Terrorist Organization list. Manila has waged a decades-long
struggle against ethnic Moro insurgencies in the southern
Philippines, which has led to a peace accord with the Moro National
Liberation Front and on-again/off-again peace talks with the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front. The decades-long Maoist-inspired New
Peoples' Army insurgency also operates through much of the country.
Geography ::Philippines
Location:
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the
South China Sea, east of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:
13 00 N, 122 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 300,000 sq km
country comparison to the world: 72
land: 298,170 sq km
water: 1,830 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
36,289 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from
coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also
claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm in
breadth
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
Climate:
tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest
monsoon (May to October)
Terrain:
mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
Natural resources:
timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 16.67%
other: 64.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:
15,500 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
479 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 28.52 cu km/yr (17%/9%/74%)
per capita: 343 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to
six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes;
destructive earthquakes; tsunamis
volcanism: the Philippines experience significant volcanic activity;
Taal (elev. 311 m, 1,020 ft), which has shown recent unrest and may
erupt in the near future, has been deemed a "Decade Volcano" by the
International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the
Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and
close proximity to human populations; Mayon (elev. 2,462 m, 8,077
ft), the country's most active volcano, erupted in 2009 forcing over
33,000 to be evacuated; other historically active volcanoes include
Biliran, Babuyan Claro, Bulusan, Camiguin, Camiguin de Babuyanes,
Didicas, Iraya, Jolo, Kanlaon, Makaturing, Musuan, Parker, Pinatubo
and Ragang
Environment - current issues:
uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil
erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef
degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that
are important fish breeding grounds
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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
the Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands; favorably
located in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water bodies:
the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and
Luzon Strait
People ::Philippines
Population:
99,900,177 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.2% (male 17,606,352/female 16,911,376)
15-64 years: 60.6% (male 29,679,327/female 29,737,919)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,744,248/female 2,297,381) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.7 years
male: 22.2 years
female: 23.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.931% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Birth rate:
25.68 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Death rate:
5.06 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Net migration rate:
-1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Urbanization:
urban population: 65% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 19.94 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 101
male: 22.49 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.38 years
country comparison to the world: 131
male: 68.45 years
female: 74.45 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.23 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,300 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and Japanese
encephalitis
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Filipino(s)
adjective: Philippine
Ethnic groups:
Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%,
Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000
census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 80.9%, Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo
2.3%, Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%, unspecified
0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)
Languages:
Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight
major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo,
Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 92.5%
female: 92.7% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
2.6% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 162
Government ::Philippines
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form: Philippines
local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
local short form: Pilipinas
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Manila
geographic coordinates: 14 35 N, 121 00 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
80 provinces and 120 chartered cities
provinces: Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay,
Antique, Apayao, Aurora, Basilan, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas,
Biliran, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines
Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cebu,
Compostela, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dinagat
Islands, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur,
Iloilo, Isabela, Kalinga, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, La
Union, Leyte, Maguindanao, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental,
Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain
Province, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato,
Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pampanga,
Pangasinan, Quezon, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Samar, Sarangani,
Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat,
Sulu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi,
Zambales, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay
chartered cities: Alaminos, Angeles, Antipolo, Bacolod, Bago,
Baguio, Bais, Balanga, Batac, Batangas, Bayawan, Bislig, Butuan,
Cabadbaran, Cabanatuan, Cadiz, Cagayan de Oro, Calamba, Calapan,
Calbayog, Candon, Canlaon, Cauayan, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan,
Danao, Dapitan, Davao, Digos, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Escalante, Gapan,
General Santos, Gingoog, Himamaylan, Iligan, Iloilo, Isabela, Iriga,
Kabankalan, Kalookan, Kidapawan, Koronadal, La Carlota, Laoag,
Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Legazpi, Ligao, Lipa, Lucena, Maasin, Makati,
Malabon, Malaybalay, Malolos, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marawi,
Marikina, Masbate, Mati, Meycauayan, Muntinlupa, Munoz, Naga,
Navotas, Olongapo, Ormoc, Oroquieta, Ozamis, Pagadian, Palayan,
Panabo, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Passi, Puerto Princesa, Quezon,
Roxas, Sagay, Samal, San Carlos (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos
(in Pangasinan), San Fernando (in La Union), San Fernando (in
Pampanga), San Jose, San Jose del Monte, San Juan, San Pablo, Santa
Rosa, Santiago, Silay, Sipalay, Sorsogon, Surigao, Tabaco, Tacloban,
Tacurong, Tagaytay, Tagbilaran, Taguig, Tagum, Talisay (in Cebu),
Talisay (in Negros Occidental), Tanauan, Tangub, Tanjay, Tarlac,
Toledo, Tuguegarao, Trece Martires, Urdaneta, Valencia, Valenzuela,
Victorias, Vigan, Zamboanga (2009)
Independence:
12 June 1898 (independence proclaimed from Spain); 4 July 1946 (from
the US)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898 was date of
declaration of independence from Spain; 4 July 1946 was date of
independence from US
Constitution:
2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987
Legal system:
based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Benigno AQUINO (since 30 June 2010); Vice
President Jejomar BINAY (since 30 June 2010); note - president is
both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Benigno AQUINO (since 30 June 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with consent of
Commission of Appointments
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets
by popular vote for a single six-year term; election held on 10 May
2010; Benigno AQUINO declared winner and took office on 30 June
2010; next election to be held in May 2016
election results: Benigno AQUINO elected president; percent of vote
- Benigno AQUINO 42.1%, Joseph ESTRADA 26.3%, seven others 31.6%;
Jejomar BINAY elected vice president; percent of vote Jejomar BINAY
41.6%, Manuel ROXAS 39.6%, six others 18.8%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24
seats - one-half elected every three years; members elected at large
by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of
Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Nga Kinatawan; the House has 287
seats including 230 members in one tier representing districts and
57 sectoral party-list members in a second tier representing special
minorities elected on the basis of one seat for every 2% of the
total vote but are limited to three seats; a party represented in
one tier may not hold seats in the other tier; all House members are
elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms
note: the constitution limits the House of Representatives to 250
members; the number of members allowed was increased, however,
through legislation when in April 2009 the Philippine Supreme Court
ruled that additional party members could sit in the House of
Representatives if they received the required number of votes
elections: Senate - elections last held on 10 May 2010 (next to be
held in May 2013); House of Representatives - elections last held on
10 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2013)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Lakas-Kampi CMD 4, LP 4, NP 4, NPC 2, PMP 2, LDP 1, PRP 1,
independents 5; note - there are 23 rather than 24 sitting senators
because one senator was elected mayor of Manila; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - Lakas-Kampi CMD 38.4%,
LP 20.3%, NPC 15.4%, NP 11.5%, independents 7.1%, others 7.3%; seats
by party - Lakas-Kampi CMD 104, LP 45, NPC 31, NP 26, others 17,
independents 7, party-list 56
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (15 justices are appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council and serve until 70
years of age); Court of Appeals; Sandigan-bayan (special court for
hearing corruption cases of government officials)
Political parties and leaders:
Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or
LDP [Edgardo ANGARA]; Lakas ng EDSA-Christian Muslim Democrats or
Lakas-CMD [Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO]; Liberal Party or LP [Manuel
ROXAS]; Nacionalista Party or NP [Manuel VILLAR]; Nationalist
People's Coalition or NPC [Frisco SAN JUAN]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino
PIMENTEL]; People's Reform Party [Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO]; Puwersa
ng Masang Pilipino (Force of the Philippine Masses) or PMP [Joseph
ESTRADA]; United Opposition or UNO [Jejomar BINAY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
ABONO [Robert ESTRELLA]; AKBAYAN [Anna Theresia BARAQUIEL]; An Waray
[Florencio NOEL]; Anak Mindanao [Mujiv HATAMIN]; ANAKPAWIS [Rafael
MARIANO]; ARC [Narciso SANTIAGO III]; Association of Philippine
Electric Cooperatives (APEC) [Ernesto PABLO and Edgar VALDEZ]; A
TEACHER [Mariano PIAMONTE]; Bayan Muna [Satur OCAMPO and Teodoro
CASINO, Jr.]; Black and White Movement [Vicente ROMANO]; BUHAY [Rene
VELARDE, Carissa COSCOLLUELLA, and William TIENG]; BUTIL [Leonila
CHAVEZ]; CIBAC [Emmanuel Joel VILLANUEVA]; COOP-NATCO [Jose
PING-AY]; GABRIELA [Liza MAZA and Luzviminda ILAGAN]; KABATAAN
[Raymon PALATINO]; Kilosbayan [Jovito SALONGA]; YACAP [Carol LOPEZ]
International organization participation:
ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CD, CICA (observer), CP, EAS, FAO,
G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN,
UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNMIT, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Willy C. GAA
chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300
FAX: [1] (202) 467-9417
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York,
Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands), San Francisco, Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Harry K. THOMAS Jr.
embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita 1000, Manila
mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000
telephone: [63] (2) 301-2000
FAX: [63] (2) 301-2399
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red; a white
equilateral triangle is based on the hoist side; the center of the
triangle displays a yellow sun with eight primary rays; each corner
of the triangle contains a small, yellow, five-pointed star; blue
stands for peace and justice, red symbolizes courage, the white
equal-sided triangle represents equality; the rays recall the first
eight provinces that sought independence from Spain, while the stars
represent the three major geographical divisions of the country:
Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the design of the flag dates to 1897
note: in wartime the flag is flown upside down with the red band at
the top
National anthem:
name: "Lupang Hinirang" (Chosen Land)
lyrics/music: Jose PALMA (revised by Felipe PADILLA de Leon)/Julian
FELIPE
note: music adopted 1898, original Spanish lyrics adopted 1899,
Filipino (Tagalog) lyrics adopted 1956; although the original lyrics
were written in Spanish, later English and Filipino versions were
created; today, only the Filipino version is used
Economy ::Philippines
Economy - overview:
Philippine GDP grew nearly 7% in 2010. The economy weathered the
2008-09 global recession better than its regional peers due to
minimal exposure to securities issued by troubled global financial
institutions; lower dependence on exports; relatively resilient
domestic consumption, supported by large remittances from four-to
five-million overseas Filipino workers; and a growing business
process outsourcing industry. Economic growth in the Philippines has
averaged 4.5% per year since 2001, when former President
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO took office. Despite this growth, poverty worsened
during the term of MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, because of a high population
growth rate and inequitable distribution of income. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
averted a fiscal crisis by pushing for new revenue measures and,
until recently, tightening expenditures to address the government's
yawning budget deficit and to reduce high debt and debt service
ratios. But the government abandoned its 2008 balanced-budget goal
in order to help the economy weather the global financial and
economic storm. The economy under AQUINO faces budget shortfalls in
the near term, but has had little difficulty issuing debt both
locally and internationally to finance the deficits. AQUINO's first
budget emphasizes education and other social spending programs,
relying on the private sector to finance important infrastructure
projects. Weak tax collection in recent years limits the
government's ability to address major challenges.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$351.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
$329.2 billion (2009 est.)
$325.6 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$189.1 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
1.1% (2009 est.)
3.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
$3,400 (2009 est.)
$3,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 13.7%
industry: 31.7%
services: 54.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
38.91 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 34%
industry: 15%
services: 51% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
7.5% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
32.9% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 31.2% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
45.8 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 37
46.6 (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):
14.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Public debt:
55.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
57.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
3.2% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 76
6% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.57% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
8.75% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$30.09 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 55
$24.06 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$91.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$78.16 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$95.54 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$83.12 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$80.13 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 41
$85.63 billion (31 December 2008)
$172.5 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, coconuts, rice, corn, bananas, cassavas, pineapples,
mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish
Industries:
electronics assembly, garments, footwear, pharmaceuticals,
chemicals, wood products, food processing, petroleum refining,
fishing
Industrial production growth rate:
11.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Electricity - production:
56.57 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Electricity - consumption:
48.96 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
25,290 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Oil - consumption:
313,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Oil - exports:
36,720 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Oil - imports:
342,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Oil - proved reserves:
138.5 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Natural gas - production:
2.94 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Natural gas - consumption:
2.94 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Natural gas - proved reserves:
98.54 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Current account balance:
$8.575 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$8.552 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$45.89 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
$37.51 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment,
garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, fruits
Exports - partners:
US 17.6%, Japan 16.2%, Netherlands 9.8%, Hong Kong 8.6%, China 7.7%,
Germany 6.5%, Singapore 6.2% (2009)
Imports:
$57.24 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$46.39 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
electronic products, mineral fuels, machinery and transport
equipment, iron and steel, textile fabrics, grains, chemicals,
plastic
Imports - partners:
Japan 12.5%, US 12%, China 8.8%, Singapore 8.7%, South Korea 7.9%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$49.74 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$44.24 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$61.85 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$62.97 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$24.94 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$22.44 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$6.591 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$6.191 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Philippine pesos (PHP) per US dollar - 45.459 (2010), 47.68 (2009),
44.439 (2008), 46.148 (2007), 51.246 (2006)
Communications ::Philippines
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.1 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 37
Telephones - mobile cellular:
74.489 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 15
Telephone system:
general assessment: good international radiotelephone and submarine
cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate
domestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations;
mobile-cellular communications now dominate the industry; combined
fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 80 telephones per
100 persons
international: country code - 63; a series of submarine cables
together provide connectivity to Asia, US, the Middle East, and
Europe; multiple international gateways (2009)
Broadcast media:
multiple national private TV and radio networks and a
government-operated national TV and radio network; about 300
television stations and more than 1,000 radio stations;
multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems are available (2008)
Internet country code:
.ph
Internet hosts:
394,990 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 53
Internet users:
8.278 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 34
Transportation ::Philippines
Airports:
254 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 25
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 85
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 29
914 to 1,523 m: 34
under 914 m: 10 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 169
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 66
under 914 m: 99 (2010)
Heliports:
2 (2010)
Pipelines:
oil 107 km; refined products 112 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 897 km
country comparison to the world: 95
narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m gauge (492 km are in operation) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 201,910 km
country comparison to the world: 24
paved: 21,677 km
unpaved: 180,233 km (2008)
Waterways:
3,219 km; (limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 31
Merchant marine:
total: 428
country comparison to the world: 24
by type: bulk carrier 75, cargo 135, carrier 16, chemical tanker 26,
container 13, liquefied gas 5, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 68,
petroleum tanker 45, refrigerated cargo 17, roll on/roll off 12,
vehicle carrier 9
foreign-owned: 156 (Bermuda 43, China 4, Greece 4, Japan 82,
Malaysia 1, Netherlands 18, Singapore 1, South Korea 1, Taiwan 1,
UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 7 (Cyprus 1, Panama 6) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Liman, Manila
Transportation - note:
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and
offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and
armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been
attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked
vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East
Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift
Military ::Philippines
Military branches:
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine
Corps and Coast Guard), Air Force (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age (officers 21-29) for compulsory and voluntary
military service; applicants must be single male or female
Philippine citizens (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 25,079,262
females age 16-49: 24,556,912 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 19,650,825
females age 16-49: 21,029,243 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,039,679
female: 1,001,448 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Transnational Issues ::Philippines
Disputes - international:
Philippines claims sovereignty over Scarborough Reef (also claimed
by China together with Taiwan) and over certain of the Spratly
Islands, known locally as the Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands, also
claimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam; 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; in
March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines,
and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic
activities in the Spratly Islands; Philippines retains a dormant
claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo based on the
Sultanate of Sulu's granting the Philippines Government power of
attorney to pursue a sovereignty claim on his behalf; maritime
delimitation negotiations continue with Palau
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 300,000 (fighting between government troops and MILF and Abu
Sayyaf groups) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
domestic methamphetamine production has been a growing problem in
recent years despite government crackdowns; major consumer of
amphetamines; longstanding marijuana producer mainly in rural areas
where Manila's control is limited
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Pitcairn Islands (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Pitcairn Islands
Background:
Pitcairn Island was discovered in 1767 by the British and settled in
1790 by the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions. Pitcairn
was the first Pacific island to become a British colony (in 1838)
and today remains the last vestige of that empire in the South
Pacific. Outmigration, primarily to New Zealand, has thinned the
population from a peak of 233 in 1937 to less than 50 today.
Geography ::Pitcairn Islands
Location:
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about midway between
Peru and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
25 04 S, 130 06 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 47 sq km
country comparison to the world: 233
land: 47 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
51 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot and humid; modified by southeast trade winds; rainy
season (November to March)
Terrain:
rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Big Ridge 347 m
Natural resources:
miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
note: manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been
discovered offshore
Land use:
arable land: NA
permanent crops: NA
other: NA
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
typhoons (especially November to March)
Environment - current issues:
deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains
because of burning and clearing for settlement)
Geography - note:
Britain's most isolated dependency; only the larger island of
Pitcairn is inhabited but it has no port or natural harbor; supplies
must be transported by rowed longboat from larger ships stationed
offshore
People ::Pitcairn Islands
Population:
48 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 238
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Birth rate:
NA
Death rate:
NA
Net migration rate:
NA
Urbanization:
urban population: 0% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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: Pitcairn Islander(s)
adjective: Pitcairn Islander
Ethnic groups:
descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives
Religions:
Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
Languages:
English (official), Pitkern (mixture of an 18th century English
dialect and a Tahitian dialect)
Literacy:
NA
Government ::Pitcairn Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Adamstown
geographic coordinates: 25 04 S, 130 05 W
time difference: UTC-9 (4 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution:
The Pitcairn Constitution Order 2010, effective 4 March 2010
Legal system:
local island by-laws
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal with three years residency
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor
(nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands George FERGUSSON (since April
2006); Commissioner (nonresident) Leslie JAQUES (since September
2003) serves as liaison between the governor and the Island Council
head of government: Governor George FERGUSSON (since April 2006);
Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council Mike WARREN (since 1
January 2008)
cabinet: NA
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor and commissioner
appointed by the monarch; island mayor elected by popular vote for a
three-year term; election last held in December 2007 (next to be
held in December 2010)
election results: Mike WARREN elected mayor and chairman of the
Island Council
Legislative branch:
unicameral Island Council (11 seats; mayor, deputy mayor, 4 members
elected by popular vote, 1 member appointed by the governor, 3 ex
officio members including governor, deputy governor, and
commissioner; deputy mayor and elected members serve two-year terms)
elections: last held on 24 December 2009 (next to be held on 24
December 2011)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
Judicial branch:
Magistrate's Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judicial
officers are appointed by the governor
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
SPC, 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 Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the
flag; the green, yellow, and blue of the shield represents the
island rising from the ocean; the green field features a yellow
anchor surmounted by a bible (both the anchor and the bible were
items found on the HMS Bounty); sitting on the crest is a Pitcairn
Island wheelbarrow from which springs a slip of miro (a local plant)
National anthem:
name: "We From Pitcairn Island"
lyrics/music: unknown/Frederick M. LEHMAN
note: serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United
Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
Economy ::Pitcairn Islands
Economy - overview:
The inhabitants of this tiny isolated economy exist on fishing,
subsistence farming, handicrafts, and postage stamps. The fertile
soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and
vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams,
and beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major
sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors and
the sale of handicrafts to passing ships. In October 2004, more than
one-quarter of Pitcairn's small labor force was arrested, putting
the economy in a bind, since their services were required as lighter
crew to load or unload passing ships.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$NA
Labor force:
15 able-bodied men (2004)
country comparison to the world: 229
Labor force - by occupation:
note: no business community in the usual sense; some public works;
subsistence farming and fishing
Agriculture - products:
honey; wide variety of fruits and vegetables; goats, chickens, fish
Industries:
postage stamps, handicrafts, beekeeping, honey
Electricity - production:
NA kWh; note - electric power is provided by a small diesel-powered
generator
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
fruits, vegetables, curios, stamps
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other
foodstuffs
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4015 (2010), 1.6002
(2009), 1.4151 (2008), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006)
Communications ::Pitcairn Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
1 (there are 17 telephones on one party line); (2004)
country comparison to the world: 230
Telephone system:
general assessment: satellite phone services
domestic: domestic communication via radio (CB)
international: country code - 872; satellite earth station - 1
(Inmarsat)
Broadcast media:
no local broadcast television or radio stations (2009)
Internet country code:
.pn
Internet hosts:
20 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 218
Transportation ::Pitcairn Islands
Ports and terminals:
Adamstown (on Bounty Bay)
Military ::Pitcairn Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Pitcairn Islands
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Poland (Europe)
Introduction ::Poland
Background:
Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived near the middle of
the 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century.
During the following century, the strengthening of the gentry and
internal disorders weakened the nation. In a series of agreements
between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned
Poland amongst themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918
only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II.
It became a Soviet satellite state following the war, but its
government was comparatively tolerant and progressive. Labor turmoil
in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union
"Solidarity" that over time became a political force and by 1990 had
swept parliamentary elections and the presidency. A "shock therapy"
program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its
economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe, but Poland
still faces the lingering challenges of high unemployment,
underdeveloped and dilapidated infrastructure, and a poor rural
underclass. Solidarity suffered a major defeat in the 2001
parliamentary elections when it failed to elect a single deputy to
the lower house of Parliament, and the new leaders of the Solidarity
Trade Union subsequently pledged to reduce the Trade Union's
political role. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in
2004. With its transformation to a democratic, market-oriented
country largely completed, Poland is an increasingly active member
of Euro-Atlantic organizations.
Geography ::Poland
Location:
Central Europe, east of Germany
Geographic coordinates:
52 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 312,685 sq km
country comparison to the world: 69
land: 304,255 sq km
water: 8,430 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 3,047 km
border countries: Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 615 km, Germany 456
km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Slovakia
420 km, Ukraine 428 km
Coastline:
440 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
Climate:
temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent
precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
Terrain:
mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m
Natural resources:
coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable
land
Land use:
arable land: 40.25%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 58.75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
63.1 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 11.73 cu km/yr (13%/79%/8%)
per capita: 304 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
flooding
Environment - current issues:
situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry
and increased environmental concern by post-Communist governments;
air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxide
emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rain
has caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial and
municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardous
wastes; pollution levels should continue to decrease as industrial
establishments bring their facilities up to EU code, but at
substantial cost to business and the government
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, 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, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
Geography - note:
historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the
lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
People ::Poland
Population:
38,463,689 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15% (male 2,964,995/female 2,802,278)
15-64 years: 71.6% (male 13,713,078/female 13,845,251)
65 years and over: 13.4% (male 1,966,406/female 3,190,911) (2010
est.)
Median age:
total: 38.2 years
male: 36.5 years
female: 40 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.053% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Birth rate:
10.04 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Death rate:
10.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Net migration rate:
-0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Urbanization:
urban population: 61% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.061 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.66 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 171
male: 7.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.85 years
country comparison to the world: 75
male: 71.88 years
female: 80.06 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.29 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1%; note - no country specific models provided (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
20,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne disease: tickborne encephalitis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Pole(s)
adjective: Polish
Ethnic groups:
Polish 96.7%, German 0.4%, Belarusian 0.1%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other
and unspecified 2.7% (2002 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 89.8% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox 1.3%,
Protestant 0.3%, other 0.3%, unspecified 8.3% (2002)
Languages:
Polish (official) 97.8%, other and unspecified 2.2% (2002 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 78
Government ::Poland
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Poland
conventional short form: Poland
local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska
local short form: Polska
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Warsaw
geographic coordinates: 52 15 N, 21 00 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:
16 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie
(Lower Silesia), Kujawsko-Pomorskie (Kuyavia-Pomerania), Lodzkie,
Lubelskie (Lublin), Lubuskie (Lubusz), Malopolskie (Lesser Poland),
Mazowieckie (Masovia), Opolskie, Podkarpackie (Subcarpathia),
Podlaskie, Pomorskie (Pomerania), Slaskie (Silesia), Swietokrzyskie,
Warminsko-Mazurskie (Warmia-Masuria), Wielkopolskie (Greater
Poland), Zachodniopomorskie (West Pomerania)
Independence:
11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)
Constitution:
adopted by the National Assembly 2 April 1997; passed by national
referendum 25 May 1997; effective 17 October 1997
Legal system:
based on a mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and
holdover Communist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced
as part of broader democratization process; limited judicial review
of legislative acts, but rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are
final; court decisions can be appealed to the European Court of
Justice in Strasbourg; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI (since 6 August 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Donald TUSK (since 16 November
2007); Deputy Prime Minister Waldemar PAWLAK (since 16 November 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister and
the Sejm; the prime minister proposes, the president appoints, and
the Sejm approves the Council of Ministers
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 June and 4
July 2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister and deputy prime
ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm
election results: Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI elected president; percent of
popular vote - Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI 53%, Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI 47%
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of an upper house, the Senate or
Senat (100 seats; members elected by a majority vote on a provincial
basis to serve four-year terms), and a lower house, the Sejm (460
seats; members elected under a complex system of proportional
representation to serve four-year terms); the designation of
National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe is only used on those
rare occasions when the two houses meet jointly
elections: Senate - last held on 21 October 2007 (next to be held by
October 2011); Sejm - last held on 21 October 2007 (next to be held
by October 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PO 60, PiS 39, independents 1; Sejm - percent of vote by
party - PO 41.5%, PiS 32.1%, LiD 13.2%, PSL 8.9%, other 4.3%; seats
by party - PO 209, PiS 166, LiD 53, PSL 31, German minorities 1;
note - seats by party as of December 2010 - PO 203, PiS 147, SLD 44,
PSL 31, PJN 17, SPDL 4, DKP_SD 3, German minorities 1, Independents
9, Vacant 1
note: one seat is assigned to ethnic minority parties in the Sejm
only
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the National Council of the Judiciary for an
indefinite period); Constitutional Tribunal (judges are chosen by
the Sejm for nine-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:
Civic Platform or PO [Donald TUSK, chairman; Tomasz TOMCZYKIEWICZ,
parliamentary caucus leader]; Democratic Caucus of the Democratic
Party (SD) or DKP SD [Bogdan LIS, parliamentary caucus leader];
Democratic Left Alliance or SLD [Grzegorz NAPIERALSKI, chairman,
parlimentary caucus leader]; Democratic Party or PD [Brygida
KUZNIAK, chairwoman]; Democratic Party or SD [Pawel PISKORSKI,
chairman]; German Minority of Lower Silesia or MNSO [Richard GALL,
representative]; Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI,
chairman; Mariusz BLASZCZAK, parliamentary caucus leader]; League of
Polish Families or LPR [Witold BALAZAK, chairman]; Poland is the
most important or PJN [Joanna KLUZIK-ROSTKOWSKA, president]; Polish
People's Party or PSL [Waldemar PAWLAK, chairman; Stanislaw
ZELICHOWSKI, parliamentary caucus leader]; Samoobrona or SO [Andrzej
LEPPER, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Poland or SDPL
[Wojciech FILEMONOWICZ, chairman; Marek BOROWSKI, parliamentary
caucus leader]; Union of Labor or UP [Waldemar WITKOWSKI, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ (trade union) [Jan GUZ];
Roman Catholic Church [Cardinal Stanislaw DZIWISZ, Archbishop Jozef
MICHALIK]; Solidarity Trade Union [Piotr DUDA]
International organization participation:
Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer),
CBSS, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state),
EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert KUPIECKI
chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802
FAX: [1] (202) 328-6271
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lee FEINSTEIN
embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-540 Warsaw
mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch)
telephone: [48] (22) 504-2000
FAX: [48] (22) 504-2688
consulate(s) general: Krakow
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; colors derive
from the Polish emblem - a white eagle on a red field
note: similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red
(top) and white
National anthem:
name: "Mazurek Dabrowskiego" (Dabrowski's Mazurka)
lyrics/music: Jozef WYBICKI/traditional
note: adopted 1927; the anthem, commonly known as "Jeszcze Polska
nie zginela" (Poland Has Not Yet Perished), was written in 1797; the
lyrics resonate strongly with Poles because they reflect the
numerous occasions in which the nation's lands have been occupied
Economy ::Poland
Economy - overview:
Poland has pursued a policy of economic liberalization since 1990
and today stands out as a success story among transition economies.
Before 2009, GDP had grown about 5% annually, based on rising
private consumption, a jump in corporate investment, and EU funds
inflows. GDP per capita is still much below the EU average, but is
similar to that of the three Baltic states. Since 2004, EU
membership and access to EU structural funds have provided a major
boost to the economy. Unemployment fell rapidly to 6.4% in October
2008, but climbed back to 11.8% for the year 2010, exceeding the EU
average by more than 2%. In 2008 inflation reached 4.2%, more than
the upper limit of the National Bank of Poland's target range, but
fell to 2.4% in 2010 due to global economic slowdown. Poland's
economic performance could improve over the longer term if the
country addresses some of the remaining deficiencies in its road and
rail infrastructure and its business environment. An inefficient
commercial court system, a rigid labor code, bureaucratic red tape,
burdensome tax system, and persistent low-level corruption keep the
private sector from performing up to its full potential. Rising
demands to fund health care, education, and the state pension system
caused the public sector budget deficit to rise to 7.9% of GDP in
2010. The PO/PSL coalition government, which came to power in
November 2007, plans to reduce the budget deficit in 2011 and has
also announced its intention to enact business-friendly reforms,
increase workforce participation, reduce public sector spending
growth, lower taxes, and accelerate privatization. The government,
however, has moved slowly on major reforms. The legislature passed a
law significantly limiting early retirement benefits. A health-care
bill also passed through the legislature, but the legislature failed
to overturn a presidential veto.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$721.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$698.6 billion (2009 est.)
$687 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$438.9 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
1.7% (2009 est.)
5.1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$18,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$18,200 (2009 est.)
$17,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.9%
industry: 31.8%
services: 63% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
17 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 17.4%
industry: 29.2%
services: 53.4% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
11.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
11% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
17% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 27.2% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34.9 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 87
31.6 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Public debt:
50.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
46.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
3.5% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 89
5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.99% (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
5.72% (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$138.7 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 24
$124.6 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$251.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$229.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$288.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$264.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$135.3 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 38
$90.23 billion (31 December 2008)
$207.3 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork, dairy
Industries:
machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals,
shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
6.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Electricity - production:
149.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Electricity - consumption:
129.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Electricity - exports:
9.703 billion kWh (2008)
Electricity - imports:
8.48 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
34,140 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Oil - consumption:
545,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Oil - exports:
65,280 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Oil - imports:
553,900 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Oil - proved reserves:
96.38 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Natural gas - production:
5.842 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Natural gas - consumption:
16.33 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Natural gas - exports:
40 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Natural gas - imports:
9.954 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Natural gas - proved reserves:
164.8 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Current account balance:
-$12.33 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
-$9.598 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$160.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$142.1 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 37.8%, intermediate manufactured
goods 23.7%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 17.1%, food and live
animals 7.6%
Exports - partners:
Germany 26.06%, Italy 6.84%, France 6.78%, UK 6.38%, Czech Republic
5.85%, Netherlands 4.14% (2009)
Imports:
$167.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$146.4 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 38%, intermediate manufactured
goods 21%, chemicals 15%, minerals, fuels, lubricants, and related
materials 9%
Imports - partners:
Germany 28.08%, Russia 8.65%, Italy 6.5%, Netherlands 5.59%, China
5.27%, France 4.6%, Czech Republic 4.05% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$99.76 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$79.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$252.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$239.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$198.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$182.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$30.71 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$26.21 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
zlotych (PLN) per US dollar - 3.0718 (2010), 3.1214 (2009), 2.3
(2008), 2.81 (2007), 3.1032 (2006)
Communications ::Poland
Telephones - main lines in use:
9.556 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 23
Telephones - mobile cellular:
44.553 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 28
Telephone system:
general assessment: modernization of the telecommunications network
has accelerated with market-based competition; fixed-line service,
dominated by the former state-owned company, is dwarfed by the
growth in mobile-cellular services
domestic: mobile-cellular service available since 1993 and provided
by three nation-wide networks with a fourth provider beginning
operations in late 2006; coverage is generally good with some gaps
in the east; fixed-line service lags in rural areas
international: country code - 48; international direct dialing with
automated exchanges; satellite earth station - 1 with access to
Intelsat, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-run public television operates 2 national channels
supplemented by 16 regional channels and several niche channels;
privately-owned entities operate several national TV broadcast
networks and a number of special interest channels; large number of
privately-owned channels broadcasting locally; roughly half of all
households are linked to either satellite or cable TV systems
providing access to foreign television networks; state-run public
radio operates 5 national networks and 17 regional radio stations; 2
privately-owned national radio networks, several commercial stations
broadcasting to multiple cities, and a large number of
privately-owned local radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.pl
Internet hosts:
10.51 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 11
Internet users:
22.452 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 19
Transportation ::Poland
Airports:
129 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 47
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 86
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 39
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 6 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 43
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 21 (2010)
Heliports:
7 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 13,631 km; oil 1,384 km; refined products 777 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 22,314 km
country comparison to the world: 12
broad gauge: 633 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 21,681 km 1.435-m gauge (11,769 km electrified)
(2007)
Roadways:
total: 423,997 km
country comparison to the world: 15
paved: 295,356 km (includes 765 km of expressways)
unpaved: 128,641 km (2008)
Waterways:
3,997 km (navigable rivers and canals) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 28
Merchant marine:
total: 10
country comparison to the world: 116
by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 3, passenger/cargo 1
registered in other countries: 104 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Bahamas
32, Cyprus 20, Liberia 13, Malta 22, Norway 2, Panama 3, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Slovakia 2, Vanuatu 7) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie, Szczecin
Military ::Poland
Military branches:
Polish Armed Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Aviation
Forces, Special Forces (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-28 years of age for male voluntary or compulsory military
service; service obligation shortened from 12 to 9 months in 2005;
conscription is to end in 2012; only soldiers who have completed
their conscript service are allowed to volunteer for professional
service; as of April 2004, women are only allowed to serve as
officers and noncommissioned officers; reserve obligation to age 50
(2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 9,597,047
females age 16-49: 9,364,939 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,860,841
females age 16-49: 7,828,221 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 235,248
female: 224,801 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.71% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Transnational Issues ::Poland
Disputes - international:
as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border,
Poland has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to restrict
illegal immigration and trade along its eastern borders with Belarus
and Ukraine
Illicit drugs:
despite diligent counternarcotics measures and international
information sharing on cross-border crimes, a major illicit producer
of synthetic drugs for the international market; minor transshipment
point for Southwest Asian heroin and Latin American cocaine to
Western Europe
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Portugal (Europe)
Introduction ::Portugal
Background:
Following its heyday as a global maritime power during the 15th and
16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the
destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the
Napoleonic Wars, and the independence of its wealthiest colony of
Brazil in 1822. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of
the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In
1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms.
The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its
African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered
the EC (now the EU) in 1986. In January 2011, Portugal assumed a
nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2011-12 term.
Geography ::Portugal
Location:
Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of
Spain
Geographic coordinates:
39 30 N, 8 00 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 92,090 sq km
country comparison to the world: 110
land: 91,470 sq km
water: 620 sq km
note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 1,214 km
border countries: Spain 1,214 km
Coastline:
1,793 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in
south
Terrain:
mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in
the Azores 2,351 m
Natural resources:
fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver,
gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 17.29%
permanent crops: 7.84%
other: 74.87% (2005)
Irrigated land:
6,500 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
73.6 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 11.09 cu km/yr (10%/12%/78%)
per capita: 1,056 cu m/yr (1998)
Natural hazards:
Azores subject to severe earthquakes
volcanism: Portugal experiences limited volcanic activity in the
Azores Islands; Fayal or Faial (elev. 1,043 m, 3,422 ft) last
erupted in 1958; most volcanoes have not erupted in centuries;
historically active volcanoes include Agua de Pau, Furnas, Pico,
Picos Volcanic System, San Jorge, Sete Cidades, and Terceira
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle
emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental
Modification
Geography - note:
Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western
sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
People ::Portugal
Population:
10,735,765 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 912,147/female 834,941)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 3,525,717/female 3,554,513)
65 years and over: 17.6% (male 772,413/female 1,108,193) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.7 years
male: 37.6 years
female: 41.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.244% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Birth rate:
10.12 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Death rate:
10.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Net migration rate:
3.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Urbanization:
urban population: 59% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.067 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.72 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 190
male: 5.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.38 years
country comparison to the world: 48
male: 75.12 years
female: 81.86 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.5 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
34,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Nationality:
noun: Portuguese (singular and plural)
adjective: Portuguese
Ethnic groups:
homogeneous Mediterranean stock; citizens of black African descent
who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than
100,000; since 1990 East Europeans have entered Portugal
Religions:
Roman Catholic 84.5%, other Christian 2.2%, other 0.3%, unknown 9%,
none 3.9% (2001 census)
Languages:
Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official - but locally used)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.3%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.3% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
4.4% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 96
Government ::Portugal
Country name:
conventional long form: Portuguese Republic
conventional short form: Portugal
local long form: Republica Portuguesa
local short form: Portugal
Government type:
republic; parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Lisbon
geographic coordinates: 38 43 N, 9 08 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomous
regions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma); Aveiro,
Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra,
Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa (Lisbon), Madeira*, Portalegre,
Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Independence:
1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910 (republic
proclaimed)
National holiday:
Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal), 10 June (1580); note - also called
Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis de Camoes
(1524-80) died
Constitution:
adopted 2 April 1976; subsequently revised
note: the revisions placed the military under strict civilian
control, trimmed the powers of the president, and laid the
groundwork for a stable, pluralistic liberal democracy; they allowed
for the privatization of nationalized firms and government-owned
communications media
Legal system:
based on civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the
constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Anibal CAVACO SILVA (since 9 March 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Jose SOCRATES Carvalho Pinto de
Sousa (since 12 March 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative
body to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 January 2006
(next to be held in January 2011); following legislative elections,
the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition
usually appointed prime minister by the president
election results: Anibal CAVACO SILVA elected president; percent of
vote - Anibal CAVACO SILVA 50.6%, Manuel ALEGRE 20.7%, Mario Alberto
Nobre Lopes SOARES 14.3%, Jeronimo DE SOUSA 8.5%, Franciso LOUCA 5.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 27 September 2009 (next to be held in fall
2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - PS 42%, PSD 35%, CDS/PP
9%, BE 7%, CDU 7%; seats by party - PS 97, PSD 81, CDS/PP 21, BE 16,
CDU 15
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal de Justica); judges appointed for
life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic and Social Center/Popular Party or CDS/PP [Paulo PORTAS];
Socialist Party or PS [Jose SOCRATES Carvalho Pinto de Sousa];
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Pedro Manuel PASSOS COELHO]; The
Left Bloc or BE [Franciso Anacleto LOUCA]; Unitarian Democratic
Coalition or CDU [Jeronimo DE SOUSA] (includes Portuguese Communist
Party or PCP and Ecologist Party ("The Greens") or PEV)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
the media; labor unions
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia
Group, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, CPLP, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO,
FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club (associate), PCA, Schengen Convention,
SECI (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joao DE VALLERA
chancery: 2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 328-8610
FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726
consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), San
Francisco
consulate(s): New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Allan J. KATZ
embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbon
mailing address: Apartado 43033, 1601-301 Lisboa; PSC 83, APO AE
09726
telephone: [351] (21) 727-3300
FAX: [351] (21) 726-9109
consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)
Flag description:
two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red
(three-fifths) with the national coat of arms (armillary sphere and
Portuguese shield) centered on the dividing line; explanations for
the color meanings are ambiguous, but a popular interpretation has
green symbolizing hope and red the blood of those defending the
nation
National anthem:
name: "A Portugesa" (The Song of the Portuguese)
lyrics/music: Henrique LOPES DE MENDOCA/Alfredo KEIL
note: adopted 1910; "A Portuguesa" was originally written to protest
the Portuguese monarchy's acquiescence to the 1890 British ultimatum
forcing Portugal to give up areas of Africa; the lyrics refer to the
"insult" that resulted from the event
Economy ::Portugal
Economy - overview:
Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-based
economy since joining the European Community in 1986. Over the past
two decades, successive governments have privatized many
state-controlled firms and liberalized key areas of the economy,
including the financial and telecommunications sectors. The country
qualified for the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and began
circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU member
economies. Economic growth had been above the EU average for much of
the 1990s, but fell back in 2001-08, shrank 2.6% in 2009, before
growing 1% in 2010. GDP per capita stands at roughly two-thirds of
the EU-27 average. A poor educational system and a rigid labor
market have been obstacles to greater productivity and growth.
Portugal also has been increasingly overshadowed by lower-cost
producers in Central Europe and Asia as a target for foreign direct
investment. Portugal's competitiveness problems, low growth
prospects, and high levels of public debt have made it vulnerable to
bond market turbulence. Lisbon is implementing austerity measures to
reduce the budget deficit from 9.4% of GDP in 2009 to 4.6% of GDP in
2011, but some investors have expressed concern about Portugal's
ability to achieve these targets and cover its sovereign debt.
Without the option for stimulus measures, the government is focusing
instead on boosting exports and implementing labor market reforms to
try to raise GDP growth and tackle Portugal's competitiveness
problems, which may help mitigate investor concerns over time.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$247 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$244.5 billion (2009 est.)
$251 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$223.7 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
-2.6% (2009 est.)
0% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$23,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$22,800 (2009 est.)
$23,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.6%
industry: 23%
services: 74.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
5.57 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 30%
services: 60% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
9.5% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
18% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 28.4% (1995 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
38.5 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 72
35.6 (1995)
Investment (gross fixed):
19% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Public debt:
83.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
76.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
-0.8% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 125
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
6.12% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
8.35% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$98.23 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 31
$100.9 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro
area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating
within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$282 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$302.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$556.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$490.8 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$98.65 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 44
$68.71 billion (31 December 2008)
$132.3 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
grain, potatoes, tomatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats,
pigs, poultry, dairy products; fish
Industries:
textiles, clothing, footwear, wood and cork, paper, chemicals,
auto-parts manufacturing, base metals, diary products, wine and
other foods, porcelain and ceramics, glassware, technology,
telecommunications; ship construction and refurbishment; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
0.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Electricity - production:
44.47 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Electricity - consumption:
48.78 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Electricity - exports:
1.313 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
10.74 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
4,721 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Oil - consumption:
272,200 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Oil - exports:
53,660 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Oil - imports:
323,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Natural gas - production:
NA (2008 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
4.846 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Natural gas - imports:
4.895 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Current account balance:
-$19.03 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
-$23.95 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$46.27 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$44.49 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
agricultural products, food products, oil products, chemical
products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and cork,
wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear, minerals
and mineral products, base metals, machinery and tools, vehicles and
other transport material, and optical and precision instruments
Exports - partners:
Spain 26.25%, Germany 12.99%, France 12.04%, Angola 7.21%, UK 5.54%
(2009)
Imports:
$68.22 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$68.9 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
agricultural products, food products, oil products, chemical
products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and cork,
wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear, minerals
and mineral products, base metals, machinery and tools, vehicles and
other transport material, and optical and precision instruments,
computer accessories and parts, semi-conductors and related devices,
household goods, passenger cars new and used, and wine products
Imports - partners:
Spain 31.58%, Germany 12.41%, France 8.58%, Italy 5.55%, Netherlands
5.31% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$16.03 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$497.8 billion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 20
$507 billion (30 June 2009)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$105.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$102.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$63.64 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$63.64 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.774 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Portugal
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.049 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 39
Telephones - mobile cellular:
15.178 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 48
Telephone system:
general assessment: Portugal's telephone system has a
state-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities
domestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwave
radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations
international: country code - 351; a combination of submarine cables
provide connectivity to Europe, North and East Africa, South Africa,
the Middle East, Asia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 3
Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat;
tropospheric scatter to Azores (2008)
Broadcast media:
the publicly-owned TV broadcaster operates 2 domestic channels and
external service channels to Africa; overall, roughly 40 domestic TV
stations; viewers have widespread access to international
broadcasters with more than half of all households connected to
multi-channel cable or satellite TV systems; publicly-owned radio
operates 3 national networks and provides regional and external
services; several privately-owned national radio stations and some
300 regional and local commercial radio stations (2008)
Internet country code:
.pt
Internet hosts:
3.267 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 28
Internet users:
5.168 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 45
Transportation ::Portugal
Airports:
65 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 77
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 43
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 10 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 21 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 1,098 km; oil 11 km; refined products 188 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,786 km
country comparison to the world: 59
broad gauge: 2,603 km 1.668-m gauge (1,351 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 183 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 82,900 km
country comparison to the world: 57
paved: 71,294 km (includes 2,613 km of expressways)
unpaved: 11,606 km (2008)
Waterways:
210 km (on Douro River from Porto) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 96
Merchant marine:
total: 111
country comparison to the world: 47
by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 33, carrier 1, chemical tanker 17,
container 8, liquefied gas 9, passenger 13, passenger/cargo 5,
petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 9
foreign-owned: 80 (Belgium 8, Denmark 4, Germany 13, Greece 5, Italy
10, Japan 9, Mexico 1, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, Spain 15, Sweden 6,
Switzerland 3, US 4)
registered in other countries: 14 (Cyprus 2, Malta 3, Panama 9)
(2010)
Ports and terminals:
Leixoes, Lisbon, Setubal, Sines
Military ::Portugal
Military branches:
Portuguese Army (Exercito Portuguesa), Portuguese Navy (Marinha
Portuguesa; includes Marine Corps), Portuguese Air Force (Forca
Aerea Portuguesa, FAP) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no compulsory
military service; women serve in the armed forces, on naval ships
since 1993, but are prohibited from serving in some combatant
specialties; reserve obligation to age 35 (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,572,007
females age 16-49: 2,474,719 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,104,945
females age 16-49: 2,034,912 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 62,628
female: 55,737 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Transnational Issues ::Portugal
Disputes - international:
Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory
of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815
Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz
Illicit drugs:
seizing record amounts of Latin American cocaine destined for
Europe; a European gateway for Southwest Asian heroin; transshipment
point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest
Asian heroin
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Puerto Rico (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Puerto Rico
Background:
Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was
claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following COLUMBUS' second
voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule
that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African
slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result
of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US
citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since
1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal
self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters
chose not to alter the existing political status.
Geography ::Puerto Rico
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates:
18 15 N, 66 30 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 13,790 sq km
country comparison to the world: 162
land: 8,870 sq km
water: 4,921 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
501 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains
precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal
areas
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
Natural resources:
some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Land use:
arable land: 3.69%
permanent crops: 5.59%
other: 90.72% (2005)
Irrigated land:
400 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; hurricanes
Environment - current issues:
erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
Geography - note:
important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to
the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural
harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central
mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry;
fertile coastal plain belt in north
People ::Puerto Rico
Population:
3,978,702 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.8% (male 402,473/female 384,655)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,260,191/female 1,361,359)
65 years and over: 14.1% (male 239,957/female 317,578) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 36.8 years
male: 35 years
female: 38.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.27% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Birth rate:
11.42 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Death rate:
7.82 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Net migration rate:
-0.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Urbanization:
urban population: 98% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.23 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 162
male: 9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.77 years
country comparison to the world: 43
male: 75.15 years
female: 82.57 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.62 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
7,397 (1997)
country comparison to the world: 115
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups:
white (mostly Spanish origin) 76.2%, black 6.9%, Asian 0.3%,
Amerindian 0.2%, mixed 4.4%, other 12% (2007)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Languages:
Spanish, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 93.9%
female: 94.4% (2002 est.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Puerto Rico
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico
Dependency status:
unincorporated, organized territory of the US with commonwealth
status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted
under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President
Government type:
commonwealth
Capital:
name: San Juan
geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status); there are no
first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular -
municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas
Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta,
Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas,
Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio,
Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama,
Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao,
Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las
Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca,
Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce,
Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San
German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa
Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja,
Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco
Independence:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
National holiday:
US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25
July (1952)
Constitution:
ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952;
effective 25 July 1952
Legal system:
based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system of
justice
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do
not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009);
Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
head of government: Governor Luis FORTUNO (since 2 January 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the
legislature
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as Puerto Rico, do not vote in elections for US
president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic
and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor
elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits);
election last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November
2012)
election results: Luis FORTUNO elected governor with 52.8% of the
vote
Legislative branch:
bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27
seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms) and the House of Representatives (51 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in
November 2012); House of Representatives - last held on 4 November
2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PNP 81.5%, PPD
18.5%; seats by party - PNP 22, PPD 5; House of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - PNP 72.5%, PPD 27.5%; seats by party -
PNP 37, PPD 14
note: Puerto Rico elects, by popular vote, a resident commissioner
to serve a four-year term as a nonvoting representative in the US
House of Representatives; aside from not voting on the House floor,
he enjoys all the rights of a member of Congress; elections last
held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012); results -
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Appellate Court; Court of First Instance composed of
two sections: a Superior Court and a Municipal Court (justices for
all these courts appointed by the governor with the consent of the
Senate)
Political parties and leaders:
National Democratic Party [Roberto PRATS]; National Republican Party
of Puerto Rico [Dr. Tiody FERRE]; New Progressive Party or PNP
[Pedro ROSSELLO] (pro-US statehood); Popular Democratic Party or PPD
[Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA] (pro-commonwealth); Puerto Rican Independence
Party or PIP [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez] (pro-independence)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Boricua Popular Army or EPB (a revolutionary group also known as Los
Macheteros); note - the following radical groups are considered
dormant by Federal law enforcement: Armed Forces for National
Liberation or FALN, Armed Forces of Popular Resistance, Volunteers
of the Puerto Rican Revolution
International organization participation:
Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UNWTO
(associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Flag description:
five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with
white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a
large, white, five-pointed star in the center; the white star
symbolizes Puerto Rico; the three sides of the triangle signify the
executive, legislative and judicial parts of the government; blue
stands for the sky and the coastal waters; red symbolizes the blood
shed by warriors, while white represents liberty, victory, and peace
note: design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the
Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed
National anthem:
name: "La Borinquena" (The Puerto Rican)
lyrics/music: Manuel Fernandez JUNCOS/Felix Astol ARTES
note: music adopted 1952, lyrics adopted 1977; the local anthem's
name is a reference to the indigenous name of the island, Borinquen;
the music was originally composed as a dance in 1867 and gained
popularity in the early 20th century; there is some evidence that
the music was written by Francisco RAMIREZ; as a commonwealth of the
United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United
States)
Economy ::Puerto Rico
Economy - overview:
Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean
region. A diverse industrial sector has far surpassed agriculture as
the primary locus of economic activity and income. Encouraged by
duty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms have
invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage
laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and
other livestock products as the main source of income in the
agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important
source of income with estimated arrivals of more than 3.6 million
tourists in 2008.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$64.84 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
$68.84 billion (2009 est.)
$71.51 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$93.52 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-5.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
-3.7% (2009 est.)
-2.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$16,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$17,400 (2009 est.)
$18,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 45%
services: 54% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
1.479 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 133
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 19%
services: 79% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 129
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.5% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock
products, chickens
Industries:
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
23.72 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Electricity - consumption:
22.06 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
1,783 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Oil - consumption:
164,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Oil - exports:
16,520 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Oil - imports:
225,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Natural gas - consumption:
806.6 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Natural gas - imports:
806.6 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Exports:
$46.9 billion (2001)
country comparison to the world: 55
Exports - commodities:
chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage
concentrates, medical equipment
Imports:
$29.1 billion (2001)
country comparison to the world: 61
Imports - commodities:
chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum
products
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications ::Puerto Rico
Telephones - main lines in use:
870,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 83
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.716 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 118
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system integrated with that of the US by
high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data
capability
domestic: digital telephone system; mobile-cellular services
international: country code - 1-787, 939; submarine cables provide
connectivity to the US, Caribbean, Central and South America;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
Broadcast media:
more than 30 television stations operating; cable TV subscription
services are available; roughly 125 radio stations operating (2007)
Internet country code:
.pr
Internet hosts:
482 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 182
Internet users:
1 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 100
Transportation ::Puerto Rico
Airports:
29 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 117
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 5 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 10 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 26,670 km
country comparison to the world: 102
paved: 25,337 km (includes 427 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,333 km (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 3
country comparison to the world: 138
by type: roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 3 (US 3)
registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Ensenada Honda, Mayaguez, Playa de Guayanilla, Playa de Ponce, San
Juan
Military ::Puerto Rico
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard,
Police Force
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 704,833
females age 16-49: 788,234 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 30,616
female: 29,196 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues ::Puerto Rico
Disputes - international:
increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic
cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Qatar (Middle East)
Introduction ::Qatar
Background:
Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed
itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling
into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas
revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy
was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by
the Amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. His son, the current
Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, overthrew him in a bloodless coup
in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes
with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. As of 2007, oil and natural gas
revenues had enabled Qatar to attain the second-highest per capita
income in the world.
Geography ::Qatar
Location:
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
25 30 N, 51 15 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 11,586 sq km
country comparison to the world: 165
land: 11,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 60 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline:
563 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or
the median line
Climate:
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain:
mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Tuwayyir al Hamir 103 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use:
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0.27%
other: 98.09% (2005)
Irrigated land:
130 sq km (2002)
Total renewable water resources:
0.1 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.29 cu km/yr (24%/3%/72%)
per capita: 358 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on
large-scale desalination facilities
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum
deposits
People ::Qatar
Population:
840,926 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.8% (male 93,805/female 88,040)
15-64 years: 76.8% (male 454,714/female 185,004)
65 years and over: 1.4% (male 6,792/female 4,930) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.8 years
male: 32.9 years
female: 25.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.869% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Birth rate:
15.54 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Death rate:
2.44 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223
Net migration rate:
-4.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Urbanization:
urban population: 96% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.056 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.44 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.36 male(s)/female
total population: 1.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.24 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 137
male: 13.02 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.51 years
country comparison to the world: 83
male: 73.78 years
female: 77.33 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.44 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Qatari(s)
adjective: Qatari
Ethnic groups:
Arab 40%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Religions:
Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 census)
Languages:
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 89.1%
female: 88.6% (2004 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 15 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.3% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 140
Government ::Qatar
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Qatar
conventional short form: Qatar
local long form: Dawlat Qatar
local short form: Qatar
note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls
between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar
Government type:
emirate
Capital:
name: Doha
geographic coordinates: 25 17 N, 51 32 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
7 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al
Khawr wa adh Dhakhirah, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Ash Shamal, Az
Za'ayin, Umm Salal
Independence:
3 September 1971 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 September (1971); also observed is National Day,
18 December (anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne)
Constitution:
ratified by public referendum on 29 April 2003, endorsed by the Amir
on 8 June 2004, effective on 9 June 2005
Legal system:
based on Islamic and civil law codes; discretionary system of law
controlled by the Amir, although civil codes are being implemented;
Islamic law dominates family and personal matters; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995
when, as heir apparent, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad
Al Thani, in a bloodless coup); Heir Apparent TAMIM bin Hamad bin
Khalifa Al Thani, fourth son of the amir (selected Heir Apparent by
the amir on 5 August 2003); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the
positions of Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed
Forces
head of government: Prime Minister HAMAD bin Jasim bin Jabir Al
Thani (since 3 April 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah bin Hamad
al-ATIYAH (since 3 April 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the amir
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the amir is hereditary
note: in April 2007, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member
Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has limited consultative
powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services; the
first election for the CMC was held in March 1999
Legislative branch:
unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members
appointed)
note: no legislative elections have been held since 1970 when there
were partial elections to the body; Council members have had their
terms extended every year since the new constitution came into force
on 9 June 2005; the constitution provides for a new 45-member
Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura; the public would elect 30
members and the Amir would appoint 15; elections to the Majlis
al-Shura are tentatively scheduled for June 2010
Judicial branch:
Courts of First Instance, Appeal, and Cassation; an Administrative
Court and a Constitutional Court were established in 2007; note -
all judges are appointed by Amiri Decree based on the recommendation
of the Supreme Judiciary Council for renewable three-year terms
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CICA (observer), FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA,
NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ali Fahad al-Shahwany al-HAJRI
chancery: 2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603
FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061
consulate(s) general: Houston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph E. LEBARON
embassy: Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Doha
mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone: [974] 488 4161
FAX: [974] 488 4150
Flag description:
maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the
hoist side; maroon represents the blood shed in Qatari wars, white
stands for peace; the nine-pointed serrated edge signifies Qatar as
the ninth member of the "reconciled emirates" in the wake of the
Qatari-British treaty of 1916
note: the other eight emirates are the seven that compose the UAE
and Bahrain; according to some sources, the dominant color was
formerly red, but this darkened to maroon upon exposure to the sun
and the new shade was eventually adopted
National anthem:
name: "Al-Salam Al-Amiri" (The Peace for the Anthem)
lyrics/music: Sheikh MUBARAK bin Saif al-Thani/Abdul Aziz Nasser
OBAIDAN
note: adopted 1996; the anthem was first performed that year at a
meeting of the Gulf Cooperative Council hosted by Qatar
Economy ::Qatar
Economy - overview:
Despite the global financial crisis, Qatar has prospered in the last
several years - in 2010 Qatar had the world's highest growth rate.
Qatari authorities throughout the crisis sought to protect the local
banking sector with direct investments into domestic banks. GDP
rebounded in 2010 largely due to the increase in oil prices.
Economic policy is focused on developing Qatar's nonassociated
natural gas reserves and increasing private and foreign investment
in non-energy sectors, but oil and gas still account for more than
50% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government
revenues. Oil and gas have made Qatar the second highest per-capita
income country - following Liechtenstein - and likely the country
with the lowest unemployment. Proved oil reserves of 15 billion
barrels should enable continued output at current levels for 37
years. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 25 trillion
cubic meters, about 14% of the world total and third largest in the
world. Qatar's successful 2022 world cup bid will likely accelerate
large-scale infrastructure projects such as Qatar's metro system and
the Qatar-Bahrain causeway.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$122.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$102.3 billion (2009 est.)
$93.44 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$126.5 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
19.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
9.5% (2009 est.)
11.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$145,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
$122,800 (2009 est.)
$113,300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 78.8%
services: 21.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.254 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Unemployment rate:
0.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
0.5% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
33% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Public debt:
10.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
14% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
-4.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
5.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 80
5.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.04% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
6.84% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$15.98 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 66
$14.59 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$65.95 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$59.09 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$70.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
$69.21 billion (31 December 2009)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$87.86 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 42
$76.31 billion (31 December 2008)
$95.49 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish
Industries:
liquefied natural gas, crude oil production and refining, ammonia,
fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement,
commercial ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:
27.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Electricity - production:
15.11 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Electricity - consumption:
13.73 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
1.213 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Oil - consumption:
142,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Oil - exports:
753,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Oil - proved reserves:
25.41 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Natural gas - production:
76.98 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Natural gas - consumption:
20.2 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Natural gas - exports:
56.78 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Natural gas - proved reserves:
25.47 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Current account balance:
$20.11 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
$809 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$57.82 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$33.28 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
Exports - partners:
Japan 34.68%, South Korea 22.44%, Singapore 10.03%, India 4.86%
(2009)
Imports:
$23.38 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$20.89 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:
US 13.43%, Italy 8.34%, South Korea 8.33%, Japan 8.04%, Germany
7.31%, France 6.26%, UK 5.59%, China 5%, UAE 4.67%, Saudi Arabia
3.96% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$22.41 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$18.81 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$71.38 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$70.37 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$26.38 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
$20.75 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$19.49 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
$14.27 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar - 3.64 (2010), 3.64 (2009), 3.64
(2008), 3.64 (2007), 3.64 (2006)
Communications ::Qatar
Telephones - main lines in use:
285,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 116
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.472 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 122
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system centered in Doha
domestic: combined fixed and mobile-cellular telephone
subscribership exceeds 300 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 974; landing point for the Fiber-Optic
Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides
links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and the US; tropospheric scatter
to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and the UAE;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian
Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (2009)
Broadcast media:
television and radio broadcast media are state controlled; home of
the satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera, which was originally owned and
financed by the Qatari Government; Al-Jazeera claims editorial
independence in broadcasting; transmissions of several international
broadcasters are accessible on FM in Doha (2007)
Internet country code:
.qa
Internet hosts:
822 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 170
Internet users:
563,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 117
Transportation ::Qatar
Airports:
6 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 173
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 145 km; condensate/gas 132 km; gas 980 km; liquid
petroleum gas 90 km; oil 382 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 7,790 km (2006)
country comparison to the world: 144
Merchant marine:
total: 29
country comparison to the world: 86
by type: bulk carrier 3, chemical tanker 2, container 14, liquefied
gas 6, petroleum tanker 4
foreign-owned: 7 (Kuwait 7)
registered in other countries: 30 (Liberia 5, Marshall Islands 24,
Panama 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Doha, Mesaieed (Umaieed), Ra's Laffan
Military ::Qatar
Military branches:
Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN), Qatari
Amiri Air Force (QAAF) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 387,399
females age 16-49: 163,652 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 320,277
females age 16-49: 138,558 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 6,403
female: 5,144 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
10% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Transnational Issues ::Qatar
Disputes - international:
none
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Qatar is a destination country for men and women
from South and Southeast Asia who migrate willingly, but are
subsequently trafficked into involuntary servitude as domestic
workers and laborers, and, to a lesser extent, commercial sexual
exploitation; the most common offense was forcing workers to accept
worse contract terms than those under which they were recruited;
other conditions include bonded labor, withholding of pay,
restrictions on movement, arbitrary detention, and physical, mental,
and sexual abuse
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the Government of Qatar does not
fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of
trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in
February 2009, Qatar enacted a new migrant worker sponsorship law
that criminalizes some practices commonly used by trafficking
offenders, and it announced plans to use that law effectively to
prevent human trafficking; punishment for offenses related to
trafficking in persons remains lower than that for crimes such as
rape and kidnapping, and the Qatari government has yet to take
significant action to investigate, prosecute, and punish trafficking
offenses; the government continues to lack formal victim
identification procedures and, as a result, victims of trafficking
are likely punished for acts committed as a direct result of being
trafficked (2009)
page last updated on January 27, 2011
======================================================================
@Romania (Europe)
Introduction ::Romania
Background:
The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under
the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their
autonomy in 1856; they united in 1859 and a few years later adopted
the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its
independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and
acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the
conflict. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and
participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years
later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The
post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a Communist
"people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The
decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in
1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive
and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and
executed in late 1989. Former Communists dominated the government
until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania joined NATO in
2004 and the EU in 2007.
Geography ::Romania
Location:
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and
Ukraine
Geographic coordinates:
46 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 238,391 sq km
country comparison to the world: 82
land: 229,891 sq km
water: 8,500 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 2,508 km
border countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km,
Serbia 476 km, Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east) 169 km
Coastline:
225 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny
summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Terrain:
central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Moldavian Plateau
on the east by the Eastern Carpathian Mountains and separated from
the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m
Natural resources:
petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore,
salt, arable land, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 39.49%
permanent crops: 1.92%
other: 58.59% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30,770 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
42.3 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 6.5 cu km/yr (9%/34%/57%)
per capita: 299 cu m/yr (2003)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure
and climate promote landslides
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in
south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta
wetlands
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans,
Moldova, and Ukraine
People ::Romania
Population:
21,959,278 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.5% (male 1,772,583/female 1,681,539)
15-64 years: 69.7% (male 7,711,062/female 7,784,041)
65 years and over: 14.7% (male 1,332,120/female 1,934,076) (2010
est.)
Median age:
total: 38.4 years
male: 36.9 years
female: 39.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.247% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
Birth rate:
9.58 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Death rate:
11.78 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Net migration rate:
-0.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Urbanization:
urban population: 54% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.32 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 145
male: 12.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.74 years
country comparison to the world: 110
male: 70.26 years
female: 77.42 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.27 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
15,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
350 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Nationality:
noun: Romanian(s)
adjective: Romanian
Ethnic groups:
Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma 2.5%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German
0.3%, Russian 0.2%, Turkish 0.2%, other 0.4% (2002 census)
Religions:
Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 86.8%, Protestant
(various denominations including Reformate and Pentecostal) 7.5%,
Roman Catholic 4.7%, other (mostly Muslim) and unspecified 0.9%,
none 0.1% (2002 census)
Languages:
Romanian 91% (official), Hungarian 6.7%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other
1.2%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.3%
male: 98.4%
female: 96.3% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
4.4% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 94
Government ::Romania
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Romania
local long form: none
local short form: Romania
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Bucharest
geographic coordinates: 44 26 N, 26 06 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:
41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality*
(municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud,
Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti (Bucharest)*, Buzau, Calarasi,
Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati,
Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov,
Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare,
Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea
Independence:
9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire;
independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin); 26
March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic
proclaimed)
National holiday:
Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)
Constitution:
8 December 1991; revised 29 October 2003
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Traian BASESCU (since 20 December 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Emil BOC (since 22 December
2008); Deputy Prime Minister Marko BELA (since 23 December 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 November 2009
with runoff on 6 December 2009 (next to be held in November-December
2014); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of
the Parliament
election results: Traian BASESCU reelected president; percent of
vote - Traian BASESCU 50.3%, Mircea GEOANA 49.7%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat
(137 seats; members elected by popular vote in a mixed electoral
system to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or
Camera Deputatilor (334 seats; members elected by popular vote in a
mixed electoral system to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 30 November 2008 (next expected to
be held in November 2012); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 30
November 2008 (next expected to be held in November 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by alliance/party -
PSD-PC 34.2%, PDL 33.6%, PNL 18.7%, UDMR 6.4%, other 7.1%; seats by
alliance/party - PSD-PC 49, PDL 51, PNL 28, UDMR 9; Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PC 33.1%, PDL
32.4%, PNL 18.6%, UDMR 6.2%, ethnic minorities 3.6%, other 6.1%;
seats by alliance/party - PDL 115, PSD-PC 114, PNL 65, UDMR 22,
ethnic minorities 18
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (comprised of 11 judges appointed for
three-year terms by the president in consultation with the Superior
Council of Magistrates, which is comprised of the minister of
justice, the prosecutor general, two civil society representatives
appointed by the Senate, and 14 judges and prosecutors elected by
their peers); a separate body, the Constitutional Court, validates
elections and makes decisions regarding the constitutionality of
laws, treaties, ordinances, and internal rules of the Parliament; it
is comprised of nine members serving nine-year terms, with three
members each appointed by the president, the Senate, and the Chamber
of Deputies
Political parties and leaders:
Conservative Party or PC [Daniel CONSTANTIN] (formerly Humanist
Party or PUR); Democratic Liberal Party or PDL [Emil BOC];
Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO];
National Liberal Party or PNL [Crin ANTONESCU]; National Union for
Romania's Progress or UNPR [Gabriel OPREA]; Social Democratic Party
or PSD [Victor PONTA] (formerly Party of Social Democracy in Romania
or PDSR)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: various human rights and professional associations
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD,
EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer),
MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Adrian Cosmin VIERITA
chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851, 4852
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark GITENSTEIN
embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest
mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Bucharest, US Department of
State, 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch)
telephone: [40] (21) 200-3300
FAX: [40] (21) 200-3442
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red;
modeled after the flag of France, the colors are those of the
principalities of Walachia (red and yellow) and Moldavia (red and
blue), which united in 1861 to form Romania; the national coat of
arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed
note: now similar to the flag of Chad, whose blue band is darker;
also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova
National anthem:
name: "Desteapta-te romane!" (Wake up, Romanian)
lyrics/music: Andrei MURESIANU/Anton PANN
note: adopted 1990; the anthem was written during the 1848 Revolution
Economy ::Romania
Economy - overview:
Romania, which joined the European Union on 1 January 2007, began
the transition from Communism in 1989 with a largely obsolete
industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's
needs. The country emerged in 2000 from a punishing three-year
recession thanks to strong demand in EU export markets. Domestic
consumption and investment have fueled strong GDP growth in recent
years, but have led to large current account imbalances. Romania's
macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of a
middle class and address Romania's widespread poverty. Corruption
and red tape continue to handicap its business environment.
Inflation rose in 2007-08, driven in part by strong consumer demand
and high wage growth, rising energy costs, a nation-wide drought
affecting food prices, and a relaxation of fiscal discipline.
Romania's GDP contracted markedly in the last quarter of 2008 as the
country began to feel the effects of a global downturn in financial
markets and trade, and GDP fell more than 7% in 2009, prompting
Bucharest to seek a $26 billion emergency assistance package from
the IMF, the EU, and other international lenders. Drastic austerity
measures, as part of Romania's IMF-led agreement led to a further
1.9% GDP contraction in 2010. The economy is expected to return to
positive growth in 2011.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$253.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$258.2 billion (2009 est.)
$277.9 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$158.4 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
-7.1% (2009 est.)
7.1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$11,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
$11,700 (2009 est.)
$12,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.8%
industry: 36%
services: 51.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
9.35 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 29.7%
industry: 23.2%
services: 47.1% (2006)
Unemployment rate:
8.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
7.8% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
25% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 20.8% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 103
28.8 (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Public debt:
34.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
24% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
5.6% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA%
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
17.28% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
14.99% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$24.39 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 60
$26.03 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$63.67 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
$61.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$77.46 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$72.45 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$30.32 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 61
$19.92 billion (31 December 2008)
$44.93 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes;
eggs, sheep
Industries:
electric machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, light
machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials,
metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate:
1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Electricity - production:
58.28 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Electricity - consumption:
49.44 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Electricity - exports:
5.169 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
921 million kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
117,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Oil - consumption:
214,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Oil - exports:
115,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Oil - imports:
217,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Oil - proved reserves:
600 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Natural gas - production:
11.42 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Natural gas - consumption:
16.92 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Natural gas - imports:
5.5 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Natural gas - proved reserves:
63 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Current account balance:
-$7.934 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
-$7.139 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$51.91 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$40.6 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, metals and metal
products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals,
agricultural products
Exports - partners:
Germany 18.76%, Italy 15.42%, France 8.2%, Turkey 4.99%, Hungary
4.33% (2009)
Imports:
$59.84 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
$50.03 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals, textile and
products, metals, agricultural products
Imports - partners:
Germany 17.3%, Italy 11.78%, Hungary 8.36%, France 6.14%, China
4.91%, Austria 4.75% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$50.51 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$44.11 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$108.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
$110 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$80.16 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
$73.96 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.831 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$1.731 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
lei (RON) per US dollar - 3.2 (2010), 3.0493 (2009), 2.5 (2008),
2.43 (2007), 2.809 (2006)
Communications ::Romania
Telephones - main lines in use:
5.313 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 30
Telephones - mobile cellular:
25.377 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 34
Telephone system:
general assessment: the telecommunications sector is being expanded
and modernized; domestic and international service improving
rapidly, especially mobile-cellular services
domestic: more than 90 percent of telephone network is automatic;
fixed-line teledensity exceeds 20 telephones per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular teledensity, expanding rapidly, roughly 115
telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 40; the Black Sea Fiber Optic System
provides connectivity to Bulgaria and Turkey; satellite earth
stations - 10; digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate
in Bucharest (2009)
Broadcast media:
a mixture of public and private TV stations; the public broadcaster
operates multiple stations; roughly 100 private national, regional,
and local stations operating; more than 75% of households are
connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV systems that
provide access to Romanian, European, and international stations;
state-owned public radio broadcaster operates 4 national networks
and regional and local stations; more than 100 private radio
stations broadcasting (2008)
Internet country code:
.ro
Internet hosts:
2.464 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 34
Internet users:
7.787 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 37
Transportation ::Romania
Airports:
54 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 88
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 28
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 21 (2010)
Heliports:
3 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 3,588 km; oil 2,424 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 10,788 km
country comparison to the world: 21
broad gauge: 57 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 10,731 km 1.435-m gauge (3,965 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 198,817 km
country comparison to the world: 25
paved: 60,043 km (includes 281 km of expressways)
unpaved: 138,774 km (2008)
Waterways:
1,731 km
country comparison to the world: 48
note: includes 1,075 km on Danube River, 524 km on secondary
branches, and 132 km on canals (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 15
country comparison to the world: 102
by type: cargo 10, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll
on/roll off 1
registered in other countries: 35 (Cambodia 1, Georgia 7, Liberia 3,
Malta 8, Marshall Islands 2, Moldova 2, North Korea 1, Panama 2,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Sierra Leone 4, Syria 1, Togo 1,
unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Braila, Constanta, Galati (Galatz), Mancanului (Giurgiu), Midia,
Tulcea
Military ::Romania
Military branches:
Land Forces, Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force (Fortele Aeriene
Romane, FAR), Special Operations (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-35 years of age for male and female voluntary military service;
conscription officially ended October 2006; all military inductees
(including women) contract for an initial 5-year term of service,
with subsequent successive contracts for 3-year terms until age 36
(2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,617,144
females age 16-49: 5,487,510 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,513,619
females age 16-49: 4,566,620 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 121,391
female: 115,258 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Transnational Issues ::Romania
Disputes - international:
the ICJ gave Ukraine until December 2006 to reply, and Romania until
June 2007 to issue a rejoinder, in their dispute submitted in 2004
over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and
Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; Romania also opposes
Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border
through Ukraine to the Black Sea
Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the
Balkan route and small amounts of Latin American cocaine bound for
Western Europe; although not a significant financial center, role as
a narcotics conduit leaves it vulnerable to laundering, which occurs
via the banking system, currency exchange houses, and casinos
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Russia (Central Asia)
Introduction ::Russia
Background:
Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy, was able
to emerge from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th
centuries) and to gradually conquer and absorb surrounding
principalities. In the early 17th century, a new Romanov Dynasty
continued this policy of expansion across Siberia to the Pacific.
Under PETER I (ruled 1682-1725), hegemony was extended to the Baltic
Sea and the country was renamed the Russian Empire. During the 19th
century, more territorial acquisitions were made in Europe and Asia.
Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 contributed to the
Revolution of 1905, which resulted in the formation of a parliament
and other reforms. Repeated devastating defeats of the Russian army
in World War I led to widespread rioting in the major cities of the
Russian Empire and to the overthrow in 1917 of the imperial
household. The Communists under Vladimir LENIN seized power soon
after and formed the USSR. The brutal rule of Iosif STALIN (1928-53)
strengthened Communist rule and Russian dominance of the Soviet
Union at a cost of tens of millions of lives. The Soviet economy and
society stagnated in the following decades until General Secretary
Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91) introduced glasnost (openness) and
perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to modernize Communism,
but his initiatives inadvertently released forces that by December
1991 splintered the USSR into Russia and 14 other independent
republics. Since then, Russia has shifted its post-Soviet democratic
ambitions in favor of a centralized semi-authoritarian state whose
legitimacy is buttressed, in part, by carefully managed national
elections, former President PUTIN's genuine popularity, and the
prudent management of Russia's windfall energy wealth. Russia has
severely disabled a Chechen rebel movement, although violence still
occurs throughout the North Caucasus.
Geography ::Russia
Location:
Northern Asia (the area west of the Urals is considered part of
Europe), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North
Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates:
60 00 N, 100 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 17,098,242 sq km
country comparison to the world: 1
land: 16,377,742 sq km
water: 720,500 sq km
Area - comparative:
approximately 1.8 times the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 20,241.5 km
border countries: Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China
(southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 290 km, Finland
1,313 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 17.5 km,
Latvia 292 km, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia 3,441
km, Norway 196 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Ukraine 1,576
km
Coastline:
37,653 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much
of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the
polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid
in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along
Arctic coast
Terrain:
broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and
tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border
regions
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Gora El'brus 5,633 m
Natural resources:
wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, natural
gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, reserves of rare earth
elements, timber
note: formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder
exploitation of natural resources
Land use:
arable land: 7.17%
permanent crops: 0.11%
other: 92.72% (2005)
Irrigated land:
46,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
4,498 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 76.68 cu km/yr (19%/63%/18%)
per capita: 535 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to
development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and
earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula; spring floods and
summer/autumn forest fires throughout Siberia and parts of European
Russia
volcanism: Russia experiences significant volcanic activity on the
Kamchatka Peninsula and Kuril Islands; the peninsula alone is home
to some 29 historically active volcanoes, with dozens more in the
Kuril Islands; Kliuchevskoi (elev. 4,835 m, 15,863 ft), which
erupted in 2007 and 2010, is Kamchatka's most active volcano;
Avachinsky and Koryaksky volcanoes, which pose a threat to the city
of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, have been deemed "Decade Volcanoes" by
the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the
Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and
close proximity to human populations; other notable historically
active volcanoes include Bezymianny, Chikurachki, Ebeko, Gorely,
Grozny, Karymsky, Ketoi, Kronotsky, Ksudach, Medvezhia, Mutnovsky,
Sarychev Peak, Shiveluch, Tiatia, Tolbachik, and Zheltovsky
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electric
plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial, municipal,
and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts;
deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper
application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimes
intense radioactive contamination; groundwater contamination from
toxic waste; urban solid waste management; abandoned stocks of
obsolete pesticides
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 85, 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, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
Geography - note:
largest country in the world in terms of area but unfavorably
located in relation to major sea lanes of the world; despite its
size, much of the country lacks proper soils and climates (either
too cold or too dry) for agriculture; Mount El'brus is Europe's
tallest peak
People ::Russia
Population:
139,390,205 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.8% (male 10,644,833/female 10,095,011)
15-64 years: 71.5% (male 48,004,040/female 52,142,313)
65 years and over: 13.7% (male 5,880,877/female 13,274,173) (2010
est.)
Median age:
total: 38.5 years
male: 35.3 years
female: 41.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.465% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
Birth rate:
11.11 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Death rate:
16.04 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Net migration rate:
0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Urbanization:
urban population: 73% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.44 male(s)/female
total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 10.32 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 150
male: 11.83 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.16 years
country comparison to the world: 160
male: 59.54 years
female: 73.17 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.41 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
940,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
40,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne disease: tickborne encephalitis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Russian(s)
adjective: Russian
Ethnic groups:
Russian 79.8%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 2%, Bashkir 1.2%, Chuvash 1.1%,
other or unspecified 12.1% (2002 census)
Religions:
Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2% (2006
est.)
note: estimates are of practicing worshipers; Russia has large
populations of non-practicing believers and non-believers, a legacy
of over seven decades of Soviet rule
Languages:
Russian (official), many minority languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.9% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 109
Government ::Russia
Country name:
conventional long form: Russian Federation
conventional short form: Russia
local long form: Rossiyskaya Federatsiya
local short form: Rossiya
former: Russian Empire, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
Government type:
federation
Capital:
name: Moscow
geographic coordinates: 55 45 N, 37 35 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Russia is divided into 9 time zones
Administrative divisions:
46 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast), 21 republics (respublik,
singular - respublika), 4 autonomous okrugs (avtonomnykh okrugov,
singular - avtonomnyy okrug), 9 krays (krayev, singular - kray), 2
federal cities (goroda, singular - gorod), and 1 autonomous oblast
(avtonomnaya oblast')
oblasts: Amur (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangel'sk, Astrakhan', Belgorod,
Bryansk, Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kaluga,
Kemerovo, Kirov, Kostroma, Kurgan, Kursk, Leningrad, Lipetsk,
Magadan, Moscow, Murmansk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Novgorod, Novosibirsk,
Omsk, Orenburg, Orel, Penza, Pskov, Rostov, Ryazan', Sakhalin
(Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samara, Saratov, Smolensk, Sverdlovsk
(Yekaterinburg), Tambov, Tomsk, Tula, Tver', Tyumen', Ul'yanovsk,
Vladimir, Volgograd, Vologda, Voronezh, Yaroslavl'
republics: Adygeya (Maykop), Altay (Gorno-Altaysk), Bashkortostan
(Ufa), Buryatiya (Ulan-Ude), Chechnya (Groznyy), Chuvashiya
(Cheboksary), Dagestan (Makhachkala), Ingushetiya (Magas),
Kabardino-Balkariya (Nal'chik), Kalmykiya (Elista),
Karachayevo-Cherkesiya (Cherkessk), Kareliya (Petrozavodsk),
Khakasiya (Abakan), Komi (Syktyvkar), Mariy-El (Yoshkar-Ola),
Mordoviya (Saransk), North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz), Sakha [Yakutiya]
(Yakutsk), Tatarstan (Kazan'), Tyva (Kyzyl), Udmurtiya (Izhevsk)
autonomous okrugs: Chukotka (Anadyr'), Khanty-Mansi
(Khanty-Mansiysk), Nenets (Nar'yan-Mar), Yamalo-Nenets (Salekhard)
krays: Altay (Barnaul), Kamchatka (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy),
Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Perm', Primorskiy [Maritime]
(Vladivostok), Stavropol', Zabaykal'sk (Chita)
federal cities: Moscow [Moskva], Saint Petersburg [Sankt-Peterburg]
autonomous oblast: Yevrey [Jewish] (Birobidzhan)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence:
24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 1157
(Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal created); 16 January 1547 (Tsardom
of Muscovy established); 22 October 1721 (Russian Empire
proclaimed); 30 December 1922 (Soviet Union established)
National holiday:
Russia Day, 12 June (1990)
Constitution:
adopted 12 December 1993
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Dmitriy Anatolyevich MEDVEDEV (since 7 May
2008)
head of government: Premier Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN (since 8
May 2008); First Deputy Premiers Igor Ivanovich SHUVALOV and Viktor
Alekseyevich ZUBKOV (since 12 May 2008); Deputy Premiers Sergey
Borisovich IVANOV (since 12 May 2008), Aleksandr Gennadiyevich
KHLOPONIN (since 19 January 2010), Dmitriy Nikolayevich KOZAK (since
14 October 2008), Aleksey Leonidovich KUDRIN (since 24 September
2007), Igor Ivanovich SECHIN (since 12 May 2008), Vyacheslav
Viktorovich VOLODIN (since 21 October 2010), Aleksandr Dmitriyevich
ZHUKOV (since 9 March 2004)
cabinet: the "Government" is composed of the premier, his deputies,
and ministers; all are appointed by the president, and the premier
is also confirmed by the Duma
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
note: there is also a Presidential Administration (PA) that provides
staff and policy support to the president, drafts presidential
decrees, and coordinates policy among government agencies; a
Security Council also reports directly to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 2 March 2008 (next
to be held in March 2012); note - the term length was extended to
six years in late 2008, to go into effect following the 2012
presidential election; there is no vice president; if the president
dies in office, cannot exercise his powers because of ill health, is
impeached, or resigns, the premier serves as acting president until
a new presidential election is held, which must be within three
months; premier appointed by the president with the approval of the
Duma
election results: Dmitriy MEDVEDEV elected president; percent of
vote - Dmitriy MEDVEDEV 70.2%, Gennady ZYUGANOV 17.7%, Vladimir
ZHIRINOVSKY 9.4%, Andrey BOGDANOV 1.3%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Assembly or Federalnoye Sobraniye consists of an
upper house, the Federation Council or Sovet Federatsii (166 seats;
as of July 2000, members appointed by the top executive and
legislative officials in each of the 83 federal administrative units
- oblasts, krays, republics, autonomous okrugs and oblasts, and the
federal cities of Moscow and Saint Petersburg; members to serve
four-year terms) and a lower house, the State Duma or
Gosudarstvennaya Duma (450 seats; as of 2007, all members elected by
proportional representation from party lists winning at least 7% of
the vote; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: State Duma - last held on 2 December 2007 (next to be
held in December 2011)
election results: State Duma - United Russia 64.3%, CPRF 11.5%, LDPR
8.1%, Just Russia 7.7%, other 8.4%; total seats by party - United
Russia 315, CPRF 57, LDPR 40, Just Russia 38
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Supreme Arbitration Court;
judges for all courts are appointed for life by the Federation
Council on the recommendation of the president
Political parties and leaders:
A Just Russia [Sergey MIRONOV]; Communist Party of the Russian
Federation or CPRF [Gennadiy Andreyevich ZYUGANOV]; Liberal
Democratic Party of Russia or LDPR [Vladimir Volfovich
ZHIRINOVSKIY]; Patriots of Russia [Gennadiy SEMIGIN]; Right Cause
[Leonid Yakovlevich GOZMAN, Boris Yuriyevich TITOV, and Georgiy
Georgiyevich BOVT] (formed from merger of Civic Force, Democratic
Party of Russia, and Union of Right Forces); United Russia [Vladimir
Vladimirovich PUTIN]; Yabloko Party [Sergey Sergeyevich MITROKHIN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Association of Citizens with Initiative of Russia (TIGR);
Confederation of Labor of Russia (KTR); Federation of Independent
Labor Unions of Russia; Freedom of Choice Interregional Organization
of Automobilists; Glasnost Defense Foundation; Golos Association in
Defense of Voters' Rights; Greenpeace Russia; Human Rights Watch
(Russian chapter); Institute for Collective Action; Memorial (human
rights group); Movement Against Illegal Migration; Pamjat
(preservation of historical monuments and recording of history);
Russian Orthodox Church; Russian Federation of Car Owners;
Russian-Chechen Friendship Society; SOVA Analytical-Information
Center; Union of the Committees of Soldiers' Mothers; World Wildlife
Fund (Russian chapter)
International organization participation:
APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, BSEC,
CBSS, CE, CERN (observer), CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, FAO,
FATF, G-20, G-8, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD (accession state), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE,
Paris Club, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sergey Ivanovich KISLYAK
chancery: 2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 298-5700, 5701, 5704, 5708
FAX: [1] (202) 298-5735
consulate(s) general: Houston, New York, San Francisco, Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John R. BEYRLE
embassy: Bolshoy Deviatinskiy Pereulok No. 8, 121099 Moscow
mailing address: PSC-77, APO AE 09721
telephone: [7] (495) 728-5000
FAX: [7] (495) 728-5090
consulate(s) general: Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red
note: the colors may have been based on those of the Dutch flag;
despite many popular interpretations, there is no official meaning
assigned to the colors of the Russian flag; this flag inspired other
Slav countries to adopt horizontal tricolors of the same colors but
in different arrangements, and so red, blue, and white became the
Pan-Slav colors
National anthem:
name: "Gimn Rossiyskoy Federatsii" (National Anthem of the Russian
Federation)
lyrics/music: Sergei Vladimirovich MIKHALKOV/Alexandr Vasilievich
ALEXANDROV
note: in 2000, Russia adopted the tune of the anthem of the former
Soviet Union (composed in 1939); the lyrics, also adopted in 2000,
were written by the same person who authored the Soviet lyrics in
1943
Economy ::Russia
Economy - overview:
Russia has undergone significant changes since the collapse of the
Soviet Union, moving from a globally-isolated, centrally-planned
economy to a more market-based and globally-integrated economy.
Economic reforms in the 1990s privatized most industry, with notable
exceptions in the energy and defense-related sectors. The protection
of property rights is still weak and the private sector remains
subject to heavy state interference. Russian industry is primarily
split between globally-competitive commodity producers - in 2009
Russia was the world's largest exporter of natural gas, the second
largest exporter of oil, and the third largest exporter of steel and
primary aluminum - and other less competitive heavy industries that
remain dependent on the Russian domestic market. This reliance on
commodity exports makes Russia vulnerable to boom and bust cycles
that follow the highly volatile swings in global commodity prices.
The government since 2007 has embarked on an ambitious program to
reduce this dependency and build up the country's high technology
sectors, but with few results so far. The economy had averaged 7%
growth since the 1998 Russian financial crisis, resulting in a
doubling of real disposable incomes and the emergence of a middle
class. The Russian economy, however, was one of the hardest hit by
the 2008-09 global economic crisis as oil prices plummeted and the
foreign credits that Russian banks and firms relied on dried up. The
Central Bank of Russia spent one-third of its $600 billion
international reserves, the world's third largest, in late 2008 to
slow the devaluation of the ruble. The government also devoted $200
billion in a rescue plan to increase liquidity in the banking sector
and aid Russian firms unable to roll over large foreign debts coming
due. The economic decline bottomed out in mid-2009 and the economy
began to grow in the first quarter of 2010. However, a severe
drought and fires in central Russia reduced agricultural output,
prompting a ban on grain exports for part of the year, and slowed
growth in other sectors such as manufacturing and retail trade.
Russia's long-term challenges include a shrinking workforce, a high
level of corruption, difficulty in accessing capital for smaller,
non-energy companies, and poor infrastructure in need of large
investments.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.229 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$2.147 trillion (2009 est.)
$2.331 trillion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.477 trillion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
-7.9% (2009)
5.2% (2008)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$15,300 (2009 est.)
$16,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.2%
industry: 33.8%
services: 62% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
75.55 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 31.9%
services: 58.1% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
7.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
8.4% (2009)
Population below poverty line:
13.1% (2009)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 30.4% (September 2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
42.2 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 53
39.9 (2001)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Public debt:
9.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
8.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
11.7% (2009)
Central bank discount rate:
8.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 28
13% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15.31% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
12.23% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$269.1 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 16
$203.7 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$650.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$645.5 billion (31 December 2009)
Stock of domestic credit:
$549.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$420.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$861.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$1.322 trillion (31 December 2008)
$1.503 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, vegetables, fruits; beef, milk
Industries:
complete range of mining and extractive industries producing coal,
oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine building from
rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space vehicles;
defense industries including radar, missile production, and advanced
electronic components, shipbuilding; road and rail transportation
equipment; communications equipment; agricultural machinery,
tractors, and construction equipment; electric power generating and
transmitting equipment; medical and scientific instruments; consumer
durables, textiles, foodstuffs, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
8.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Electricity - production:
925.9 billion kWh (2009)
country comparison to the world: 5
Electricity - consumption:
857.6 billion kWh (2009)
country comparison to the world: 5
Electricity - exports:
17.7 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
3.066 billion kWh (2009)
Oil - production:
10.12 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Oil - consumption:
2.74 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Oil - exports:
5.43 million bbl/day (2009)
country comparison to the world: 2
Oil - imports:
42,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Oil - proved reserves:
74.2 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Natural gas - production:
583.6 billion cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 2
Natural gas - consumption:
439.6 billion cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 3
Natural gas - exports:
179.1 billion cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 1
Natural gas - imports:
35.1 billion cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 8
Natural gas - proved reserves:
47.57 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Current account balance:
$68.85 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
$48.97 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$376.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
$303.4 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, metals, wood and wood
products, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian and military
manufactures
Exports - partners:
Netherlands 10.62%, Italy 6.46%, Germany 6.24%, China 5.69%, Turkey
4.3%, Ukraine 4.01% (2009)
Imports:
$237.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$191.8 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, vehicles, pharmaceutical products, plastic, semi-finished
metal products, meat, fruits and nuts, optical and medical
instruments, iron, steel
Imports - partners:
Germany 14.39%, China 13.98%, Ukraine 5.48%, Italy 4.84%, US 4.46%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$483.1 billion (30 November 2010)
country comparison to the world: 2
$439.4 billion (31 December 2009)
Debt - external:
$480.2 billion (30 November 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$467.2 billion (31 December 2009)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$306.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
$256.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$260.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
$224.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Russian rubles (RUB) per US dollar - 30 (2010), 31.742 (2009),
24.853 (2008), 25.581 (2007), 27.191 (2006)
Communications ::Russia
Telephones - main lines in use:
44.802 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 4
Telephones - mobile cellular:
230.5 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 4
Telephone system:
general assessment: the telephone system is experiencing significant
changes; there are more than 1,000 companies licensed to offer
communication services; access to digital lines has improved,
particularly in urban centers; Internet and e-mail services are
improving; Russia has made progress toward building the
telecommunications infrastructure necessary for a market economy;
the estimated number of mobile subscribers jumped from fewer than 1
million in 1998 to some 230 million in 2009; a large demand for
fixed line service remains unsatisfied
domestic: cross-country digital trunk lines run from Saint
Petersburg to Khabarovsk, and from Moscow to Novorossiysk; the
telephone systems in 60 regional capitals have modern digital
infrastructures; cellular services, both analog and digital, are
available in many areas; in rural areas, the telephone services are
still outdated, inadequate, and low density
international: country code - 7; Russia is connected internationally
by undersea fiber optic cables; digital switches in several cities
provide more than 50,000 lines for international calls; satellite
earth stations provide access to Intelsat, Intersputnik, Eutelsat,
Inmarsat, and Orbita systems (2008)
Broadcast media:
6 national TV stations with the federal government owning 1 and
holding a controlling interest in a second; state-owned Gazprom
maintains a controlling interest in a third national channel;
government-affiliated Bank Rossiya owns controlling interest in a
fourth and fifth, while the sixth national channel is owned by the
Moscow city administration; roughly 3,300 national, regional, and
local TV stations operating with over two-thirds completely or
partially controlled by the federal or local governments; satellite
TV services are available; 2 state-run national radio networks with
a third majority-owned by Gazprom; roughly 2,400 public and
commercial radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.ru; note - Russia also has responsibility for a legacy domain ".su"
that was allocated to the Soviet Union and is being phased out
Internet hosts:
10.382 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 12
Internet users:
40.853 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 10
Transportation ::Russia
Airports:
1,213 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 5
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 593
over 3,047 m: 51
2,438 to 3,047 m: 201
1,524 to 2,437 m: 126
914 to 1,523 m: 98
under 914 m: 117 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 620
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 68
914 to 1,523 m: 84
under 914 m: 452 (2010)
Heliports:
50 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 122 km; gas 159,552 km; liquid petroleum gas 127 km; oil
74,285 km; refined products 13,658 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 87,157 km
country comparison to the world: 2
broad gauge: 86,200 km 1.520-m gauge (40,300 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 957 km 1.067-m gauge (on Sakhalin Island)
note: an additional 30,000 km of non-common carrier lines serve
industries (2006)
Roadways:
total: 982,000 km
country comparison to the world: 8
paved: 776,000 km (includes 30,000 km of expressways)
unpaved: 206,000 km
note: includes public, local, and departmental roads (2009)
Waterways:
102,000 km (including 48,000 km with guaranteed depth)
country comparison to the world: 2
note: 72,000 km system in European Russia links Baltic Sea, White
Sea, Caspian Sea, Sea of Azov, and Black Sea (2009)
Merchant marine:
total: 1,097
country comparison to the world: 11
by type: bulk carrier 22, cargo 634, carrier 2, chemical tanker 38,
combination ore/oil 39, container 13, passenger 15, passenger/cargo
6, petroleum tanker 236, refrigerated cargo 77, roll on/roll off 11,
specialized tanker 4
foreign-owned: 145 (Belgium 4, Cyprus 11, Italy 9, South Korea 1,
Switzerland 4, Turkey 104, Ukraine 12)
registered in other countries: 443 (Antigua and Barbuda 3, Belize
32, Bulgaria 2, Cambodia 60, Comoros 21, Cook Islands 1, Cyprus 47,
Dominica 6, Georgia 7, Hong Kong 1, Liberia 108, Malaysia 2, Malta
47, Marshall Islands 6, Moldova 5, Mongolia 4, Panama 39, Saint
Kitts and Nevis 11, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 15, Sierra
Leone 6, Vanuatu 1, unknown 19) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Kaliningrad, Kavkaz, Nakhodka, Novorossiysk, Primorsk, Saint
Petersburg, Vostochnyy
Military ::Russia
Military branches:
Ground Forces (Sukhoputnyye Voyskia, SV), Navy (Voyenno-Morskoy
Flot, VMF), Air Forces (Voyenno-Vozdushniye Sily, VVS); Airborne
Troops (VDV), Strategic Rocket Forces (Raketnyye Voyska
Strategicheskogo Naznacheniya, RVSN), and Space Troops
(Kosmicheskiye Voyska, KV) are independent "combat arms," not
subordinate to any of the three branches; Russian Ground Forces
include the following combat arms: motorized-rifle troops, tank
troops, missile and artillery troops, air defense of the ground
troops (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service;
males are registered for the draft at 17 years of age; service
obligation - 1 year (conscripts can only be sent to combat zones
after 6 months training); reserve obligation to age 50
note: over 60% of draft-age Russian males receive some type of
deferment - generally health related - each draft cycle (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 34,850,217
females age 16-49: 35,693,977 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 20,746,777
females age 16-49: 27,174,148 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 712,838
female: 678,623 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.9% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 26
Transnational Issues ::Russia
Disputes - international:
China and Russia have demarcated the once disputed islands at the
Amur and Ussuri confluence and in the Argun River in accordance with
the 2004 Agreement, ending their centuries-long border disputes; the
sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri,
Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern
Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kurils," occupied by the
Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia, and claimed by
Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty
formally ending World War II hostilities; Russia and Georgia agree
on delimiting all but small, strategic segments of the land boundary
and the maritime boundary; OSCE observers monitor volatile areas
such as the Pankisi Gorge in the Akhmeti region and the Kodori Gorge
in Abkhazia; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia signed equidistance
boundaries in the Caspian seabed but the littoral states have no
consensus on dividing the water column; Russia and Norway reached an
agreement on how to align Barents Sea and Arctic Ocean boundaries
over EEZ and continental shelf in an agreement signed on 15
September 2010; this agreement is pending ratification by the
respective national assemblies; various groups in Finland advocate
restoration of Karelia (Kareliya) and other areas ceded to the
Soviet Union following the Second World War but the Finnish
Government asserts no territorial demands; in May 2005, Russia
recalled its signatures to the 1996 border agreements with Estonia
(1996) and Latvia (1997), when the two Baltic states announced
issuance of unilateral declarations referencing Soviet occupation
and ensuing territorial losses; Russia demands better treatment of
ethnic Russians in Estonia and Latvia; Estonian citizen groups
continue to press for realignment of the boundary based on the 1920
Tartu Peace Treaty that would bring the now divided ethnic Setu
people and parts of the Narva region within Estonia; Lithuania and
Russia committed to demarcating their boundary in 2006 in accordance
with the land and maritime treaty ratified by Russia in May 2003 and
by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania operates a simplified transit regime
for Russian nationals traveling from the Kaliningrad coastal exclave
into Russia, while still conforming, as an EU member state with an
EU external border, where strict Schengen border rules apply;
preparations for the demarcation delimitation of land boundary with
Ukraine have commenced; the dispute over the boundary between Russia
and Ukraine through the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov remains
unresolved despite a December 2003 framework agreement and on-going
expert-level discussions; Kazakhstan and Russia boundary
delimitation was ratified on November 2005 and field demarcation
should commence in 2007; Russian Duma has not yet ratified 1990
Bering Sea Maritime Boundary Agreement with the US
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 18,000-160,000 (displacement from Chechnya and North Ossetia)
(2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Russia is a source, transit, and destination
country for men, women, and children trafficked for various
purposes; it remains a significant source of women trafficked to
over 50 countries for commercial sexual exploitation; Russia is also
a transit and destination country for men and women trafficked from
Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and North Korea to Central and Western
Europe and the Middle East for purposes of forced labor and sexual
exploitation; internal trafficking remains a problem in Russia with
women trafficked from rural areas to urban centers for commercial
sexual exploitation, and men trafficked internally and from Central
Asia for forced labor in the construction and agricultural
industries; debt bondage is common among trafficking victims, and
child sex tourism remains a concern
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Russia is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for a fifth consecutive year for its failure to show evidence of
increasing efforts to combat trafficking over the previous year,
particularly in providing assistance to victims of trafficking;
comprehensive trafficking victim assistance legislation, which would
address key deficiencies, has been pending before the Duma since
2003 and was neither passed nor enacted in 2007 (2008)
Illicit drugs:
limited cultivation of illicit cannabis and opium poppy and producer
of methamphetamine, mostly for domestic consumption; government has
active illicit crop eradication program; used as transshipment point
for Asian opiates, cannabis, and Latin American cocaine bound for
growing domestic markets, to a lesser extent Western and Central
Europe, and occasionally to the US; major source of heroin precursor
chemicals; corruption and organized crime are key concerns; major
consumer of opiates
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Rwanda (Africa)
Introduction ::Rwanda
Background:
In 1959, three years before independence from Belgium, the majority
ethnic group, the Hutus, overthrew the ruling Tutsi king. Over the
next several years, thousands of Tutsis were killed, and some
150,000 driven into exile in neighboring countries. The children of
these exiles later formed a rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front
(RPF), and began a civil war in 1990. The war, along with several
political and economic upheavals, exacerbated ethnic tensions,
culminating in April 1994 in the genocide of roughly 800,000 Tutsis
and moderate Hutus. The Tutsi rebels defeated the Hutu regime and
ended the killing in July 1994, but approximately 2 million Hutu
refugees - many fearing Tutsi retribution - fled to neighboring
Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zaire. Since then, most of the
refugees have returned to Rwanda, but several thousand remained in
the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC; the former
Zaire) and formed an extremist insurgency bent on retaking Rwanda,
much as the RPF tried in 1990. Rwanda held its first local elections
in 1999 and its first post-genocide presidential and legislative
elections in 2003. Rwanda in 2009 staged a joint military operation
with the Congolese Army in DRC to rout out the Hutu extremist
insurgency there and Kigali and Kinshasa restored diplomatic
relations. Rwanda also joined the Commonwealth in late 2009.
Geography ::Rwanda
Location:
Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates:
2 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 26,338 sq km
country comparison to the world: 148
land: 24,668 sq km
water: 1,670 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 893 km
border countries: Burundi 290 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo
217 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to
January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
Terrain:
mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude
declining from west to east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m
highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m
Natural resources:
gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane,
hydropower, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 45.56%
permanent crops: 10.25%
other: 44.19% (2005)
Irrigated land:
90 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
5.2 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.15 cu km/yr (24%/8%/68%)
per capita: 17 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the
northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo
volcanism: Visoke (elev. 3,711 m, 12,175 ft), located on the border
with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the country's only
historically active volcano
Environment - current issues:
deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel;
overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; most of the country is savanna grassland with the
population predominantly rural
People ::Rwanda
Population:
11,055,976
country comparison to the world: 74
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 2,309,323/female 2,277,269)
15-64 years: 54.8% (male 2,932,686/female 2,961,300)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 106,740/female 158,993) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.6 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 18.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.818% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Birth rate:
37.26 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Death rate:
10.19 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Net migration rate:
1.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Urbanization:
urban population: 18% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 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 (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 65.57 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 25
male: 69.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 61.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 57.46 years
country comparison to the world: 193
male: 56.06 years
female: 58.91 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.99 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
150,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
7,800 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Rwandan(s)
adjective: Rwandan
Ethnic groups:
Hutu (Bantu) 84%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 15%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim 4.6%,
indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001)
Languages:
Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French
(official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in
commercial centers
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.4%
male: 76.3%
female: 64.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 9 years
female: 9 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
4.1% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 104
People - note:
Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa
Government ::Rwanda
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Rwanda
conventional short form: Rwanda
local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda
local short form: Rwanda
former: Ruanda, German East Africa
Government type:
republic; presidential, multiparty system
Capital:
name: Kigali
geographic coordinates: 1 57 S, 30 04 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
4 provinces (in French - provinces, singular - province; in
Kinyarwanda - intara for singular and plural) and 1 city* (in French
- ville; in Kinyarwanda - umujyi); Est (Eastern), Kigali*, Nord
(Northern), Ouest (Western), Sud (Southern)
Independence:
1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Constitution:
new constitution passed by referendum 26 May 2003
Legal system:
based on German and Belgian civil law systems and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Bernard MAKUZA (since 8 March
2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: President elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); elections last held on 9 August 2010
(next to be held in 2017)
election results: Paul KAGAME elected to a second term as president;
Paul KAGAME 93.1%, Jean NTAWUKURIRYAYO 5.1%, Prosper HIGIRO 1.4%,
Alvera MUKABAR 0.4%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of Senate (26 seats; 12 members
elected by local councils, 8 appointed by the president, 4 appointed
by the Political Organizations Forum, 2 represent institutions of
higher learning; members to serve eight-year terms) and Chamber of
Deputies (80 seats; 53 members elected by popular vote, 24 women
elected by local bodies, 3 selected by youth and disability
organizations; members to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - members appointed as part of the transitional
government (next to be held in 2011); Chamber of Deputies - last
held on 15 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - RPF 78.8%, PSD 13.1%,
PL 7.5%; seats by party - RPF 42, PSD 7, PL 4, additional 27 members
indirectly elected
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; High Courts of the Republic; Provincial Courts;
District Courts; mediation committees
Political parties and leaders:
Centrist Democratic Party or PDC [Alfred MUKEZAMFURA]; Democratic
Popular Union of Rwanda or UDPR [Adrien RANGIRA]; Democratic
Republican Movement or MDR [Celestin KABANDA] (officially banned);
Islamic Democratic Party or PDI [Andre BUMAYA]; Liberal Party or PL
[Protais MITALI]; Party for Democratic Renewal (officially banned);
Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF [Paul KAGAME]; Social Democratic
Party or PSD [Vincent BIRUTA]; Solidarity and Prosperity Party or
PSP [Pheobe KANYANGE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
IBUKA (association of genocide survivors)
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CEPGL, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James KIMONYO
chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador W. Stuart SYMINGTON
embassy: 2657 Avenue de la Gendarmerie, Kigali
mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali
telephone: [250] 596-400
FAX: [250] 596-591
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double width), yellow, and
green, with a golden sun with 24 rays near the fly end of the blue
band; blue represents happiness and peace, yellow economic
development and mineral wealth, green hope of prosperity and natural
resources; the sun symbolizes unity, as well as enlightenment and
transparency from ignorance
National anthem:
name: "Rwanda nziza" (Rwanda, Our Beautiful Country)
lyrics/music: Faustin MURIGO/Jean-Bosco HASHAKAIMANA
note: adopted 2001
Economy ::Rwanda
Economy - overview:
Rwanda is a poor rural country with about 90% of the population
engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture and some mineral and
agro-processing. In 2008, minerals overtook coffee and tea as
Rwanda's primary foreign exchange earner. The 1994 genocide
decimated Rwanda's fragile economic base, severely impoverished the
population, particularly women, and temporarily stalled the
country's ability to attract private and external investment.
However, Rwanda has made substantial progress in stabilizing and
rehabilitating its economy to pre-1994 levels. GDP has rebounded and
inflation has been curbed. Nonetheless, a majority still live below
the poverty line of 250 Rwandan francs per day (about US$0.43).
Despite Rwanda's fertile ecosystem, food production often does not
keep pace with demand, requiring food imports. Rwanda continues to
receive substantial aid money and obtained IMF-World Bank Heavily
Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative debt relief in 2005-06.
Rwanda also received a Millennium Challenge Account Compact in 2008.
Africa's most densely populated country is trying to overcome the
limitations of its small, landlocked economy by leveraging regional
trade. Rwanda joined the East African Community and is aligning its
budget, trade, and immigration policies with its regional partners.
The government has embraced an expansionary fiscal policy to reduce
poverty by improving education, infrastructure, and foreign and
domestic investment and pursuing market-oriented reforms, although
energy shortages, instability in neighboring states, and lack of
adequate transportation linkages to other countries continue to
handicap growth. The global downturn hurt export demand and tourism,
but economic growth is recovering, driven in large part by the
services sector, and inflation has been contained. On the back of
this growth, government is gradually ending its fiscal stimulus
policy while protecting aid to the poor.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$11.84 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
$11.17 billion (2009 est.)
$10.69 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.693 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
4.5% (2009 est.)
11.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
$1,000 (2009 est.)
$1,000 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 42.1%
industry: 14.3%
services: 43.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
4.446 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 81
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 90%
industry and services: 10% (2000)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
60% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 38.2% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
46.8 (2000)
country comparison to the world: 35
28.9 (1985)
Investment (gross fixed):
20% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
10.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
11.25% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 29
12.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
16.51% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$602.3 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 154
$537.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of broad money:
$1.243 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
$1.068 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$600.4 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
$515.5 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums),
bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock
Industries:
cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap,
furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes
Industrial production growth rate:
7.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Electricity - production:
120 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Electricity - consumption:
231.6 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Electricity - exports:
10 million kWh (2007)
Electricity - imports:
130 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Oil - consumption:
6,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Oil - imports:
5,623 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Natural gas - proved reserves:
56.63 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Current account balance:
-$489 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
-$379 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$226 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
$193 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, tea, hides, tin ore
Exports - partners:
Kenya 33.88%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 13.56%, Thailand
6.22%, China 5.49%, US 5.47%, Swaziland 5.43%, Belgium 5.19% (2009)
Imports:
$1.047 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
$961 million (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products,
cement and construction material
Imports - partners:
Kenya 16.53%, Uganda 14.92%, China 7.92%, UAE 6.89%, Belgium 5.54%,
Germany 5.19%, Tanzania 4.81%, Sweden 4% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$816 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
$742.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Rwandan francs (RWF) per US dollar - 586.25 (2010), 568.176 (2009),
550 (2008), 585 (2007), 560 (2006)
Communications ::Rwanda
Telephones - main lines in use:
33,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 174
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.429 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 123
Telephone system:
general assessment: small, inadequate telephone system primarily
serves business, education, and government
domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the
provinces by microwave radio relay and, recently, by cellular
telephone service; much of the network depends on wire and HF
radiotelephone; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone
density has increased to about 25 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 250; international connections employ
microwave radio relay to neighboring countries and satellite
communications to more distant countries; satellite earth stations -
1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) in Kigali (includes telex and telefax
service)
Broadcast media:
government owns and operates the only TV station; government-owned
and operated Radio Rwanda has a national reach; 9 private radio
stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are
available (2007)
Internet country code:
.rw
Internet hosts:
815 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 171
Internet users:
450,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 118
Transportation ::Rwanda
Airports:
9 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 160
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 14,008 km
country comparison to the world: 125
paved: 2,662 km
unpaved: 11,346 km (2004)
Waterways:
Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft (2009)
Ports and terminals:
Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye
Military ::Rwanda
Military branches:
Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF), Rwandan Patriotic Air Force (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,573,834
females age 16-49: 2,553,707 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,641,563
females age 16-49: 1,696,514 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 98,164
female: 97,839 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.9% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Transnational Issues ::Rwanda
Disputes - international:
fighting among ethnic groups - loosely associated political rebels,
armed gangs, and various government forces in Great Lakes region
transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda - abated substantially from a decade ago
due largely to UN peacekeeping, international mediation, and efforts
by local governments to create civil societies; nonetheless, 57,000
Rwandan refugees still reside in 21 African states, including
Zambia, Gabon, and 20,000 who fled to Burundi in 2005 and 2006 to
escape drought and recriminations from traditional courts
investigating the 1994 massacres; the 2005 DROC and Rwanda border
verification mechanism to stem rebel actions on both sides of the
border remains in place
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 46,272 (Democratic Republic of the
Congo); 4,400 (Burundi) (2007)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Saint Barthelemy (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Saint Barthelemy
Background:
Discovered in 1493 by Christopher COLUMBUS who named it for his
brother Bartolomeo, Saint Barthelemy was first settled by the French
in 1648. In 1784, the French sold the island to Sweden, who renamed
the largest town Gustavia, after the Swedish King GUSTAV III, and
made it a free port; the island prospered as a trade and supply
center during the colonial wars of the 18th century. France
repurchased the island in 1878 and placed it under the
administration of Guadeloupe. Saint Barthelemy retained its free
port status along with various Swedish appellations such as Swedish
street and town names, and the three-crown symbol on the coat of
arms. In 2003, the populace of the island voted to secede from
Guadeloupe and in 2007, the island became a French overseas
collectivity.
Geography ::Saint Barthelemy
Location:
located approximately 125 miles northwest of Guadeloupe
Geographic coordinates:
17 90 N, 62 85 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
21 sq km
Area - comparative:
less than an eighth of the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Climate:
tropical, with practically no variation in temperature; has two
seasons (dry and humid)
Terrain:
hilly, almost completely surrounded by shallow-water reefs, with 20
beaches
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne du Vitet 286 m
Natural resources:
has few natural resources, its beaches being the most important
Environment - current issues:
with no natural rivers or streams, fresh water is in short supply,
especially in summer, and provided by desalinization of sea water,
collection of rain water, or imported via water tanker
People ::Saint Barthelemy
Population:
7,406 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 227
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.2% (male 734/female 696)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 2,855/female 2,402)
65 years and over: 10.2% (male 378/female 383) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.8 years
male: 39.9 years
female: 39.6 years (2010 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.053 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.14 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Ethnic groups:
white, Creole (mulatto), black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asia)
Religions:
Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jehovah's Witness
Languages:
French (primary), English
Government ::Saint Barthelemy
Country name:
conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Barthelemy
conventional short form: Saint Barthelemy
local long form: Collectivite d'outre mer de Saint-Barthelemy
local short form: Saint-Barthelemy
Dependency status:
overseas collectivity of France
Capital:
name: Gustavia
geographic coordinates: 17 53 N, 62 51 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during
Standard Time)
Independence:
none (overseas collectivity of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is St. Barthelemy
Day, 24 August
Constitution:
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Suffrage:
18 years of age, universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007),
represented by Prefect Dominique LACROIX (since 21 March 2007)
head of government: President of the Territorial Council Bruno
MAGRAS (since 16 July 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory,
economic, social, and cultural council
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council
elected by the members of the Council for a five-year term
election results: Bruno MAGRAS unanimously elected president by the
Territorial Council on 16 July 2007
Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Council (19 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 1 and 8 July 2007 (next to be held in July
2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - SBA 72.2%,
Action-Equilibre-Transparence 9.9%, Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy
7.9%, Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy 9.9%; seats by party - SBA 16,
Action-Equilibre-Transparence 1, Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy 1,
Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy 1
note: Saint Barthelemy elects one seat to the French Senate;
election last held on 21 September 2008 (next to be held in
September 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - UMP 1
Political parties and leaders:
Action-Equilibre-Transparence [Maxime DESOUCHES]; Ensemble pour
Saint-Barthelemy [Benoit CHAUVIN]; Saint-Barth d'Abord! or SBA
[Bruno MAGRAS]; Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy [Karine MIOT-RICHARD]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
The Marine Reserve (protection of fish); Rotary Club
International organization participation:
UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas collectivity of France)
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
National anthem:
name: "L'Hymne a St. Barthelemy" (Hymn to St. Barthelemy)
lyrics/music: Isabelle Massart DERAVIN/Michael VALENTI
note: local anthem in use since 1999; as a collectivity of France,
"La Marseillaise" is official (see France)
Economy ::Saint Barthelemy
Economy - overview:
The economy of Saint Barthelemy is based upon high-end tourism and
duty-free luxury commerce, serving visitors primarily from North
America. The luxury hotels and villas host 70,000 visitors each year
with another 130,000 arriving by boat. The relative isolation and
high cost of living inhibits mass tourism. The construction and
public sectors also enjoy significant investment in support of
tourism. With limited fresh water resources, all food must be
imported, as must all energy resources and most manufactured goods.
Employment is strong and attracts labor from Brazil and Portugal.
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7338 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Saint Barthelemy
Telephone system:
general assessment: fully integrated access
domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems
international: country code - 590; undersea fiber-optic cable
provides voice and data connectivity to Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe
Broadcast media:
no local TV broadcasters; 3 FM radio channels (2 via repeater)
Internet country code:
.bl; note - .gp, the internet country code for Guadeloupe, and .fr,
the internet country code for France, might also be encountered
Transportation ::Saint Barthelemy
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 226
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Gustavia
Transportation - note:
nearest airport for international flights is Princess Juliana
International Airport (SXM) located in Sint Maarten
Military ::Saint Barthelemy
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,543
females age 16-49: 1,303 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 21
female: 21 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha (Africa)
Introduction ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Background:
Saint Helena is a British Overseas Territory consisting of Saint
Helena and Ascension Islands, and the island group of Tristan da
Cunha.
Saint Helena: Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in
1502, Saint Helena was garrisoned by the British during the 17th
century. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's exile
from 1815 until his death in 1821, but its importance as a port of
call declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. During
the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa, several thousand Boer prisoners
were confined on the island between 1900 and 1903.
Ascension Island: This barren and uninhabited island was discovered
and named by the Portuguese in 1503. The British garrisoned the
island in 1815 to prevent a rescue of Napoleon from Saint Helena. It
served as a provisioning station for the Royal Navy's West Africa
Squadron on anti-slavery patrol. The island remained under Admiralty
control until 1922, when it became a dependency of Saint Helena.
During World War II, the UK permitted the US to construct an
airfield on Ascension in support of trans-Atlantic flights to Africa
and anti-submarine operations in the South Atlantic. In the 1960s
the island became an important space tracking station for the US. In
1982, Ascension was an essential staging area for British forces
during the Falklands War. It remains a critical refueling point in
the air-bridge from the UK to the South Atlantic.
Tristan da Cunha: The island group consists of the islands of
Tristan da Cunha, Nightingale, Inaccessible, and Gough. Tristan da
Cunha is named after its Portuguese discoverer (1506); it was
garrisoned by the British in 1816 to prevent any attempt to rescue
Napoleon from Saint Helena. Gough and Inaccessible Islands have been
designated World Heritage Sites. South Africa leases a site for a
meteorological station on Gough Island.
Geography ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Location:
islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between South
America and Africa; Ascension Island lies 700 nm northwest of Saint
Helena; Tristan da Cunha lies 2,300 nm southwest of Saint Helena
Geographic coordinates:
Saint Helena: 15 57 S, 5 42 W
Ascension Island: 7 57 S, 14 22 W
Tristan da Cunha island group: 37 15 S, 12 30 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 308 sq km
country comparison to the world: 208
land: Saint Helena Island 122 sq km; Ascension Island 88 sq km;
Tristan da Cunha island group 98 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
Saint Helena: 60 km
Ascension Island: NA
Tristan da Cunha: 40 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Saint Helena: tropical marine; mild, tempered by trade winds
Ascension Island: tropical marine; mild, semi-arid
Tristan da Cunha: temperate marine; mild, tempered by trade winds
(tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)
Terrain:
the islands of this group result from volcanic activity associated
with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean Ridge
Saint Helena: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains
Ascension: surface covered by lava flows and cinder cones of 44
dormant volcanoes; ground rises to the east
Tristan da Cunha: sheer cliffs line the coastline of the nearly
circular island; the flanks of the central volcanic peak are deeply
dissected; narrow coastal plain lies between The Peak and the
coastal cliffs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,060 m; Green
Mountain on Ascension Island 859 m; Mount Actaeon on Saint Helena
Island 818 m
Natural resources:
fish, lobster
Land use:
arable land: 12.9%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 87.1% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha
volcanism: the island volcanoes of Tristan da Cunha (elev. 2,060 m,
6,758 ft) and Nightingale Island (elev. 365 m, 1,197 ft) experience
volcanic activity; Tristan da Cunha erupted in 1962 and Nightingale
in 2004
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
Saint Helena harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere
else in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles
and sooty terns; Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha is the
highest island mountain in the South Atlantic and a prominent
landmark on the sea lanes around southern Africa
People ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Population:
7,670
country comparison to the world: 226
note: only Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha islands are
inhabited (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 712/female 685)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 2,744/female 2,629)
65 years and over: 11.4% (male 412/female 455) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.2 years
male: 38.2 years
female: 38.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.404% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Birth rate:
10.95 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Death rate:
6.91 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 111
Urbanization:
urban population: 39% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.049 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.98 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 110
male: 19.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.6 years
country comparison to the world: 45
male: 75.68 years
female: 81.67 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.56 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Saint Helenian(s)
adjective: Saint Helenian
note: referred to locally as "Saints"
Ethnic groups:
African descent 50%, white 25%, Chinese 25%
Religions:
Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic
Languages:
English
Literacy:
definition: age 20 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 98% (1987 est.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Country name:
conventional long form: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
conventional short form: none
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Jamestown
geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 44 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
3 administrative areas; Ascension, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution:
The Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order
2009, effective 1 September 2009
Legal system:
English common law and statutes supplemented by local statutes
Suffrage:
NA
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor Andrew GURR (since 11 November 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, 3 ex-officio
officers, and 5 elected members of the Legislative Council
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (17 seats, including a speaker and
deputy speaker, 12 elected, and three ex officio members; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
note: the Constitution Order provides for separate Island Councils
for both Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
elections: last held on 4 November 2009 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 12
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: private sector; unions
International organization participation:
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 Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag;
the upper third of the shield depicts a white plover (wire bird) on
a yellow field; the remainder of the shield depicts a rocky
coastline on the left, offshore is a three-masted sailing ship with
sails furled but flying an English flag
National anthem:
note: as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is
official (see United Kingdom)
Economy ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Economy - overview:
The economy depends largely on financial assistance from the UK,
which amounted to about $27 million in FY06/07 or more than twice
the level of annual budgetary revenues. The local population earns
income from fishing, raising livestock, and sales of handicrafts.
Because there are few jobs, 25% of the work force has left to seek
employment on Ascension Island, on the Falklands, and in the UK.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$18 million (1998 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,500 (1998 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
2,486
country comparison to the world: 223
note: 1,200 work offshore (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 48%
services: 46% (1987 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14% (1998 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.2% (1997 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Agriculture - products:
coffee, corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish, lobster; livestock
Industries:
construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing,
philatelic sales
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
8 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Electricity - consumption:
7.44 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Oil - consumption:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Oil - imports:
80 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Exports:
$19 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Exports - commodities:
fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), coffee,
handicrafts
Imports:
$45 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
Imports - commodities:
food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building
materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Saint Helenian pounds (SHP) per US dollar - 0.6494 (2009), 0.5302
(2008), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5462 (2004)
note: the Saint Helenian pound is on par with the British pound
Communications ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 219
Telephone system:
general assessment: can communicate worldwide
domestic: automatic digital network
international: country code (Saint Helena) - 290, (Ascension Island)
- 247; international direct dialing; satellite voice and data
communications; satellite earth stations - 5 (Ascension Island - 4,
Saint Helena - 1)
Broadcast media:
St. Helena has no local TV station; 2 local radio stations, one of
which is relayed to Ascension Island; satellite TV stations
rebroadcast terrestrially; Ascension Island has no local TV station,
but has 1 local radio station and receives relays of broadcasts from
1 St. Helena radio station; broadcasts from the British Forces
Broadcasting Service (BFBS) are available, as well as TV services
for the US military; Tristan da Cunha has 1 local radio station and
receives BFBS TV and radio broadcasts (2007)
Internet country code:
.sh; note - Ascension Island assigned .ac
Internet hosts:
6,873 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 136
Internet users:
900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 214
Communications - note:
South Africa maintains a meteorological station on Gough Island
Transportation ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 225
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 198 km (Saint Helena 138 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da
Cunha 20 km)
country comparison to the world: 208
paved: 168 km (Saint Helena 118 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da
Cunha 10 km)
unpaved: 30 km (Saint Helena 20 km, Ascension 0 km, Tristan da Cunha
10 km) (2002)
Ports and terminals:
Saint Helena: Jamestown
Ascension Island: Georgetown
Tristan da Cunha: Calshot Harbor (Edinburgh)
Transportation - note:
there is no air connection to Saint Helena or Tristan da Cunha; an
international airport for Saint Helena is in development for 2010
Military ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,575
females age 16-49: 1,591 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 48
female: 47 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 3, 2011
======================================================================
@Saint Kitts and Nevis (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Background:
Carib Indians occupied the islands for hundreds of years before the
British began settlement in 1623. The islands became an associated
state of the UK with full internal autonomy in 1967. The island of
Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. Saint Kitts and
Nevis achieved independence in 1983. In 1998, a vote in Nevis on a
referendum to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the two-thirds
majority needed. Nevis continues in its efforts to separate from
Saint Kitts.
Geography ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Location:
Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way
from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
17 20 N, 62 45 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km)
country comparison to the world: 211
land: 261 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
135 km
Maritime claims:
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, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal
temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain:
volcanic with mountainous interiors
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m
Natural resources:
arable land
Land use:
arable land: 19.44%
permanent crops: 2.78%
other: 77.78% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
0.02 cu km (2000)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes (July to October)
Environment - current issues:
NA
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,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
with coastlines in the shape of a baseball bat and ball, the two
volcanic islands are separated by a 3-km-wide channel called The
Narrows; on the southern tip of long, baseball bat-shaped Saint
Kitts lies the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak sits in the center of its
almost circular namesake island and its ball shape complements that
of its sister island
People ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Population:
49,898 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.3% (male 5,397/female 5,138)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 13,231/female 13,196)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 1,326/female 1,843) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.5 years
male: 31.5 years
female: 31.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.838% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Birth rate:
14.23 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Death rate:
7.11 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Net migration rate:
1.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Urbanization:
urban population: 32% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 153
male: 6.45 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.37 years
country comparison to the world: 96
male: 72.03 years
female: 76.75 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s)
adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian
Ethnic groups:
predominantly black; some British, Portuguese, and Lebanese
Religions:
Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
Languages:
English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97.8%
male: NA
female: NA (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
9.9% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 6
Government ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Country name:
conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis
former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Basseterre
geographic coordinates: 17 18 N, 62 43 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point,
Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint James
Windward, Saint John Capesterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary
Cayon, Saint Paul Capesterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter
Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island,
Trinity Palmetto Point
Independence:
19 September 1983 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
Constitution:
19 September 1983
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN
(since 1 January 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July
1995); Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation
with the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition
usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy
prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (14 seats, 3 appointed and 11 popularly
elected from single-member constituencies; members serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held on 25 January 2010 (next to be held by 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
SKNLP 6, CCM 2, PAM 2, NRP 1
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (consisting of a Court of Appeal and
a High Court; based on Saint Lucia; two judges of the Supreme Court
reside in Saint Kitts and Nevis); member of the Caribbean Court of
Justice (CCJ)
Political parties and leaders:
Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Vance AMORY]; Nevis Reformation
Party or NRP [Joseph PARRY]; People's Action Movement or PAM
[Lindsay GRANT]; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP [Dr.
Denzil DOUGLAS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS,
OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WHO, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Izben Cordinal WILLIAMS
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636
FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US
Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis
Flag description:
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band
bearing two white, five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in
yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red;
green signifies the island's fertility, red symbolizes the struggles
of the people from slavery, yellow denotes year-round sunshine, and
black represents the African heritage of the people; the white stars
stand for the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis, but can also express
hope and liberty, or independence and optimism
National anthem:
name: "Oh Land of Beauty!"
lyrics/music: Kenrick Anderson GEORGES
note: adopted 1983
Economy ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Economy - overview:
The economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis is heavily dependent upon
tourism revenues, which has replaced sugar, the traditional mainstay
of the economy until the 1970s. Following the 2005 harvest, the
government closed the sugar industry after decades of losses of 3-4%
of GDP annually. To compensate for employment losses, the government
has embarked on a program to diversify the agricultural sector and
to stimulate other sectors of the economy, such as tourism,
export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking. More than
200,000 tourists visited the islands in 2009. Like other tourist
destinations in the Caribbean, St. Kitts and Nevis is vulnerable to
damage from natural disasters and shifts in tourism demand. The
current government is constrained by one of the world's highest
public debt burdens equivalent to roughly 185% of GDP, largely
attributable to public enterprise losses.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$719.5 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
$730.5 million (2009 est.)
$772.7 million (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$562 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
-5.5% (2009 est.)
4.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$14,800 (2009 est.)
$15,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 25.8%
services: 70.7% (2001)
Labor force:
18,170 (June 1995)
country comparison to the world: 209
Unemployment rate:
4.5% (1997)
country comparison to the world: 42
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Public debt:
185% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 65
6.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.75% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
8.75% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$94.45 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 181
$93.23 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$823.8 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 167
$787.8 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$790.8 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
$782.4 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$648 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 102
$595.2 million (31 December 2008)
$439.7 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish
Industries:
tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
130 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Electricity - consumption:
120.9 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Oil - imports:
1,225 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Current account balance:
-$163 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Exports:
$84 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 198
Exports - commodities:
machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco
Exports - partners:
US 62.3%, Canada 7.93%, Azerbaijan 6.72% (2009)
Imports:
$383 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 189
Imports - commodities:
machinery, manufactures, food, fuels
Imports - partners:
US 43.37%, Trinidad and Tobago 15.26%, Italy 11.83% (2009)
Debt - external:
$314 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 171
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006),
2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
Communications ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Telephones - main lines in use:
20,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 193
Telephones - mobile cellular:
83,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 189
Telephone system:
general assessment: good interisland and international connections
domestic: interisland links via Eastern Caribbean Fiber Optic cable;
construction of enhanced wireless infrastructure launched in
November 2004
international: country code - 1-869; connected internationally by
the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean
fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables
Broadcast media:
the government operates a national television network that
broadcasts on 2 channels; cable subscription services provide access
to local and international channels; the government operates a
national radio network; a mix of government-owned and
privately-owned broadcasters operate roughly 15 radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.kn
Internet hosts:
51 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 210
Internet users:
17,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 197
Transportation ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Airports:
2 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 204
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Railways:
total: 50 km
country comparison to the world: 131
narrow gauge: 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists (2008)
Roadways:
total: 383 km
country comparison to the world: 199
paved: 163 km
unpaved: 220 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
total: 160
country comparison to the world: 40
by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 92, chemical tanker 4, combination
ore/oil 1, container 3, liquefied gas 4, passenger/cargo 5,
petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 94 (Bahrain 1, Belgium 1, China 1, Estonia 3, Italy
1, Japan 3, Kuwait 3, Latvia 2, Malaysia 1, Norway 1, Pakistan 3,
Russia 11, Singapore 5, Syria 5, Turkey 22, UAE 17, UK 2, Ukraine
10, US 1, Yemen 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Basseterre, Charlestown
Military ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Military branches:
Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (includes Coast Guard),
Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force; for national security,
Saint Kitts and Nevis relies on the Regional Security System,
headquartered in Barbados (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 13,510
females age 16-49: 13,075 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 10,736
females age 16-49: 10,913 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 402
female: 430 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Disputes - international:
joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves
Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which
permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large
portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and
Europe; some money-laundering activity
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Saint Lucia (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Saint Lucia
Background:
The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was contested
between England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th
centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to
the UK in 1814. Even after the abolition of slavery on its
plantations in 1834, Saint Lucia remained an agricultural island,
dedicated to producing tropical commodity crops. Self-government was
granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.
Geography ::Saint Lucia
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic
Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
13 53 N, 60 58 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 616 sq km
country comparison to the world: 192
land: 606 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
158 km
Maritime claims:
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, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to
April, rainy season May to August
Terrain:
volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m
Natural resources:
forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs,
geothermal potential
Land use:
arable land: 6.45%
permanent crops: 22.58%
other: 70.97% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.01
per capita: 81 cu m/yr (1997)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes; volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
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, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shaped
peaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural highlights
of the Caribbean
People ::Saint Lucia
Population:
160,922 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.4% (male 20,035/female 19,021)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 51,593/female 54,843)
65 years and over: 9.2% (male 6,668/female 8,107) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.3 years
male: 29.3 years
female: 31.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.398% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Birth rate:
14.81 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Death rate:
6.9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Net migration rate:
-3.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Urbanization:
urban population: 28% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.055 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.07 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 133
male: 12.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.65 years
country comparison to the world: 67
male: 73.97 years
female: 79.48 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.82 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Saint Lucian(s)
adjective: Saint Lucian
Ethnic groups:
black 82.5%, mixed 11.9%, East Indian 2.4%, other or unspecified
3.1% (2001 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 67.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%, Pentecostal 5.7%,
Rastafarian 2.1%, Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%, other Christian 5.1%,
other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (2001 census)
Languages:
English (official), French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 90.1%
male: 89.5%
female: 90.6% (2001 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
6.3% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 32
Government ::Saint Lucia
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Lucia
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Castries
geographic coordinates: 14 01 N, 61 00 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery,
Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort
Independence:
22 February 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Constitution:
22 February 1979
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Dame Pearlette LOUISY (since
September 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Stephenson KING (since 9
September 2007); note - Sir John COMPTON died in office 7 September
2007
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition
usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy
prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; six members
appointed on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice
of the leader of the opposition, and two after consultation with
religious, economic, and social groups) and the House of Assembly
(17 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held on 11 December 2006 (next
to be held in December 2011)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - UWP
50%, SLP 46.9%, other 3.1%; seats by party - UWP 11, SLP 6
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (consists of a High Court and a
Court of Appeals; based on Saint Lucia; three judges of the Supreme
Court reside in Saint Lucia); member of the Caribbean Court of
Justice (CCJ)
Political parties and leaders:
National Alliance or NA [George ODLUM]; Saint Lucia Freedom Party or
SFP [Martinus FRANCOIS]; Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP [Kenneth
ANTHONY]; Sou Tout Apwe Fete Fini or STAFF [Christopher HUNTE];
United Workers Party or UWP [Stephenson KING]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael LOUIS
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6723
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador to
Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia
Flag description:
blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the
upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border; the blue color
represents the sky and sea, gold stands for sunshine and prosperity,
and white and black the racial composition of the island (with the
latter being dominant); the two major triangles invoke the twin
Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), cone-shaped volcanic plugs that
are a symbol of the island
National anthem:
name: "Sons and Daughters of St. Lucia"
lyrics/music: Charles JESSE/Leton Felix THOMAS
note: adopted 1967
Economy ::Saint Lucia
Economy - overview:
The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and
investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism
industries, with a surge in foreign direct investment in 2006,
attributed to the construction of several tourism projects. Although
crops such as bananas, mangos, and avocados continue to be grown for
export, tourism provides Saint Lucia's main source of income and the
industry is the island's biggest employer. Tourism is the main
source of foreign exchange, although tourism sector revenues
declined with the global economic downturn as US and European travel
dropped in 2009. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the
Eastern Caribbean area, and the government is trying to revitalize
the banana industry, although recent hurricanes have caused exports
to contract. Saint Lucia is vulnerable to a variety of external
shocks including volatile tourism receipts, natural disasters, and
dependence on foreign oil. The public debt-to-GDP ratio is about 77%
and high debt servicing obligations constrain the KING
administration's ability to respond to adverse external shocks.
Economic fundamentals remain solid, even though unemployment needs
to be reduced.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.789 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
$1.769 billion (2009 est.)
$1.866 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
-5.2% (2009 est.)
0.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$11,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
$11,000 (2009 est.)
$11,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 15%
services: 80% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
79,700 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 183
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 21.7%
industry: 24.7%
services: 53.6% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
20% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 63
6.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.58% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
10.08% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$244.3 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 169
$245 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$1.094 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 160
$1.061 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.378 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
$1.217 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa
Industries:
clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated
cardboard boxes, tourism; lime processing, coconut processing
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
325 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Electricity - consumption:
302.2 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Oil - consumption:
3,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Oil - imports:
2,747 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Current account balance:
-$199 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Exports:
$288 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 175
Exports - commodities:
bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
Exports - partners:
Spain 29.41%, UK 15.28%, South Korea 10.54%, US 9.75%, India 9.52%
(2009)
Imports:
$791 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 179
Imports - commodities:
food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation
equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels
Imports - partners:
Brazil 83.44%, US 4.67%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.56% (2009)
Debt - external:
$257 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 172
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006),
2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
Communications ::Saint Lucia
Telephones - main lines in use:
41,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 166
Telephones - mobile cellular:
176,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 173
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate system
domestic: system is automatically switched
international: country code - 1-758; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic
System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF)
submarine cables, along with Intelsat from Martinique, carry calls
internationally; direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique
and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to
Barbados
Broadcast media:
3 privately-owned television stations; 1 public television station
operating on a cable network; multi-channel cable TV service is
obtainable; a mix of state-owned and privately-owned broadcasters
operate nearly 25 radio stations including repeater transmission
stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.lc
Internet hosts:
106 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 201
Internet users:
142,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 149
Transportation ::Saint Lucia
Airports:
2 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 198
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 1,210 km (2002)
country comparison to the world: 180
Ports and terminals:
Castries, Cul-de-Sac, Vieux-Fort
Military ::Saint Lucia
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes
Special Service Unit and Coast Guard) (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 41,177 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 32,406
females age 16-49: 36,216 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,627
female: 1,521 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues ::Saint Lucia
Disputes - international:
joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves
Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which
permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large
portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Saint Martin (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Saint Martin
Background:
Although sighted by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and claimed for
Spain, it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 and set
about exploiting its salt deposits. The Spanish retook the island in
1633, but continued to be harassed by the Dutch. The Spanish finally
relinquished Saint Martin to the French and Dutch, who divided it
amongst themselves in 1648. Friction between the two sides caused
the border to frequently fluctuate over the next two centuries, with
the French eventually holding the greater portion of the island
(about 57%). The cultivation of sugar cane introduced slavery to the
island in the late 18th century; the practice was not abolished
until 1848. The island became a free port in 1939; the tourism
industry was dramatically expanded during the 1970s and 1980s. In
2003, the populace of Saint Martin voted to secede from Guadeloupe
and in 2007, the northern portion of the island became a French
overseas collectivity.
Geography ::Saint Martin
Location:
island 300 km southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
18 05 N, 63 57 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 54.4 sq km
country comparison to the world: 230
land: 54.4 sq km
water: NEGL
Area - comparative:
more than one-third the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 15 km
border countries: Sint Maarten 15 km
Coastline:
58.9 km (for entire island)
Climate:
temperature averages 80-85 degrees all year long; low humidity,
gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers; July-November is
the hurricane season
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pic du Paradis 424 m
Natural resources:
salt
Natural hazards:
subject to hurricanes from July to November
Environment - current issues:
fresh water supply is dependent on desalinization of sea water
Geography - note:
the island of Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in the world
shared by two independent states, the French territory of Saint
Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten
People ::Saint Martin
Population:
30,235 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (male 3,991/female 4,048)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 9,596/female 10,532)
65 years and over: 5.5% (male 742/female 911) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.8 years
male: 29.7 years
female: 31.6 years (2010 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Ethnic groups:
creole (mulatto), black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asia),
white, East Indian
Religions:
Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant, Hindu
Languages:
French (official language), English, Dutch, French Patois, Spanish,
Papiamento (dialect of Netherlands Antilles)
Government ::Saint Martin
Country name:
conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin
conventional short form: Saint Martin
local long form: Collectivity d'outre mer de Saint-Martin
local short form: Saint-Martin
Dependency status:
overseas collectivity of France
Capital:
name: Marigot
geographical coordinates: 18 04 N, 63 05 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during
Standard Time)
daylight savings: +1 hour
Independence:
none (overseas collectivity of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is Schoalcher Day
(Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848)
Constitution:
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
the laws of France where applicable apply
Suffrage:
18 years of age, universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007),
represented by Prefect Dominique LACROIX (since 21 March 2007)
head of government: President of the Territorial Council Frantz
GUMBS (since 5 May 2009)
cabinet: Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory
economic, social, and cultural council
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
election: French president elected by popular vote to a five-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council
elected by the members of the Council for a five-year term
election results: Frantz GUMBS elected president by the Territorial
Council on 7 August 2008 but election was declared invalid on 10
April 2009
Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Council (23 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 1 and 8 July 2007 (next to be held in July
2012)
election results: percent of seats by party - UPP 49%, RRR 42.2%,
Reussir Saint-Martin 8.9%; seats by party - UPP 16, RRR 6, Reussir
Saint-Martin 1
note: Saint Martin elects one member to the French Senate; election
last held on 21 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2014);
results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 1
Political parties and leaders:
Union Pour le Progres or UPP [Louis-Constant FLEMING]; Rassemblement
Responsabilite Reussite or RRR [Alain RICHARDSON]; Reussir
Saint-Martin [Jean-Luc HAMLET]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas collectivity of France)
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
National anthem:
name: "O Sweet Saint Martin's Land"
lyrics/music: Gerard KEMPS
note: the song, written in 1958, is used as an unofficial anthem for
the entire island (both French and Dutch sides); as a collectivity
of France, in addition to the local anthem, "La Marseillaise"
remains official on the French side (see France); as a constituent
part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in addition to the local
anthem, "Het Wilhelmus" remains official on the Dutch side (see
Netherlands)
Economy ::Saint Martin
Economy - overview:
The economy of Saint Martin centers around tourism with 85% of the
labor force engaged in this sector. Over one million visitors come
to the island each year with most arriving through the Princess
Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten. No significant
agriculture and limited local fishing means that almost all food
must be imported. Energy resources and manufactured goods are also
imported, primarily from Mexico and the United States. Saint Martin
is reported to have the highest per capita income in the Caribbean.
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 15%
services: 84% (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
85% directly or indirectly employed in tourist industry
Industries:
tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry
Imports - commodities:
crude petroleum, food, manufactured items
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7338 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Saint Martin
Telephone system:
general assessment: fully integrated access
domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems
international: country code - 590; undersea fiber-optic cable
provides voice and data connectivity to Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe
Broadcast media:
1 local TV station; receives television broadcasts from the
Netherlands Antilles; access to about 20 radio stations, including
RFO Guadeloupe radio broadcasts via repeater (2008)
Internet country code:
.mf; note - .gp, the internet country code for Guadeloupe, and .fr,
the internet country code for France, might also be encountered
Transportation ::Saint Martin
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 224
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Transportation - note:
nearest airport for international flights is Princess Juliana
International Airport (SXM) located in Sint Maarten
Military ::Saint Martin
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,391
females age 16-49: 6,947 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 172
female: 165 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon (North America)
Introduction ::Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Background:
First settled by the French in the early 17th century, the islands
represent the sole remaining vestige of France's once vast North
American possessions.
Geography ::Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Location:
Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south
of Newfoundland (Canada)
Geographic coordinates:
46 50 N, 56 20 W
Map references:
North America
Area:
total: 242 sq km
country comparison to the world: 213
land: 242 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the
Miquelon groups
Area - comparative:
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
120 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
cold and wet, with considerable mist and fog; spring and autumn are
often windy
Terrain:
mostly barren rock
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m
Natural resources:
fish, deepwater ports
Land use:
arable land: 12.5%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 87.5% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues:
recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and
Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the
environment
Geography - note:
vegetation scanty
People ::Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Population:
5,943 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 228
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.9% (male 789/female 755)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 2,378/female 2,313)
65 years and over: 11.7% (male 382/female 446) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 42 years
male: 41.6 years
female: 42.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.909% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 230
Birth rate:
8.58 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
Death rate:
8.41 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Net migration rate:
-9.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
Urbanization:
urban population: 89% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.65 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 163
male: 8.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.74 years
country comparison to the world: 30
male: 77.49 years
female: 82.12 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.54 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French
Ethnic groups:
Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%
Languages:
French (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1982 est.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Country name:
conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and
Miquelon
conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
Dependency status:
self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of France
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Saint-Pierre
geographic coordinates: 46 46 N, 56 11 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November
Administrative divisions:
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France); note - there are
no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are two communes - Saint Pierre, Miquelon at
the second order
Independence:
none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French
control since 1763)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
the laws of France where applicable apply
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007);
represented by Prefect Jean-Regis BORIUS (since 29 October 2009)
head of government: President of the Territorial Council Stephane
ARTANO (since 21 February 2007)
cabinet: NA
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; election last held on 6 May 2007 (next to be held in 2012);
prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council
elected by the members of the council
Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Council or Conseil Territorial (19 seats, 15
from Saint Pierre and four from Miquelon; members elected by popular
vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: elections last held on 19 and 26 in March 2006 (next to
be held in March 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AD
16, Cap sur l'Avenir 2, SPM 2000/AM 1
note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect one member to the French
Senate; elections last held on 21 September 2008 (next to be held in
September 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - UMP 1; Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects one member to
the French National Assembly; elections last held on, first round -
10 June 2007, second round - 17 June 2007 (next to be held in 2012);
results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Left
Radical Party 1
Judicial branch:
Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
Archipelago Tomorrow or AD (affiliated with UDF/RPR list); Cap sur
l'Avenir (affiliated with PRG); Left Radical Party or PRG;
Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR (now UMP); Saint Pierre and
Miquelon 2000/Avenir Miquelon or SPM 2000/AM; Socialist Party or PS;
Union pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
UPU, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
Flag description:
a yellow three-masted sailing ship facing the hoist side rides on a
blue background with scattered, white, wavy lines under the ship; a
continuous black-over-white wavy line divides the ship from the
white wavy lines; on the hoist side, a vertical band is divided into
three parts: the top part (called ikkurina) is red with a green
diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross
dividing the rectangle into four sections; the middle part has a
white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red
background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one
above the other; these three heraldic arms represent settlement by
colonists from the Basque Country (top), Brittany, and Normandy; the
blue on the main portion of the flag symbolizes the Atlantic Ocean
and the stylized ship represents the Grande Hermine in which Jacques
Cartier "discovered" the islands in 1536
note: the flag of France used for official occasions
National anthem:
note: as a collectivity of France, "La Marseillaise" is official
(see France)
Economy ::Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Economy - overview:
The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood by
fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of
Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because of
disputes with Canada over fishing quotas and a steady decline in the
number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre. In 1992, an arbitration
panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km
to settle a longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although
it represents only 25% of what France had sought. France heavily
subsidizes the islands to the great betterment of living standards.
The government hopes an expansion of tourism will boost economic
prospects. Fish farming, crab fishing, and agriculture are being
developed to diversify the local economy. Recent test drilling for
oil may pave the way for development of the energy sector.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$48.3 million (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223
note: supplemented by annual payments from France of about $60
million
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,000 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
3,450 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 221
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 18%
industry: 41%
services: 41% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10.3% (1999)
country comparison to the world: 113
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.1% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 190
Agriculture - products:
vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Industries:
fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
53 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Electricity - consumption:
49.29 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Oil - imports:
564 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Exports:
$5.5 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
Exports - commodities:
fish and fish products, soybeans, animal feed, mollusks and
crustaceans, fox and mink pelts
Imports:
$68.2 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
Imports - commodities:
meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building
materials
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6734
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Telephones - main lines in use:
4,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 213
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate
domestic: NA
international: country code - 508; radiotelephone communication with
most countries in the world; satellite earth station - 1 in French
domestic satellite system
Broadcast media:
2 television stations with a third repeater station, all part of the
French Overseas Network; has radio stations on St. Pierre and on
Miquelon that are part of the French Overseas Network (2007)
Internet country code:
.pm
Internet hosts:
0 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 232
Transportation ::Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Airports:
2 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 203
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 117 km
country comparison to the world: 213
paved: 80 km
unpaved: 37 km (2000)
Ports and terminals:
Saint-Pierre
Military ::Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,097
females age 16-49: 1,096 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 36
female: 34 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues ::Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Background:
Resistance by native Caribs prevented colonization on Saint Vincent
until 1719. Disputed between France and the United Kingdom for most
of the 18th century, the island was ceded to the latter in 1783.
Between 1960 and 1962, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was a
separate administrative unit of the Federation of the West Indies.
Autonomy was granted in 1969 and independence in 1979.
Geography ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic
Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
13 15 N, 61 12 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km)
country comparison to the world: 202
land: 389 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
84 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May
to November)
Terrain:
volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: La Soufriere 1,234 m
Natural resources:
hydropower, cropland
Land use:
arable land: 17.95%
permanent crops: 17.95%
other: 64.1% (2005)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.01
per capita: 83 cu m/yr (1995)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a
constant threat
Environment - current issues:
pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by
pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is
severe enough to make swimming prohibitive
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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:
the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided
between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines is comprised of 32 islands and cays
People ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Population:
104,217 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.9% (male 13,637/female 13,425)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 35,693/female 33,701)
65 years and over: 7.8% (male 3,659/female 4,459) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.5 years
male: 29.6 years
female: 29.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.341% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
Birth rate:
14.89 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Death rate:
6.94 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Net migration rate:
-11.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
Urbanization:
urban population: 47% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.7 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 127
male: 16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.9 years
country comparison to the world: 107
male: 72.04 years
female: 75.82 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.94 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
Ethnic groups:
black 66%, mixed 19%, East Indian 6%, European 4%, Carib Amerindian
2%, other 3%
Religions:
Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%, other (includes
Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant) 12%
Languages:
English, French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 96%
male: 96%
female: 96% (1970 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
7% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 22
Government ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Kingstown
geographic coordinates: 13 09 N, 61 14 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint
George, Saint Patrick
Independence:
27 October 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Constitution:
27 October 1979
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Sir Fredrick Nathaniel BALLANTYNE
(since 2 September 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29
March 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party usually appointed prime minister by the
governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor
general on the advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected representatives
and 6 appointed senators; representatives elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 13 December 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - ULP 51.6%, NDP 47.8%;
seats by party - ULP 8, NDP 7
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (consisting of a High Court and
Court of Appeals; based on Saint Lucia; two judges of the Supreme
Court reside in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Political parties and leaders:
New Democratic Party or NDP [Arnhim EUSTACE]; Unity Labor Party or
ULP [Ralph GONSALVES] (formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent
Labor Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador La Celia A. PRINCE
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6730
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6736
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;
the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines
Flag description:
three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and
green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V
pattern, which stands for Vincent; the diamonds recall the islands
as the "Gems of the Antilles"; blue conveys the colors of a tropical
sky and crystal waters, yellow signifies the golden Grenadine sands,
and green represents lush vegetation
National anthem:
name: "St. Vincent! Land So Beautiful!"
lyrics/music: Phyllis Joyce MCCLEAN PUNNETT/Joel Bertram MIGUEL
note: adopted 1967
Economy ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Economy - overview:
Success of the economy hinges upon seasonal variations in
agriculture, tourism, and construction activity as well as
remittance inflows. Much of the workforce is employed in banana
production and tourism, but persistent high unemployment has
prompted many to leave the islands. This lower-middle-income country
is vulnerable to natural disasters - tropical storms wiped out
substantial portions of crops in 1994, 1995, and 2002. In 2008, the
islands had more than 200,000 tourist arrivals, mostly to the
Grenadines, a drop of nearly 20% from 2007. Saint Vincent is home to
a small offshore banking sector and has moved to adopt international
regulatory standards. The government's ability to invest in social
programs and respond to external shocks is constrained by its high
public debt burden, which was over 90% of GDP at the end of 2010.
Following the global downturn, St. Vincent and the Grenadines saw an
economic decline in 2009, after slowing since 2006, when GDP growth
reached a 10-year high of nearly 7%. The GONSALVES administration is
directing government resources to infrastructure projects, including
a new international airport that is expected to be completed in 2011.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.107 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
$1.102 billion (2009 est.)
$1.112 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$583 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
-1% (2009 est.)
-0.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$10,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
$10,500 (2009 est.)
$10,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 26%
services: 64% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
57,520 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 17%
services: 57% (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.8% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
5.3% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 64
6.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.19% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
9.52% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$133 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 177
$138.7 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$444.4 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 173
$453.5 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$417.4 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
$387.8 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle,
sheep, pigs, goats; fish
Industries:
food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Electricity - production:
133.8 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Electricity - consumption:
124.4 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Oil - consumption:
2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Oil - imports:
1,451 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Current account balance:
-$149 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Exports:
$193 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 181
Exports - commodities:
bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch; tennis racquets
Exports - partners:
Greece 40.04%, Poland 11.78%, France 9.05%, China 8.53%, India 4.71%
(2009)
Imports:
$578 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 185
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers,
minerals and fuels
Imports - partners:
Singapore 16.16%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.71%, US 13.41%, China
10.9%, Italy 8.89%, Turkey 6.6%, France 5.64%, Romania 4.44% (2009)
Debt - external:
$479 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
$223 million (2004)
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006),
2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
Communications ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Telephones - main lines in use:
23,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 187
Telephones - mobile cellular:
121,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 182
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate system
domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF
radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the
Grenadines; mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 100 telephones per
100 persons
international: country code - 1-784; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic
System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF)
submarine cables carry international calls; connectivity also
provided by VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados;
SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat
earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia
Broadcast media:
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Broadcasting Corporation operates 1
television station and 5 repeater stations that give near total
coverage to the multi-island state; multi-channel cable TV service
is obtainable; a partially government-funded national radio service
broadcasts on 1 station and has 2 repeater stations; about a dozen
privately-owned radio stations and repeater stations operate (2007)
Internet country code:
.vc
Internet hosts:
211 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 192
Internet users:
76,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 168
Transportation ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Airports:
6 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 171
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 829 km
country comparison to the world: 185
paved: 580 km
unpaved: 249 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 444
country comparison to the world: 23
by type: bulk carrier 76, cargo 274, carrier 16, chemical tanker 4,
container 21, liquefied gas 3, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 9,
petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 15,
specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned: 382 (Austria 2, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 6, Bermuda 1,
Bulgaria 10, China 82, Croatia 8, Cyprus 2, Czech Republic 1,
Denmark 19, Dominica 1, Egypt 4, Estonia 10, France 2, Germany 2,
Greece 63, Guyana 2, Hong Kong 4, Israel 3, Italy 5, Japan 3, Kenya
2, Latvia 15, Lebanon 4, Lithuania 10, Monaco 3, Netherlands 2,
Nigeria 1, Norway 12, Oman 1, Pakistan 1, Poland 1, Romania 1,
Russia 15, Slovenia 2, Sweden 2, Switzerland 5, Syria 13, Turkey 18,
UAE 4, UK 7, Ukraine 12, US 19, Venezuela 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Kingstown
Military ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Police Force, Coast Guard; for national defense, Saint Vincent
relies on the Regional Security System, headquartered in Barbados
(2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 27,940 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 22,932
females age 16-49: 22,134 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 990
female: 979 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Disputes - international:
joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves
Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which
permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large
portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and
Europe; small-scale cannabis cultivation
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Samoa (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Samoa
Background:
New Zealand occupied the German protectorate of Western Samoa at the
outbreak of World War I in 1914. It continued to administer the
islands as a mandate and then as a trust territory until 1962, when
the islands became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish
independence in the 20th century. The country dropped the "Western"
from its name in 1997.
Geography ::Samoa
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way
between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
13 35 S, 172 20 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 2,831 sq km
country comparison to the world: 177
land: 2,821 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
403 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to
October)
Terrain:
two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and
uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky,
rugged mountains in interior
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Silisili 1,857 m
Natural resources:
hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 21.13%
permanent crops: 24.3%
other: 54.57% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons; active volcanism
volcanism: Savai'I Island (elev. 1,858 m, 6,096 ft), which last
erupted in 1911, is historically active
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
occupies an almost central position within Polynesia
People ::Samoa
Population:
192,001
country comparison to the world: 184
note: prior estimates used official net migration data by sex, but a
highly unusual pattern for 1993 lead to a significant imbalance in
the sex ratios (more men and fewer women) and a seeming reduction in
the female population; the revised total was calculated using a 1993
number that was an average of the 1992 and 1994 migration figures
(July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.6% (male 42,117/female 40,603)
15-64 years: 56.7% (male 65,541/female 59,292)
65 years and over: 5.7% (male 5,538/female 6,907) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.8 years
male: 21.7 years
female: 21.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.605% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Birth rate:
22.92 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Death rate:
5.36 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Net migration rate:
-11.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
Urbanization:
urban population: 23% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 23.21 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 89
male: 27.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.13 years
country comparison to the world: 126
male: 69.28 years
female: 75.13 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.32 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Samoan(s)
adjective: Samoan
Ethnic groups:
Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians (persons of European and Polynesian blood)
7%, Europeans 0.4% (2001 census)
Religions:
Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%,
Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist
3.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%,
unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
Languages:
Samoan (Polynesian) (official), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2001)
Education expenditures:
5.4% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 50
Government ::Samoa
Country name:
conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa
conventional short form: Samoa
local long form: Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Samoa
local short form: Samoa
former: Western Samoa
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Apia
geographic coordinates: 13 50 S, 171 44 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
+1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April
Administrative divisions:
11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga,
Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga,
Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano
Independence:
1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note - 1 January 1962
is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN
trusteeship; it is observed in June
Constitution:
1 January 1962
Legal system:
based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of
legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: TUIATUA Tupua Tamasese Efi (since 20 June 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA
(since 1998); Deputy Prime Minister MISA Telefoni (since 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members appointed by the chief of
state on the prime minister's advice
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: chief of state elected by the Legislative Assembly to
serve a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 15
June 2007 (next to be held in 2012); following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party usually appointed prime
minister by the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative
Assembly
election results: TUIATUA Tupua Tamasese Efi unanimously elected by
the Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats, 47 members
elected by voters affiliated with traditional village-based
electoral districts, 2 elected by independent, mostly non-Samoan or
part-Samoan, voters who cannot, (or choose not to) establish a
village affiliation; only chiefs (matai) may stand for election to
the Fono from the 47 village-based electorates; members serve
five-year terms)
elections: election last held on 31 March 2006 (next election to be
held not later than March 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
HRPP 35, SDUP 10, independents 4
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; District Court; Land and Titles Court
Political parties and leaders:
Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [Sailele Malielegaoi
TUILA'EPA]; Samoa Christian Party or TCP [Tuala Tiresa MALIETOA];
Samoa Democratic United Party or SDUP [LE MAMEA Ropati]; Samoa Party
or SP [Su'a Rimoni Ah CHONG]; Samoa Progressive Political Party or
SPPP [Toeolesulusulu SIUEVA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aliioaiga Feturi ELISAIA
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196 through 6197
FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797
consulate(s) general: Pago Pago (American Samoa)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: US Ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to Samoa
embassy: Accident Corporation Building, 5th Floor, Matafele, Apia
mailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Matafele, Apia
telephone: [685] 21436/21631/21452/22696
FAX: [685] 22030
Flag description:
red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing
five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross
constellation; red stands for courage, blue represents freedom, and
white signifies purity
National anthem:
name: "O le Fu"a o le Sa"olotoga o Samoa" (The Banner of Freedom)
lyrics/music: Sauni Iiga KURESA
note: adopted 1962; the anthem is also known as "Samoa Tula'i"
(Samoa Arise)
Economy ::Samoa
Economy - overview:
The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development
aid, family remittances from overseas, agriculture, and fishing. The
country is vulnerable to devastating storms. Agriculture employs
two-thirds of the labor force and furnishes 90% of exports,
featuring coconut cream, coconut oil, and copra. The manufacturing
sector mainly processes agricultural products. One factory in the
Foreign Trade Zone employs 3,000 people to make automobile
electrical harnesses for an assembly plant in Australia. Tourism is
an expanding sector accounting for 25% of GDP; 122,000 tourists
visited the islands in 2007. In late September 2009, an earthquake
and the resulting tsunami severely damaged Samoa, and nearby
American Samoa, disrupting transportation and power generation, and
resulting in about 200 deaths. The Samoan Government has called for
deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment,
and continued fiscal discipline, while at the same time protecting
the environment. Observers point to the flexibility of the labor
market as a basic strength for future economic advances. Foreign
reserves are in a relatively healthy state, the external debt is
stable, and inflation is low.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.002 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
$1.022 billion (2009 est.)
$1.059 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$550 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
-3.5% (2009 est.)
-3.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
$5,400 (2009 est.)
$5,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11.6%
industry: 13.1%
services: 75.3% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
66,270 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
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):
6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.08% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
12.66% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$80.56 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 182
$60.13 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$283.2 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 178
$222.9 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$243 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 172
$208.9 million (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa
Industries:
food processing, building materials, auto parts
Industrial production growth rate:
2.8% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 115
Electricity - production:
109 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Electricity - consumption:
101.4 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Oil - imports:
1,105 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Current account balance:
-$24 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Exports:
$131 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 186
Exports - commodities:
fish, coconut oil and cream, copra, taro, automotive parts,
garments, beer
Exports - partners:
American Samoa 41.12%, Australia 24.74%, Taiwan 6.24%, China 5.61%,
US 4.07% (2009)
Imports:
$324 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 193
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
NZ 24.13%, Fiji 17.34%, Singapore 12.54%, China 10.02%, Australia
9.85%, US 5.95% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$70.15 million (FY03/04)
country comparison to the world: 130
Debt - external:
$177 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 175
Exchange rates:
tala (SAT) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.7594 (2006), 2.7103 (2005),
2.7807 (2004), 2.9732 (2003)
Communications ::Samoa
Telephones - main lines in use:
31,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 176
Telephones - mobile cellular:
151,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 176
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
roughly 85 telephones per 100 persons; coverage extended to roughly
95 percent of the country
international: country code - 685; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast media:
state-owned television station privatized in 2008; 4 privately-owned
television broadcast stations; about a half dozen privately-owned
radio stations and one state-owned radio station; television and
radio broadcasts of several stations from American Samoa are
available (2009)
Internet country code:
.ws
Internet hosts:
17,044 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 114
Internet users:
9,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 201
Transportation ::Samoa
Airports:
4 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 187
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 2,337 km
country comparison to the world: 170
paved: 332 km
unpaved: 2,005 km (2001)
Merchant marine:
total: 2
country comparison to the world: 143
by type: passenger/cargo 1, cargo 1
foreign-owned: 1 (NZ 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Apia
Military ::Samoa
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Samoa Police Force (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 47,423 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 37,674
females age 16-49: 37,492 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,219
female: 2,058 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Military - note:
Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces;
informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider
any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship
Transnational Issues ::Samoa
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@San Marino (Europe)
Introduction ::San Marino
Background:
The third smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco),
San Marino also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According
to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named Marinus
in A.D. 301. San Marino's foreign policy is aligned with that of
Italy; social and political trends in the republic also track
closely with those of its larger neighbor.
Geography ::San Marino
Location:
Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy
Geographic coordinates:
43 46 N, 12 25 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 61 sq km
country comparison to the world: 228
land: 61 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about one third times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 39 km
border countries: Italy 39 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers
Terrain:
rugged mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m
highest point: Monte Titano 755 m
Natural resources:
building stone
Land use:
arable land: 16.67%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 83.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution
Geography - note:
landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See
and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines
People ::San Marino
Population:
31,477 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.9% (male 2,635/female 2,452)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 9,538/female 10,429)
65 years and over: 16.9% (male 2,188/female 2,925) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 42.1 years
male: 41.3 years
female: 42.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.106% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Birth rate:
9.18 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Death rate:
7.75 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Net migration rate:
9.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Urbanization:
urban population: 94% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.086 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.79 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 188
male: 4.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 82.95 years
country comparison to the world: 3
male: 80.45 years
female: 85.68 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.46 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Sammarinese
Ethnic groups:
Sammarinese, Italian
Religions:
Roman Catholic
Languages:
Italian
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97%
female: 95%
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::San Marino
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of San Marino
conventional short form: San Marino
local long form: Repubblica di San Marino
local short form: San Marino
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: San Marino
geographic coordinates: 43 56 N, 12 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:
9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo
Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino,
Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle
Independence:
3 September 301
National holiday:
Founding of the Republic, 3 September (AD 301)
Constitution:
8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the functions
of a constitution
Legal system:
based on civil law system with Italian law influences; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Co-chiefs of State Captain Regent Giovanni Francesco
UGOLINI and Captain Regent Andrea ZAFFERANI (for the period 1
October 2010-1 April 2011)
head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political
Affairs Antonella MULARONI (since 3 December 2008)
cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council
for a five-year term
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: co-chiefs of state (captains regent) elected by the Great
and General Council for a six-month term; election last held in
September 2009 (next to be held in March 2010); secretary of state
for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General
Council for a five-year term; election last held on 9 November 2008
(next to be held by 2013)
election results: Francesco MUSSONI and Stefano PALMIERI elected
captains regent; percent of legislative vote - NA; Antonella
MULARONI elected secretary of state for foreign and political
affairs; percent of legislative vote - NA
note: the popularly elected parliament (Grand and General Council)
selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent
(co-chiefs of state) for a six-month period; they preside over
meetings of the Grand and General Council and its cabinet (Congress
of State), which has 10 other members, all are selected by the Grand
and General Council; assisting the captains regent are 10
secretaries of state; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has
assumed some prime ministerial roles
Legislative branch:
unicameral Grand and General Council or Consiglio Grande e Generale
(60 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 9 November 2008 (next to be held by June
2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - Pact for San Marino
coalition 54.2%: PDCS 31.9%, AP 11.5%, Freedom List 6.3%, San Marino
Union of Moderates 4.2%; Reforms and Freedom coalition 45.8%: Party
of Socialists and Democrats 32%, United Left 8.6%, Democrats of the
Center 4.9%; seats by party - Pact for San Marino coalition 35: PDCS
22, AP 7, the Freedom List 4, San Marino Union of Moderates 2;
Reforms and Freedom coalition 25: Party of Socialists and Democrats
18, United Left 5, Democrats of the Center 2
Judicial branch:
Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democrats or PDCS [Pasquale VALENTINI]; Communist
Refoundation or RC [Ivan FOSHI]; Democrats of the Center or DdC
[Giovanni LONGERNINI]; Freedom List (including NPS and We
Sammarinesi) or NS [Gabriele GATTEI]; New Socialist Party or NPS
[Augusto CASALI]; Party of Socialists and Democrats or PDS [Paride
ANDREOLI]; Popular Alliance or AP [Carlo FRANCIOSI]; Union of
Moderates (including National Alliance or ANS [Glcuco SANSOVINI] and
San Marino Populars or pop [Romeo MORRI and Angela VENTURINI];
United Left of SU [Alessandro ROSSI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), OPCW, OSCE,
Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union
Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Paolo RONDELLI
chancery: 888 27th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: 202-337-2260
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the ambassador to
Italy is accredited to San Marino
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the
national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the main colors
derive from the shield of the coat of arms, which features three
white towers on three peaks on a blue field; the towers represent
three castles built on San Marino's highest feature Mount Titano:
Guaita, Cesta, and Montale; the coat of arms is flanked by a wreath,
below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS
(Liberty); the white and blue colors are also said to stand for
peace and liberty respectively
National anthem:
name: "Inno Nazionale della Repubblica" (National Anthem of the
Republic)
lyrics/music: none/Federico CONSOLO
note: adopted 1894; the music for the lyric-less anthem is based on
a 10th century chorale piece
Economy ::San Marino
Economy - overview:
San Marino's economy relies heavily on its tourism and banking
industries, as well as on the manufacture and export of ceramics,
clothing, fabrics, furniture, paints, spirits, tiles, and wine. The
per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to
those of the most prosperous regions of Italy, which supplies much
of its food. San Marino boasts the world's longest life expectancy
for men with 80 years. The economy benefits from foreign investment
due to its relatively low corporate taxes and low taxes on interest
earnings. San Marino has recently faced increased international
pressure to improve cooperation with foreign tax authorities and
transparency within its own banking sector, which generates about
one-fifth of the country's tax revenues. Italy's implementation in
October 2009 of a tax amnesty to repatriate untaxed funds held
abroad has resulted in financial outflows from San Marino to Italy
worth more than $4.5 billion. Such outflows, combined with a
money-laundering scandal at San Marino's largest financial
institution and the recent global economic downturn, have
contributed to a deep recession and growing budget deficit. However,
San Marino has no national debt, and an unemployment rate half the
size of Italy's. The San Marino government has adopted measures to
counter the downturn, including subsidized credit to businesses. San
Marino also continues to work towards harmonizing its fiscal laws
with EU members and international standards. In September 2009, the
OECD removed San Marino from its list of tax havens that have yet to
fully implement global tax standards.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.662 billion (2007)
country comparison to the world: 191
$850 million (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.048 billion (2004)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$41,900 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 16
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 46.5%
services: 53.4% (2007)
Labor force:
22,660 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 208
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 37.7%
services: 62.2% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.1% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 24
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-3.5% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 1
-1.5% (2006)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.326 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of broad money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$4.584 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$7.875 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 103
$7.511 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese,
hides
Industries:
tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine
Industrial production growth rate:
3.1% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 101
Exports:
$4.628 billion (2007)
country comparison to the world: 110
$1.291 billion (2004)
Exports - commodities:
building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods,
hides, ceramics
Imports:
$3.744 billion (2007)
country comparison to the world: 130
$2.035 billion (2004)
Imports - commodities:
wide variety of consumer manufactures, food
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6734
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::San Marino
Telephones - main lines in use:
21,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 191
Telephones - mobile cellular:
24,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 207
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic telephone system completely integrated
into Italian system
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 150
telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 378; connected to Italian
international network
Broadcast media:
state-owned public broadcaster operates 1 TV station and 2 radio
stations; receives radio and TV broadcasts from Italy (2008)
Internet country code:
.sm
Internet hosts:
8,895 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 130
Internet users:
17,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 195
Transportation ::San Marino
Roadways:
total: 292 km
country comparison to the world: 204
paved: 292 km (2006)
Military ::San Marino
Military branches:
no regular military forces; voluntary Military Force (Corpi
Militari) performs ceremonial duties and limited police support
functions (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
16-55 for voluntary service in Voluntary Military Force (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,893 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,564
females age 16-49: 6,068 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 176
female: 164 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Italy
Transnational Issues ::San Marino
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Sao Tome and Principe (Africa)
Introduction ::Sao Tome and Principe
Background:
Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the
islands' sugar-based economy gave way to coffee and cocoa in the
19th century - all grown with plantation slave labor, a form of
which lingered into the 20th century. While independence was
achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the
late 1980s. The country held its first free elections in 1991, but
frequent internal wrangling between the various political parties
precipitated repeated changes in leadership and two failed coup
attempts in 1995 and 2003. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf
of Guinea promises to attract increased attention to the small
island nation.
Geography ::Sao Tome and Principe
Location:
Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the
Equator, west of Gabon
Geographic coordinates:
1 00 N, 7 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 964 sq km
country comparison to the world: 184
land: 964 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
209 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Terrain:
volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
Natural resources:
fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 8.33%
permanent crops: 48.96%
other: 42.71% (2005)
Irrigated land:
100 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a
chain of extinct volcanoes and both are mountainous
People ::Sao Tome and Principe
Population:
175,808 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.9% (male 50,475/female 49,188)
15-64 years: 49.7% (male 51,325/female 54,289)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 3,335/female 4,067) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.5 years
male: 17 years
female: 17.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.112% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Birth rate:
39.09 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Death rate:
8.45 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Net migration rate:
-9.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Urbanization:
urban population: 61% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 54.64 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 42
male: 56.75 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 52.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.73 years
country comparison to the world: 176
male: 61.58 years
female: 63.91 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.21 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Sao Tomean(s)
adjective: Sao Tomean
Ethnic groups:
mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros
(descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from
Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais
born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)
Religions:
Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%,
other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)
Languages:
Portuguese (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.9%
male: 92.2%
female: 77.9% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2009)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Sao Tome and Principe
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe
local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
local short form: Sao Tome e Principe
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Sao Tome
geographic coordinates: 0 12 N, 6 39 E
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome
note: Principe has had self government since 29 April 1995
Independence:
12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Constitution:
approved March 1990, effective 10 September 1990
Legal system:
based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Fradique Bandiera Melo DE MENEZES (since 3
September 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Joachim Rafael BRANCO (since 22
June 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
proposal of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 30 July 2006
(next to be held in July 2011); prime minister chosen by the
National Assembly and approved by the president
election results: Fradique DE MENEZES elected president; percent of
vote - Fradique DE MENEZES 60%, Patrice TROVOADA 38.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 1 August 2010 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
ADI 26, MLSTP 21, PCD 7, MDFM 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Force for Change Democratic Movement or MDFM [Tome Soares da VERA
CRUZ]; Independent Democratic Action or ADI [Patrice TROVOADA];
Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social
Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD [Rafael BRANCO]; New Way Movement or
NR; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Delfim NEVES];
Ue-Kedadji coalition; other small parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Association of Sao Tome and Principe NGOs or FONG
other: the media
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU,
ITUC, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ovidio PEQUENO
chancery: 1211 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 775-2075, 2076
FAX: [1] (202) 775-2077
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the
Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a
nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and
green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the
center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the
hoist side; green stands for the country's rich vegetation, red
recalls the struggle for independence, and yellow represents cocoa,
one of the country's main agricultural products; the two stars
symbolize the two main islands
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
National anthem:
name: "Independencia total" (Total Independence)
lyrics/music: Alda Neves DA GRACA do Espirito Santo/Manuel dos
Santos Barreto de Sousa e ALMEIDA
note: adopted 1975
Economy ::Sao Tome and Principe
Economy - overview:
This small, poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on
cocoa since independence in 1975. Cocoa production has substantially
declined in recent years because of drought and mismanagement. Sao
Tome and Principe has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods,
consumer goods, and a substantial amount of food. Over the years, it
has had difficulty servicing its external debt and has relied
heavily on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. Sao Tome and
Principe benefited from $200 million in debt relief in December 2000
under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program, which
helped bring down the country's $300 million debt burden. In August
2005, the government signed on to a new 3-year IMF Poverty Reduction
and Growth Facility (PRGF) program worth $4.3 million. Considerable
potential exists for development of a tourist industry, and the
government has taken steps to expand facilities in recent years. The
government also has attempted to reduce price controls and
subsidies. Potential exists for the development of petroleum
resources in Sao Tome and Principe's territorial waters in the
oil-rich Gulf of Guinea, which are being jointly developed in a
60-40 split with Nigeria, but any actual production is at least
several years off. The first production licenses were sold in 2004,
though a dispute over licensing with Nigeria delayed the country's
receipt of more than $20 million in signing bonuses for almost a
year.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$316.9 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
$299 million (2009 est.)
$287.5 million (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$187 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
4% (2009 est.)
5.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
$1,700 (2009 est.)
$1,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 14.7%
industry: 22.9%
services: 62.4% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
52,490 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 188
Labor force - by occupation:
note: population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and
fishing; shortages of skilled workers
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
54% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
41% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
13% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
16.7% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
16% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 4
28% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
32.4% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
32.4% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$17.18 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 187
$19.1 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$82.2 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 185
$64.79 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$17.14 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
$16.57 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee,
bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish
Industries:
light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber
Industrial production growth rate:
7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Electricity - production:
19 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Electricity - consumption:
17.67 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Oil - imports:
726 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Current account balance:
-$73 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
-$49 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$13 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
$10 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil
Exports - partners:
UK 32.99%, Netherlands 26.93%, Belgium 21.04%, Portugal 4.31% (2009)
Imports:
$99 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
$80 million (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Portugal 58.9%, Brazil 6.68%, US 4.71%, Japan 4.49% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$46 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
$39 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$318 million (2002)
country comparison to the world: 170
Exchange rates:
dobras (STD) per US dollar - 19,641 (2010), 16,000 (2009), 14,900
(2008), 13,700 (2007), 12,050 (2006)
Communications ::Sao Tome and Principe
Telephones - main lines in use:
7,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 205
Telephones - mobile cellular:
64,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 193
Telephone system:
general assessment: local telephone network of adequate quality with
most lines connected to digital switches
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
roughly 35 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 239; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:
1 government-owned TV station; 1 government-owned radio station; 3
independent local radio stations authorized in 2005 with 2 operating
at the end of 2006; transmissions of multiple international
broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.st
Internet hosts:
1,514 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 158
Internet users:
26,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 183
Transportation ::Sao Tome and Principe
Airports:
2 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 202
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 320 km
country comparison to the world: 202
paved: 218 km
unpaved: 102 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 3
country comparison to the world: 137
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Greece 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Sao Tome
Military ::Sao Tome and Principe
Military branches:
Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (Forcas Armadas de Sao Tome e
Principe, FASTP): Army, Coast Guard of Sao Tome e Principe (Guarda
Costeira de Sao Tome e Principe, GCSTP), Presidential Guard (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 38,211
females age 16-49: 38,929 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 26,530
females age 16-49: 28,450 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,997
female: 1,922 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 147
Military - note:
Sao Tome and Principe's army is a tiny force with almost no
resources at its disposal and would be wholly ineffective operating
unilaterally; infantry equipment is considered simple to operate and
maintain but may require refurbishment or replacement after 25 years
in tropical climates; poor pay, working conditions, and alleged
nepotism in the promotion of officers have been problems in the
past, as reflected in the 1995 and 2003 coups; these issues are
being addressed with foreign assistance aimed at improving the army
and its focus on realistic security concerns; command is exercised
from the president, through the Minister of Defense, to the Chief of
the Armed Forces staff (2005)
Transnational Issues ::Sao Tome and Principe
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Saudi Arabia (Middle East)
Introduction ::Saudi Arabia
Background:
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two
holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is
the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi state was
founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman Al SAUD (Ibn Saud)
after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. A
male descendent of Ibn Saud, his son ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz, rules
the country today as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law.
Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted
the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western
and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait
the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops on
Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension
between the royal family and the public until all operational US
troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and
November 2003 spurred a strong on-going campaign against domestic
terrorism and extremism. King ABDALLAH has continued the cautious
reform program begun when he was crown prince. To promote increased
political participation, the government held elections nationwide
from February through April 2005 for half the members of 179
municipal councils. In December 2005, King ABDALLAH completed the
process by appointing the remaining members of the advisory
municipal councils. The king instituted an Inter-Faith Dialogue
initiative in 2008 to encourage religious tolerance on a global
level; in February 2009, he reshuffled the cabinet, which led to
more moderates holding ministerial and judicial positions, and
appointed the first female to the cabinet. The country remains a
leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds more than 20% of
the world's proven oil reserves. The government continues to pursue
economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi
Arabia's accession to the WTO in December 2005, and promotes foreign
investment in the kingdom. A burgeoning population, aquifer
depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and
prices are all ongoing governmental concerns.
Geography ::Saudi Arabia
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of
Yemen
Geographic coordinates:
25 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 2,149,690 sq km
country comparison to the world: 14
land: 2,149,690 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 4,431 km
border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 744 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman
676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km
Coastline:
2,640 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified
Climate:
harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
Terrain:
mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Land use:
arable land: 1.67%
permanent crops: 0.09%
other: 98.24% (2005)
Irrigated land:
16,200 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
2.4 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 17.32 cu km/yr (10%/1%/89%)
per capita: 705 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
frequent sand and dust storms
volcanism: Despite Saudi Arabia's many volcanic formations, there
has been little activity in the past few centuries; volcanoes
include Harrat Rahat, Harrat Khaybar, Harrat Lunayyir, and Jabal Yar
Environment - current issues:
desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack
of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the
development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal
pollution from oil spills
Environment - international agreements:
party to: 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:
extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great
leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and
Suez Canal
People ::Saudi Arabia
Population:
25,731,776
country comparison to the world: 46
note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38% (male 5,557,453/female 5,340,614)
15-64 years: 59.5% (male 9,608,032/female 7,473,543)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 363,241/female 343,750) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.9 years
male: 26 years
female: 23.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.548% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Birth rate:
19.43 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Death rate:
3.34 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
Net migration rate:
-0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Urbanization:
urban population: 82% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.27 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.17 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.73 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 112
male: 19.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.87 years
country comparison to the world: 108
male: 71.93 years
female: 75.9 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.35 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.01% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Saudi(s)
adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Ethnic groups:
Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Religions:
Muslim 100%
Languages:
Arabic (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.8%
male: 84.7%
female: 70.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 13 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.7% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 41
Government ::Saudi Arabia
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
conventional short form: Saudi Arabia
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Government type:
monarchy
Capital:
name: Riyadh
geographic coordinates: 24 38 N, 46 43 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash
Shamaliyah (Northern Border), Al Jawf, Al Madinah (Medina), Al
Qasim, Ar Riyad (Riyadh), Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern), 'Asir, Ha'il,
Jizan, Makkah (Mecca), Najran, Tabuk
Independence:
23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)
National holiday:
Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Constitution:
governed according to Islamic law; the Basic Law that articulates
the government's rights and responsibilities was promulgated by
royal decree in 1992
Legal system:
based on sharia law, several secular codes have been introduced;
commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; male
Executive branch:
chief of state: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al
Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SULTAN bin
Abd al- Aziz Al Saud (half brother of the monarch); note - the
monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz
Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Deputy Prime Minister SULTAN bin Abd
al-Aziz Al Saud; Second Deputy Prime Minister NAYIF bin Abd Al-Aziz
Al Saud
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch every four
years and includes many royal family members
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; note - an Allegiance
Commission created by royal decree in October 2006 established a
committee of Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future
Saudi kings, but the system will not take effect until after Crown
Prince Sultan becomes king
Legislative branch:
Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (150 members and a chairman
appointed by the monarch to serve four-year terms); note - though
the Council of Ministers announced in October 2003 its intent to
introduce elections for a third of the Majlis al-Shura incrementally
over a period of four to five years, to date no such elections have
been held or announced
Judicial branch:
Supreme Council of Justice
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Ansar Al Marah (supports women's rights)
other: gas companies; religious groups
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-20, G-77,
GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Adil al-Ahmad al-JUBAYR
chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
FAX: [1] (202) 944-3113
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James B. SMITH
embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307;
International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693
telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800
FAX: [966] (1) 488-7360
consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
Flag description:
green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or
Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as "There is
no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a white
horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design dates to
the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al
Saud family which established the kingdom in 1932; the flag is
manufactured with differing obverse and reverse sides so that the
Shahada reads - and the sword points - correctly from right to left
on both sides
note: one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse
and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Paraguay
National anthem:
name: "Aash Al Maleek" (Long Live Our Beloved King)
lyrics/music: Ibrahim KHAFAJI/Abdul Rahman al-KHATEEB
note: music adopted 1947, lyrics adopted 1984
Economy ::Saudi Arabia
Economy - overview:
Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government
controls over major economic activities. It possesses about 20% of
the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter
of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector
accounts for roughly 80% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of
export earnings. Saudi Arabia is encouraging the growth of the
private sector in order to diversify its economy and to employ more
Saudi nationals. Diversification efforts are focusing on power
generation, telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and
petrochemical sectors. Almost 6 million foreign workers play an
important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and
service sectors, while Riyadh is struggling to reduce unemployment
among its own nationals. Saudi officials are particularly focused on
employing its large youth population, which generally lacks the
education and technical skills the private sector needs. Riyadh has
substantially boosted spending on job training and education, most
recently with the opening of the King Abdallah University of Science
and Technology - Saudi Arabia's first co-educational university. As
part of its effort to attract foreign investment, Saudi Arabia
acceded to the WTO in December 2005 after many years of
negotiations. The government has begun establishing six "economic
cities" in different regions of the country to promote foreign
investment and plans to spend $373 billion between 2010 and 2014 on
social development and infrastructure projects to advance Saudi
Arabia's economic development.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$622.5 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$599.7 billion (2009 est.)
$599.1 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$434.4 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
0.1% (2009 est.)
4.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$24,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$23,700 (2009 est.)
$24,000 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 61.9%
services: 35.4% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
7.337 million
country comparison to the world: 62
note: about 80% of the labor force is non-national (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 6.7%
industry: 21.4%
services: 71.9% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
10.5% (2009 est.)
note: data are for Saudi males only (local bank estimates; some
estimates range as high as 25%)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
24.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Public debt:
16.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
22.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
5.1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
2.5% (31 December 2008)
NA% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA%
Stock of narrow money:
$166.9 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 20
$139.1 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$286.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$274.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$11.24 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$2.248 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$318.8 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 23
$246.3 billion (31 December 2008)
$515.1 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens,
eggs, milk
Industries:
crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals,
ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement,
fertilizer, plastics, metals, commercial ship repair, commercial
aircraft repair, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
3.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Electricity - production:
179.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Electricity - consumption:
165.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
9.764 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Oil - consumption:
2.43 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Oil - exports:
8.728 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Oil - imports:
79,250 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Oil - proved reserves:
264.6 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Natural gas - production:
77.1 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Natural gas - consumption:
77.1 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Natural gas - proved reserves:
7.461 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Current account balance:
$52.03 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$22.77 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$235.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$192.3 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products 90%
Exports - partners:
Japan 15.33%, South Korea 12.71%, US 12.2%, China 10.38%, India
7.12%, Taiwan 4.54%, Singapore 4.25% (2009)
Imports:
$99.17 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$87.1 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles,
textiles
Imports - partners:
US 12.32%, China 12.06%, Germany 7.67%, Japan 6.15%, South Korea
5.32%, India 4.99%, UK 4.72%, France 4.05% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$456.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
$410.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$82.92 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$72.77 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$204.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$167 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$18 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$11.41 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar - 3.75 (2010), 3.75 (2009), 3.75
(2008), 3.745 (2007), 3.745 (2006)
Communications ::Saudi Arabia
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.171 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 36
Telephones - mobile cellular:
44.864 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 27
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system including a combination of
extensive microwave radio relays, coaxial cables, and fiber-optic
cables
domestic: mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly
international: country code - 966; landing point for the
international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe
(FLAG) and for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable
networks providing connectivity to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and
US; microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE,
Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; satellite
earth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1
Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region) (2008)
Broadcast media:
broadcast media are state-controlled; state-run TV operates 4
networks; Saudi Arabia is a major market for pan-Arab satellite TV
broadcasters; state-run radio operates several networks; multiple
international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.sa
Internet hosts:
488,598 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 51
Internet users:
9.774 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 30
Transportation ::Saudi Arabia
Airports:
217 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 27
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 81
over 3,047 m: 33
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 27
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 136
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 71
914 to 1,523 m: 41
under 914 m: 16 (2010)
Heliports:
9 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 212 km; gas 1,880 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,183 km; oil
4,241 km; refined products 1,148 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 1,392 km
country comparison to the world: 83
standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and
sidings) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 221,372 km
country comparison to the world: 23
paved: 47,529 km (includes 3,891 km of expressways)
unpaved: 173,843 km (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 74
country comparison to the world: 58
by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 22, container 4, liquefied gas 2,
passenger/cargo 11, petroleum tanker 22, refrigerated cargo 3, roll
on/roll off 8
foreign-owned: 15 (Egypt 1, Greece 4, Kuwait 4, UAE 6)
registered in other countries: 55 (Bahamas 16, Dominica 3, Liberia
24, Norway 3, Panama 8) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jiddah, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
Military ::Saudi Arabia
Military branches:
Ministry of Defense and Aviation Forces: Royal Saudi Land Forces,
Royal Saudi Naval Forces (includes Marine Forces and Special
Forces), Royal Saudi Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Malakiya
as-Sa'udiya), Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces, Royal Saudi Strategic
Rocket Forces, Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,752,167
females age 16-49: 6,680,315 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,560,216
females age 16-49: 5,773,033 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 280,041
female: 269,580 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
10% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Transnational Issues ::Saudi Arabia
Disputes - international:
Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier
along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem
illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue
discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran; Saudi Arabia claims
Egyptian-administered islands of Tiran and Sanafir
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 240,015 (Palestinian Territories)
(2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Saudi Arabia is a destination country for workers
from South and Southeast Asia who are subjected to conditions that
constitute involuntary servitude including being subjected to
physical and sexual abuse, non-payment of wages, confinement, and
withholding of passports as a restriction on their movement;
domestic workers are particularly vulnerable because some are
confined to the house in which they work unable to seek help; Saudi
Arabia is also a destination country for Nigerian, Yemeni,
Pakistani, Afghan, Somali, Malian, and Sudanese children trafficked
for forced begging and involuntary servitude as street vendors; some
Nigerian women were reportedly trafficked into Saudi Arabia for
commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 3 - Saudi Arabia does not fully comply with the
minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not
making significant efforts to do so; the government continues to
lack adequate anti-trafficking laws and, despite evidence of
widespread trafficking abuses, did not report any criminal
prosecutions, convictions, or prison sentences for trafficking
crimes committed against foreign domestic workers (2008)
Illicit drugs:
death penalty for traffickers; improving anti-money-laundering
legislation and enforcement
page last updated on January 13, 2011
======================================================================
@Senegal (Africa)
Introduction ::Senegal
Background:
The French colonies of Senegal and the French Sudan were merged in
1959 and granted their independence as the Mali Federation in 1960.
The union broke up after only a few months. Senegal joined with The
Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. The
envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out,
and the union was dissolved in 1989. The Movement of Democratic
Forces in the Casamance (MFDC) has led a low-level separatist
insurgency in southern Senegal since the 1980s, and several peace
deals have failed to resolve the conflict. Nevertheless, Senegal
remains one of the most stable democracies in Africa. Senegal was
ruled by a Socialist Party for 40 years until current President
Abdoulaye WADE was elected in 2000. He was reelected in February
2007 and has amended Senegal's constitution over a dozen times to
increase executive power and to weaken the opposition, part of the
President's increasingly autocratic governing style. Senegal has a
long history of participating in international peacekeeping and
regional mediation.
Geography ::Senegal
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Geographic coordinates:
14 00 N, 14 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 196,722 sq km
country comparison to the world: 87
land: 192,530 sq km
water: 4,192 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:
total: 2,640 km
border countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau
338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km
Coastline:
531 km
Maritime claims:
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; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong
southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot,
dry, harmattan wind
Terrain:
generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation southwest of Kedougou 581 m
Natural resources:
fish, phosphates, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 12.51%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 87.25% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,200 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
39.4 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.22 cu km/yr (4%/3%/93%)
per capita: 190 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost
an enclave within Senegal
People ::Senegal
Population:
12,323,252 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.2% (male 2,911,324/female 2,877,804)
15-64 years: 54.8% (male 3,728,664/female 3,786,000)
65 years and over: 3% (male 190,343/female 217,462) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.9 years
male: 17.1 years
female: 18.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.579% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Birth rate:
37.27 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Death rate:
9.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Net migration rate:
-1.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Urbanization:
urban population: 42% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 57.7 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 36
male: 64.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 50.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 59.38 years
country comparison to the world: 189
male: 57.48 years
female: 61.34 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.86 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
67,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,800 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, dengue fever,
malaria, Rift Valley fever, and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Senegalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Senegalese
Ethnic groups:
Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%,
Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%
Religions:
Muslim 94%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), indigenous beliefs
1%
Languages:
French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 39.3%
male: 51.1%
female: 29.2% (2002 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male: 8 years
female: 7 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.1% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 64
Government ::Senegal
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Senegal
conventional short form: Senegal
local long form: Republique du Senegal
local short form: Senegal
former: Senegambia (along with The Gambia), Mali Federation
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Dakar
geographic coordinates: 14 40 N, 17 26 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
14 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick,
Kaffrine, Kaolack, Kedougou, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis,
Sedhiou, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Independence:
4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence achieved
upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Constitution:
adopted 7 January 2001
Legal system:
based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State audits the
government's accounting office; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Soulayemane Ndene NDIAYE (since 1
May 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in
consultation with the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term) under new constitution; election last
held on 25 February 2007 (next to be held in 2012); prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: Abdoulaye WADE reelected president; percent of
vote - Abdoulaye WADE 55.9%, Idrissa SECK 14.9%, Ousmane Tanor DIENG
13.6%, Moustapha NIASSE 5.9%, other 9.7%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consisting of the Senate, reinstituted in 2007,
(100 seats; 35 members indirectly elected and 65 members appointed
by the president) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale
(150 seats; 90 members elected by direct popular vote and 60 elected
by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year
terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 19 August 2007 (next to be held -
NA); National Assembly - last held on 3 June 2007 (next to be held
in 2012); note - the National Assembly in December 2005 voted to
postpone legislative elections originally scheduled for 2006;
legislative elections were first rescheduled to coincide with the 25
February 2007 presidential elections and later for 3 June 2007; the
election was boycotted by 12 opposition parties, including the
former ruling Socialist Party, which resulted in a record-low 35%
voter turnout
election results: Senate results - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - PDS 34, AJ/PADS 1, 65 appointed by the president;
National Assembly results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - SOPI Coalition 131, other 19
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals or
Cour de Cassation; Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders:
African Party of Independence [Majhemout DIOP]; Alliance for the
Republic-Yakaar [Macky Sall]; Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP
[Moustapha NIASSE]; And-Jef/African Party for Democracy and
Socialism or AJ/PADS [Landing SAVANE]; Democratic League-Labor Party
Movement or LD-MPT [Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY]; Front for Socialism and
Democracy/Benno Jubel or FSD/BJ [Cheikh Abdoulaye Bamba DIEYE];
Gainde Centrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul DIAS]; Independence and Labor
Party or PIT [Amath DANSOKHO]; Jef-Jel [Talla SYLLA]; National
Democratic Rally or RND [Madior DIOUF]; People's Labor Party or PTP
[El Hadji DIOUF]; Reform Party or PR [Abdourahim AGNE]; Rewmi Party
[Idrissa Seck]; Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE];
Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG]; SOPI Coalition
[Abdoulaye WADE] (a coalition led by the PDS); Union for Democratic
Renewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: labor; students; Sufi brotherhoods, including the Mourides
and Tidjanes; teachers
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP (associate), ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional),
WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Fatou Danielle DIAGNE
chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-0540
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6315
consulate(s) general: Houston, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marcia S. BERNICAT
embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Rue Kleber, Dakar
mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar
telephone: [221] 33-829-2100
FAX: [221] 33-822-2991
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red
with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band;
green represents Islam, progress, and hope; yellow signifies natural
wealth and progress; red symbolizes sacrifice and determination; the
star denotes unity and hope
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors
from left to right are the same as those of neighboring Mali and the
reverse of those on the flag of neighboring Guinea
National anthem:
name: "Pincez Tous vos Koras, Frappez les Balafons" (Pluck Your
Koras, Strike the Balafons)
lyrics/music: Leopold Sedar SENGHOR/Herbert PEPPER
note: adopted 1960; the lyrics were written by Leopold Sedar
SENGHOR, Senegal"s first president; the anthem is sometimes played
incorporating the Koras (harp-like stringed instruments) and
Balafons (types of xylophones) mentioned in the title
Economy ::Senegal
Economy - overview:
Senegal relies heavily on donor assistance. The country's key export
industries are phosphate mining, fertilizer production, and
commercial fishing. The country is also working on iron ore and oil
exploration projects. In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and
ambitious economic reform program with the support of the
international donor community. Government price controls and
subsidies have been steadily dismantled. After seeing its economy
contract by 2.1% in 1993, Senegal made an important turnaround,
thanks to the reform program, with real growth in GDP averaging over
5% annually during 1995-2008. Annual inflation had been pushed down
to the single digits. The country was adversely affected by the
global economic downturn in 2009 and GDP growth fell below 2%. As a
member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU),
Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a
unified external tariff and a more stable monetary policy. High
unemployment, however, continues to prompt illegal migrants to flee
Senegal in search of better job opportunities in Europe. Under the
IMF's Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief program,
Senegal benefited from eradication of two-thirds of its bilateral,
multilateral, and private-sector debt. In 2007, Senegal and the IMF
agreed to a new, non-disbursing, Policy Support Initiative program
which was completed in 2010. Senegal received its first disbursement
from the $540 million Millennium Challenge Account compact it signed
in September 2009 for infrastructure and agriculture development. In
2010, the Senegalese people protested against frequent power cuts.
The government pledged to expand capacity by 2012 and to promote
renewable energy but until Senegal has more capacity, more protests
are likely and economic activity will be hindered. During the year,
bakers protested government price controls on bread. Foreign
investment in Senegal is constrained by Senegal's business
environment, which has slipped in recent years, and by perceptions
of corruption.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$23.86 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
$22.96 billion (2009 est.)
$22.56 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$12.66 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
1.8% (2009 est.)
3.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
$1,900 (2009 est.)
$1,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 14.9%
industry: 21.4%
services: 63.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
5.53 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 77.5%
industry and services: 22.5% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
48% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Population below poverty line:
54% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 30.1% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
41.3 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 55
41.3 (1995)
Investment (gross fixed):
25.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Public debt:
32.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
29.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
-1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 95
4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA%
Stock of narrow money:
$2.8 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 112
$2.903 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$4.603 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$4.745 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.516 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$3.412 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green
vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish
Industries:
agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer
production, petroleum refining; iron ore, zircon, and gold mining,
construction materials, ship construction and repair
Industrial production growth rate:
3.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Electricity - production:
1.88 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Electricity - consumption:
1.384 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Oil - consumption:
39,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Oil - exports:
5,653 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Oil - imports:
42,850 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Natural gas - production:
50 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Natural gas - consumption:
50 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Natural gas - proved reserves:
NA cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
Current account balance:
-$1.046 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
-$1.356 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$2.112 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
$1.902 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton
Exports - partners:
Mali 20.12%, India 9.84%, Gambia 5.58%, France 5.02%, Italy 4.23%
(2009)
Imports:
$4.474 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
$4.549 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food and beverages, capital goods, fuels
Imports - partners:
France 19.58%, UK 9.64%, China 8.08%, Netherlands 5.64%, Thailand
4.75%, US 3.97% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
$2.123 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.885 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
$3.462 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 507.71
(2010), 470.9 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006)
Communications ::Senegal
Telephones - main lines in use:
278,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 118
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6.902 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 82
Telephone system:
general assessment: good system with microwave radio relay, coaxial
cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system
domestic: above-average urban system with a fiber-optic network;
nearly two-thirds of all fixed-line connections are in Dakar where a
call-center industry is emerging; expansion of fixed-line services
in rural areas needed; mobile-cellular service is expanding rapidly
international: country code - 221; the SAT-3/WASC fiber optic cable
provides connectivity to Europe and Asia while Atlantis-2 provides
connectivity to South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean) (2007)
Broadcast media:
state-run Radiodiffusion Television Senegalaise (RTS) operates 2 TV
stations; a few private TV subscription channels rebroadcast foreign
channels without providing any local news or programs; RTS operates
a national radio network and a number of regional FM stations; a
large number of community and private-broadcast radio stations are
available; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters
are accessible on FM in Dakar (2007)
Internet country code:
.sn
Internet hosts:
241 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 190
Internet users:
1.818 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 76
Transportation ::Senegal
Airports:
20 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 135
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 43 km; refined products 8 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 906 km
country comparison to the world: 94
narrow gauge: 906 km 1.000 meter gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 13,576 km
country comparison to the world: 127
paved: 3,972 km (includes 7 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,604 km (2003)
Waterways:
1,000 km (primarily on Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance rivers) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 64
Merchant marine:
total: 1
country comparison to the world: 155
by type: passenger/cargo 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Dakar
Military ::Senegal
Military branches:
Senegalese Armed Forces: Army, Senegalese Navy (Marine Senegalaise),
Senegalese Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Senegal) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,211,279
females age 16-49: 3,250,128 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,109,080
females age 16-49: 2,287,510 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 157,468
female: 156,689 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Transnational Issues ::Senegal
Disputes - international:
The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau attempt to stem separatist violence,
cross border raids, and arms smuggling into their countries from
Senegal's Casamance region, and in 2006, respectively accepted 6,000
and 10,000 Casamance residents fleeing the conflict; 2,500
Guinea-Bissau residents fled into Senegal in 2006 to escape armed
confrontations along the border
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 19,630 (Mauritania)
IDPs: 22,400 (approximately 65% of the IDP population returned in
2005, but new displacement is occurring due to clashes between
government troops and separatists in Casamance region) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and
South American cocaine moving to Europe and North America; illicit
cultivator of cannabis
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Serbia (Europe)
Introduction ::Serbia
Background:
The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in 1918; its
name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Various paramilitary bands
resisted Nazi Germany's occupation and division of Yugoslavia from
1941 to 1945, but fought each other and ethnic opponents as much as
the invaders. The military and political movement headed by Josip
"TITO" Broz (Partisans) took full control of Yugoslavia when German
and Croatian separatist forces were defeated in 1945. Although
Communist, TITO's new government and his successors (he died in
1980) managed to steer their own path between the Warsaw Pact
nations and the West for the next four and a half decades. In 1989,
Slobodan MILOSEVIC became president of the Republic of Serbia and
his ultranationalist calls for Serbian domination led to the violent
breakup of Yugoslavia along ethnic lines. In 1991, Croatia,
Slovenia, and Macedonia declared independence, followed by Bosnia in
1992. The remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegro declared a
new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in April 1992 and under
MILOSEVIC's leadership, Serbia led various military campaigns to
unite ethnic Serbs in neighboring republics into a "Greater Serbia."
These actions led to Yugoslavia being ousted from the UN in 1992,
but Serbia continued its - ultimately unsuccessful - campaign until
signing the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995. MILOSEVIC kept tight
control over Serbia and eventually became president of the FRY in
1997. In 1998, an ethnic Albanian insurgency in the formerly
autonomous Serbian province of Kosovo provoked a Serbian
counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and massive
expulsions of ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo. The MILOSEVIC
government's rejection of a proposed international settlement led to
NATO's bombing of Serbia in the spring of 1999, to the withdrawal of
Serbian military and police forces from Kosovo in June 1999, and to
the stationing of a NATO-led force in Kosovo to provide a safe and
secure environment for the region's ethnic communities. FRY
elections in late 2000 led to the ouster of MILOSEVIC and the
installation of democratic government. MILOSEVIC was arrested in
2001 and sent to be tried in The Hague for crimes against humanity;
he died in March 2006 before the completion of his trial. In 2001,
the country's suspension from the UN was lifted. In 2003, the FRY
became Serbia and Montenegro, a loose federation of the two
republics with a federal level parliament. Widespread violence
predominantly targeting ethnic Serbs in Kosovo in March 2004 caused
the international community to open negotiations on the future
status of Kosovo in January 2006. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked
its right to secede from the federation and - following a successful
referendum - it declared itself an independent nation on 3 June
2006. Two days later, Serbia declared that it was the successor
state to the union of Serbia and Montenegro. A new Serbian
constitution was approved in October 2006 and adopted the following
month. In February 2008, after nearly two years of inconclusive
negotiations, the UN-administered province of Kosovo declared itself
independent of Serbia - an action Serbia refuses to recognize. At
Serbia's request, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in October 2008
sought an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) on whether Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence was
in accordance with international law. In a ruling considered
unfavorable to Serbia, the ICJ issued an advisory opinion in July
2010 stating that international law did not prohibit declarations of
independence. In late 2010, Serbia agreed to an EU-drafted UNGA
Resolution acknowledging the ICJ's decision and calling for a new
round of talks between Serbia and Kosovo.
Geography ::Serbia
Location:
Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary
Geographic coordinates:
44 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 77,474 sq km
country comparison to the world: 116
land: 77,474 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 2,026 km
border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 302 km, Bulgaria 318 km,
Croatia 241 km, Hungary 151 km, Kosovo 352 km, Macedonia 62 km,
Montenegro 124 km, Romania 476 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid
summers with well distributed rainfall); in other parts, continental
and Mediterranean climate (relatively cold winters with heavy
snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns)
Terrain:
extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east,
limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and
hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Danube and Timok Rivers 35 m
highest point: Midzor 2,169 m
Natural resources:
oil, gas, coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, chromite, gold,
silver, magnesium, pyrite, limestone, marble, salt, arable land
Land use:
arable land: NA
permanent crops: NA
other: NA
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
208.5 cu km (note - includes Kosovo) (2003)
Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water
pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows
into the Danube
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkey
and the Near East
People ::Serbia
Population:
7,344,847
country comparison to the world: 97
note: does not include the population of Kosovo (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.4% (male 586,806/female 549,900)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 2,503,194/female 2,502,807)
65 years and over: 16.8% (male 508,606/female 728,026) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 41.1 years
male: 39.4 years
female: 42.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.469% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223
Birth rate:
9.2 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Death rate:
13.89 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Urbanization:
urban population: 52% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.065 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and above: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.65 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 172
male: 7.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.09 years
country comparison to the world: 102
male: 71.26 years
female: 77.1 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.39 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,400 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne disease: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Serb(s)
adjective: Serbian
Ethnic groups:
Serb 82.9%, Hungarian 3.9%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.4%, Yugoslavs 1.1%,
Bosniaks 1.8%, Montenegrin 0.9%, other 8% (2002 census)
Religions:
Serbian Orthodox 85%, Catholic 5.5%, Protestant 1.1%, Muslim 3.2%,
unspecified 2.6%, other, unknown, or atheist 2.6% (2002 census)
Languages:
Serbian 88.3% (official), Hungarian 3.8%, Bosniak 1.8%, Romany
(Gypsy) 1.1%, other 4.1%, unknown 0.9% (2002 census)
note: Romanian, Hungarian, Slovak, Ukrainian, and Croatian all
official in Vojvodina
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.4%
male: 98.9%
female: 94.1% (2003 census)
note: includes Montenegro
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
4.5% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 91
Government ::Serbia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Serbia
conventional short form: Serbia
local long form: Republika Srbija
local short form: Srbija
former: People's Republic of Serbia, Socialist Republic of Serbia
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Belgrade (Beograd)
geographic coordinates: 44 50 N, 20 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:
167 municipalities (opcstine, singular - opcstina)
Serbia Proper: Belgrade City (Beograd): Barajevo, Cukarica, Grocka,
Lazarevac, Mladenovac, Novi Beograd, Obrenovac, Palilula, Rakovica,
Savski Venac, Sopot, Stari Grad, Surcin, Vozdovac, Vracar, Zemun,
Zvezdara; Bor: Bor, Kladovo, Majdanpek, Negotin; Branicevo: Golubac,
Kucevo, Malo Crnice, Petrovac, Pozarevac, Veliko Gradiste, Zabari,
Zagubica; Grad Nis: Crveni Krst, Mediana, Niska Banja, Palilula,
Pantelej Jablanica: Bojnik, Crna Trava, Lebane, Leskovac, Medveda,
Vlasotince; Kolubara: Lajkovac, Ljig, Mionica, Osecina, Ub, Valjevo;
Macva: Bogatic, Koceljeva, Krupanj, Ljubovija, Loznica, Mali
Zvornik, Sabac, Vladimirci; Moravica: Cacak, Gornkji Milanovac,
Ivanjica, Lucani; Nisava: Aleksinac, Doljevac, Gadzin Han, Merosina,
Nis, Razanj, Svrljig; Pcinja: Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, Presevo,
Surdulica, Trgoviste, Vladicin Han, Vranje; Pirot: Babusnica, Bela
Palanka, Dimitrovgrad, Pirot; Podunavlje: Smederevo, Smederevskia
Palanka, Velika Plana; Pomoravlje: Cuprija, Despotovac, Jagodina,
Paracin, Rekovac, Svilajnac; Rasina: Aleksandrovac, Brus, Cicevac,
Krusevac, Trstenik, Varvarin; Raska: Kraljevo, Novi Pazar, Raska,
Tutin, Vrnjacka Banja; Sumadija: Arandelovac, Batocina, Knic,
Kragujevac, Lapovo, Raca, Topola; Toplica: Blace, Kursumlija,
Prokuplje, Zitorada; Zajecar: Boljevac, Knjazevac, Sokobanja,
Zajecar; Zlatibor: Arilje, Bajina Basta, Cajetina, Kosjeric, Nova
Varos, Pozega, Priboj, Prijepolje, Sjenica, Uzice
Vojvodina Autonomous Province: South Backa: Bac, Backa Palanka,
Backi Petrovac, Becej, Beocin, Novi Sad, Sremski Karlovci,
Srobobran, Temerin, Titel, Vrbas, Zabalj; South Banat: Alibunar,
Bela Crkva, Kovacica, Kovin, Opovo, Pancevo, Plandiste, Vrsac; North
Backa: Backa Topola, Mali Idjos, Subotica; North Banat: Ada, Coka,
Kanjiza, Kikinda, Novi Knezevac, Senta; Central Banat: Nova Crnja,
Novi Becej, Secanj, Zitiste, Zrenjanin; Srem: Indija, Irig, Pecinci,
Ruma, Sid, Sremska Mitrovica, Stara Pazova; West Backa: Apatin,
Kula, Odzaci, Sombor
Independence:
5 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)
National holiday:
National Day, 15 February
Constitution:
adopted 8 November 2006; effective 10 November 2006
Legal system:
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations; note - Serbia is working to reform its justice sector
and harmonize its judicial systems with EU standards
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Boris TADIC (since 11 July 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Mirko CVETKOVIC (since 7 July
2008)
cabinet: Republican Ministries act as cabinet
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by direct vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 February 2008
(next to be held in 2013); prime minister elected by the National
Assembly
election results: Boris TADIC elected president in the second round
of voting; Boris TADIC received 51.2% of the vote and Tomislav
NIKOLIC 48.8%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (250 seats; deputies elected according
to party lists to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 11 May 2008 (next to be held in May 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - For a European Serbia
coalition 38.4%, SRS 29.5%, DSS-NS 11.6%, SPS-led coalition 7.6%,
LPD 5.2%, other 7.7%; seats by party - For a European Serbia
coalition 102, SRS 57, DSS-NS 30, SNS 21, SPS-led coalition 20, LDP
13, other 7
Judicial branch:
courts of general jurisdiction (municipal courts, district courts,
Appellate Courts, the Supreme Court of Cassation); courts of special
jurisdiction (commercial courts, the High Commercial Court, the High
Magistrates Court, the Administrative Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Coalition for Sandzak or KZS [Sulejman UGLJANIN]; Democratic Party
or DS [Boris TADIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSh [Ragmi
MUSTAFA]; Democratic Party of Serbia or DSS [Vojislav KOSTUNICA];
Democratic Union of the Valley or BDL [Skender DESTANI]; Force of
Serbia Movement or PSS [Bogoljub KARIC]; G17 Plus [Mladjan DINKIC];
League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina or LSV [Nenad CANAK]; League
of Vojvodina Hungarians or SVM [Istvan PASTOR]; Liberal Democratic
Party or LDP [Cedomir JOVANOVIC]; Movement for Democratic Progress
or LPD [Jonuz MUSLIU]; New Serbia or NS [Velimir ILIC]; Party of
Democratic Action or PVD [Riza HALIMI]; Party of United Pensioners
of Serbia or PUPS [Jovan KRKOBABIC]; People's Party or NS [Maja
GOJKOVIC]; Roma Party or RP [Srdjan SAJN]; Sandzak Democratic Party
or SDP [Resad HODZIC]; Serbian Progressive Party or SNS [Tomislav
NIKOLIC]; Serbian Radical Party or SRS [Vojislav SESELJ (currently
on trial at The Hague), with Dragan TODOROVIC as acting leader];
Serbian Renewal Movement or SPO [Vuk DRASKOVIC]; Social Democratic
Party of Serbia or SDPS [Rasim LJAJIC]; Socialist Party of Serbia or
SPS [Ivica DACIC]; Union of Roma of Serbia or URS [Rajko DJURIC];
United Serbia or JS [Dragan "Palma" MARKOVIC]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Obraz (Orthodox clero-fascist organization); 1389 (Serbian
nationalist movement)
International organization participation:
BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer),
OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Vladimir PETROVIC
chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-0333
FAX: [1] (202) 332-3933
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary WARLICK
embassy: Kneza Milosa 50, 11000 Belgrade
mailing address: 5070 Belgrade Place, Washington, DC 20521-5070
telephone: [381] (11) 361-9344
FAX: [381] (11) 361-8230
Flag description:
three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and white - the
Pan-Slav colors representing freedom and revolutionary ideals;
charged with the coat of arms of Serbia shifted slightly to the
hoist side; the principal field of the coat of arms represents the
Serbian state and displays a white two-headed eagle on a red shield;
a smaller red shield on the eagle represents the Serbian nation, and
is divided into four quarters by a white cross; a white Cyrillic "C"
in each quarter stands for the phrase "Only Unity Saves the Serbs";
a royal crown surmounts the coat of arms
note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of
Russia
National anthem:
name: "Boze pravde" (God of Justice)
lyrics/music: Jovan DORDEVIC/Davorin JENKO
note: adopted 1904; the song was originally written as part of a
play in 1872 and has been used as an anthem by the Serbian people
throughout the 20th and 21st centuries
Economy ::Serbia
Economy - overview:
MILOSEVIC-era mismanagement of the economy, an extended period of
international economic sanctions, and the damage to Yugoslavia's
infrastructure and industry during the NATO airstrikes in 1999 left
the economy only half the size it was in 1990. After the ousting of
former Federal Yugoslav President MILOSEVIC in September 2000, the
Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition government
implemented stabilization measures and embarked on a market reform
program. After renewing its membership in the IMF in December 2000,
Yugoslavia continued to reintegrate into the international community
by rejoining the World Bank (IBRD) and the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Belgrade has made progress in
trade liberalization and enterprise restructuring and privatization,
including telecommunications and small- and medium-size firms. It
has made some progress towards EU membership, signing a
Stabilization and Association Agreement with Brussels in May 2008,
and with full implementation of the Interim Trade Agreement with the
EU in February 2010. Serbia is also pursuing membership in the World
Trade Organization. Reforms needed to ensure the country's long-term
viability have largely stalled since the onset of the global
financial crisis. Serbia is grappling with fallout from crisis,
which has led to a sharp drop in exports to Western Europe and a
decline in manufacturing output. Unemployment and limited export
earnings remain ongoing political and economic problems. Serbia
signed an augmented $4 billion Stand By Arrangement with the IMF in
May 2009. IMF conditions on Serbia constrain the use of stimulus
efforts to revive the economy, while Serbia's concerns about
inflation and exchange rate stability preclude the use of
expansionary monetary policy. Serbia's economy grew by 1.8% in 2010
after a 3% contraction in 2009 as a recovery in Western Europe began.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$80.65 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$79.22 billion (2009 est.)
$81.67 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$38.92 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
-3% (2009 est.)
5.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$11,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
$10,700 (2009 est.)
$11,000 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 22.6%
services: 64.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
3.25 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 23.9%
industry: 20.5%
services: 55.6% (October 2009)
Unemployment rate:
17.2% (2010 est.); 16.6% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Population below poverty line:
7.9% (2008 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 129
30 (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):
25.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Public debt:
37.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
31.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
8.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
9.92% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 14
17.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.78% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 26
18.11% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$3.554 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 105
$3.821 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$18.69 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
$17.82 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$18.88 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$19.25 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$11.52 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 64
$12.17 billion (31 December 2008)
$23.93 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, maize, sugar beets, sunflower, raspberries; beef, pork, milk
Industries:
base metals, furniture, food processing, machinery, chemicals,
sugar, tires, clothes, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:
1.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Electricity - production:
36 billion kWh (2009)
country comparison to the world: 60
Electricity - consumption:
33.4 billion kWh (2009)
country comparison to the world: 57
Electricity - exports:
1.5 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
121 million kWh (2009)
Oil - production:
12,170 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Oil - consumption:
90,000 bbl/day NA bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Oil - exports:
5,045 bbl/day (2008)
country comparison to the world: 104
Oil - imports:
72,570 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Oil - proved reserves:
77.5 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Natural gas - production:
230 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Natural gas - consumption:
2.61 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Natural gas - imports:
2.4 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Natural gas - proved reserves:
48.14 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Current account balance:
-$1.046 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
-$1.356 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$9.372 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
$8.368 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
iron and steel, clothes, wheat, fruit and vegetables, non-ferrous
metals
Exports - partners:
Bosnia and Herzegovina 13.12%, Italy 10.96%, Germany 9.9%, Serbia
and Montenegro 7%, Austria 5.4%, Slovenia 5.38%, Macedonia 5.26%,
Russia 4.39%, Hungary 4.36% (2009)
Imports:
$15.78 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$15.03 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - partners:
Germany 11.79%, Italy 9.36%, Hungary 6.71%, Slovenia 6.52%, Austria
4.79% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$16.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$15.22 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$32.31 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$32.01 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$23.52 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$11.95 billion (2006 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Serbian dinars (RSD) per US dollar - 79.979 (2010), 62.9 (2008),
54.5 (2007), 59.98 (2006)
Communications ::Serbia
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.106 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 48
Telephones - mobile cellular:
9.912 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 64
Telephone system:
general assessment: replacements of, and upgrades to,
telecommunications equipment damaged during the 1999 war has
resulted in a modern telecommunications system more than 95%
digitalized in 2009
domestic: wireless service, available through multiple providers
with national coverage, is growing very rapidly; best
telecommunications services are centered in urban centers; 3G mobile
network launched in 2007
international: country code - 381 (2009)
Internet country code:
.rs
Internet hosts:
528,253 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 49
Internet users:
4.107 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 57
Transportation ::Serbia
Airports:
29 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 116
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 8 (2010)
Heliports:
2 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 1,921 km; oil 323 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 3,379 km
country comparison to the world: 52
standard gauge: 3,379 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 1,254 km) (2006)
Roadways:
total: 36,884 km
country comparison to the world: 92
paved: 31,938 km
unpaved: 4,946 km (2007)
Waterways:
587 km (primarily on Danube and Sava rivers) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 81
Military ::Serbia
Military branches:
Serbian Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije, VS): Land Forces Command
(includes Riverine Component, consisting of a river flotilla on the
Danube), Air and Air Defense Forces Command (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for male compulsory military service; 18 years of
age for voluntary service; conscription to be abolished effective
2011; 6-month service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age
60 for men and 50 for women (2010)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,405,391
females age 16-49: 1,368,207 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 43,925
female: 41,342 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues ::Serbia
Disputes - international:
Serbia with several other states protest the U.S. and other states'
recognition of Kosovo's declaring itself as a sovereign and
independent state in February 2008; ethnic Serbian municipalities
along Kosovo's northern border challenge final status of
Kosovo-Serbia boundary; several thousand NATO-led KFOR peacekeepers
under UNMIK authority continue to keep the peace within Kosovo
between the ethnic Albanian majority and the Serb minority in
Kosovo; Serbia delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and
Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 71,111 (Croatia); 27,414 (Bosnia and
Herzegovina); 206,000 (Kosovo), note - mostly ethnic Serbs and Roma
who fled Kosovo in 1999 (2007)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western
Europe on the Balkan route; economy vulnerable to money laundering
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Seychelles (Africa)
Introduction ::Seychelles
Background:
A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islands
ended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. Independence came
in 1976. Socialist rule was brought to a close with a new
constitution and free elections in 1993. President France-Albert
RENE, who had served since 1977, was re-elected in 2001, but stepped
down in 2004. Vice President James MICHEL took over the presidency
and in July 2006 was elected to a new five-year term.
Geography ::Seychelles
Location:
archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:
4 35 S, 55 40 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 455 sq km
country comparison to the world: 197
land: 455 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
491 km
Maritime claims:
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 marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late
May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to
May)
Terrain:
Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others
are coral, flat, elevated reefs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m
Natural resources:
fish, copra, cinnamon trees
Land use:
arable land: 2.17%
permanent crops: 13.04%
other: 84.79% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short
droughts possible
Environment - current issues:
water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater
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,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
41 granitic and about 75 coralline islands
People ::Seychelles
Population:
88,340 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.8% (male 10,201/female 9,732)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 31,870/female 29,439)
65 years and over: 7.1% (male 2,321/female 3,913) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 32 years
male: 31.5 years
female: 32.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.966% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Birth rate:
15.53 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Death rate:
6.92 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Net migration rate:
1.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Urbanization:
urban population: 54% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.031 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.97 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 140
male: 15.02 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.28 years
country comparison to the world: 115
male: 68.6 years
female: 78.09 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.92 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)
adjective: Seychellois
Ethnic groups:
mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab
Religions:
Roman Catholic 82.3%, Anglican 6.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.1%,
other Christian 3.4%, Hindu 2.1%, Muslim 1.1%, other non-Christian
1.5%, unspecified 1.5%, none 0.6% (2002 census)
Languages:
Creole 91.8%, English 4.9% (official), other 3.1%, unspecified 0.2%
(2002 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.8%
male: 91.4%
female: 92.3% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 16 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 69
Government ::Seychelles
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
conventional short form: Seychelles
local long form: Republic of Seychelles
local short form: Seychelles
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Victoria
geographic coordinates: 4 38 S, 55 27 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
23 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse
Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau
Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand' Anse (on Mahe),
Grand' Anse (on Praslin), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Mont
Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe La Rue, Port Glaud, Saint
Louis, Takamaka
Independence:
29 June 1976 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)
Constitution:
18 June 1993
Legal system:
based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President James Alix MICHEL (since 14 April 2004);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President James MICHEL (since 14 April 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for two more terms); election last held on 28-30 July 2006
(next to be held in 2011)
election results: President James MICHEL elected president; percent
of vote - James MICHEL 53.7%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN 45.7%, Philippe
BOULLE 0.6%; note - this was the first election in which President
James MICHEL participated; he was originally sworn in as president
after former president France Albert RENE stepped down in April 2004
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats; 25
members elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a proportional basis
to parties winning at least 10% of the vote; members to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held on 10-12 May 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 56.2%, SNP 43.8%;
seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed
by the president
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party or DP [James MANCHAM, Paul CHOW]; People's Party
(Parti Lepep) or PL [France Albert RENE, James MICHEL] (the
governing party); Seychelles National Party or SNP [Wavel
RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the United Opposition or UO)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Roman Catholic Church
other: trade unions
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jean Ronald JUMEAU
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785
FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to
Mauritius is accredited to Seychelles
Flag description:
five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and
green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side; the
oblique bands are meant to symbolize a dynamic new country moving
into the future; blue represents sky and sea, yellow the sun giving
light and life, red the peoples' determination to work for the
future in unity and love, white social justice and harmony, green
the land and natural environment
National anthem:
name: "Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite)
lyrics/music: David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert
PAYET
note: adopted 1996
Economy ::Seychelles
Economy - overview:
Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean
archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the
pre-independence, near-subsistence level, moving the island into the
upper-middle income group of countries. Growth has been led by the
tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and
provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings, and by tuna
fishing. In recent years, the government has encouraged foreign
investment to upgrade hotels and other services. At the same time,
the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by
promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale
manufacturing. GDP grew about 7-8% per year in 2006-07, driven by
tourism and a boom in tourism-related construction. The Seychelles
rupee was allowed to depreciate in 2006 after being overvalued for
years and fell by 10% in the first 9 months of 2007. Despite these
actions, the Seychelles economy has struggled to maintain its gains
and in 2008 suffered from food and oil price shocks, a foreign
exchange shortage, high inflation, large financing gaps, and the
global recession. In July 2008 the government defaulted on a Euro
amortizing note worth roughly US$80 million, leading to a
downgrading of Seychelles credit rating, but in October 2010 the EU
approved a $2.9 million grant as part of a larger four-year program
for Seychelles. In response to Seychelles successful implementation
of tighter monetary and fiscal policies, the IMF upgraded Seychelles
to a three-year exteneded fund facility (EFF) of $31 million in
December 2009. In 2008, GDP fell more than 1% due to declining
tourism, but the economy recovered in 2009-10 with a notable
increase in tourist numbers for 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.908 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
$1.843 billion (2009 est.)
$1.83 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$919 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
0.7% (2009 est.)
-1.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$21,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$21,100 (2009 est.)
$21,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.9%
industry: 30.8%
services: 66.2% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
39,560 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 197
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 23%
services: 74% (2006)
Unemployment rate:
2% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
36.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Public debt:
58.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
58.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-2.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
31.8% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 84
5.13% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15.35% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
11.81% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$274.2 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 168
$240.5 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$415 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
$352 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$678.5 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
$582.5 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca),
copra, bananas; poultry; tuna
Industries:
fishing, tourism, processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut
fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Electricity - production:
250 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Electricity - consumption:
232.5 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Oil - consumption:
7,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Oil - imports:
7,653 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Current account balance:
-$351 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
-$284.2 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$464 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
$432.5 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products
(reexports)
Exports - partners:
UK 24.84%, France 18.53%, Italy 9.45%, Mauritius 9.03%, Japan 6.98%,
Spain 4.92% (2009)
Imports:
$831 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
$759.1 million (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals,
other manufactured goods
Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 16.44%, India 8.33%, Spain 7.49%, South Africa 6.72%,
France 6.39%, Brazil 6.07%, Singapore 5.07% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$193 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
$190.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.374 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
$1.321 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar - 12.221 (2010), 13.6124
(2009), 8 (2008), 6.5 (2007), 5.5 (2006)
Communications ::Seychelles
Telephones - main lines in use:
22,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 188
Telephones - mobile cellular:
92,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 186
Telephone system:
general assessment: effective system
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is 130
telephones per 100 persons; radiotelephone communications between
islands in the archipelago
international: country code - 248; direct radiotelephone
communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal
countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Broadcast media:
the government operates the only terrestrial TV station, which
provides local programming and airs broadcasts from international
services; multi-channel cable and satellite TV are available via
subscription; the government operates 1 AM and 1 FM radio station;
transmissions of 2 international broadcasters are accessible in
Victoria (2007)
Internet country code:
.sc
Internet hosts:
256 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 187
Internet users:
32,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 179
Transportation ::Seychelles
Airports:
14 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 150
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 5 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 458 km
country comparison to the world: 195
paved: 440 km
unpaved: 18 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 9
country comparison to the world: 120
by type: cargo 1, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 3 (Hong Kong 1, Nigeria 1, South Africa 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Victoria
Military ::Seychelles
Military branches:
Seychelles Defense Force: Army, Coast Guard (includes Naval Wing,
Air Wing), National Guard (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger with
parental consent); no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 26,040
females age 16-49: 23,961 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 19,989
females age 16-49: 19,882 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 704
female: 672 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Transnational Issues ::Seychelles
Disputes - international:
together with Mauritius, Seychelles claims the Chagos Archipelago
(UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Sierra Leone (Africa)
Introduction ::Sierra Leone
Background:
Democracy is slowly being reestablished after the civil war from
1991 to 2002 that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the
displacement of more than 2 million people (about one-third of the
population). The military, which took over full responsibility for
security following the departure of UN peacekeepers at the end of
2005, is increasingly developing as a guarantor of the country's
stability. The armed forces remained on the sideline during the 2007
presidential election, but still look to the UN Integrated Office in
Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) - a civilian UN mission - to support efforts
to consolidate peace. The new government's priorities include
furthering development, creating jobs, and stamping out endemic
corruption.
Geography ::Sierra Leone
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea
and Liberia
Geographic coordinates:
8 30 N, 11 30 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 71,740 sq km
country comparison to the world: 118
land: 71,620 sq km
water: 120 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 958 km
border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km
Coastline:
402 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter
dry season (December to April)
Terrain:
coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland
plateau, mountains in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
Natural resources:
diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
Land use:
arable land: 7.95%
permanent crops: 1.05%
other: 91% (2005)
Irrigated land:
300 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
160 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.38 cu km/yr (5%/3%/92%)
per capita: 69 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to
February); sandstorms, dust storms
Environment - current issues:
rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting
of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn
agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion;
civil war depleted natural resources; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year,
making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa
People ::Sierra Leone
Population:
5,245,695 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.7% (male 1,060,463/female 1,081,333)
15-64 years: 54.7% (male 1,344,650/female 1,461,203)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 83,595/female 100,894) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 19 years
male: 18.6 years
female: 19.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.216% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Birth rate:
38.79 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Death rate:
11.97 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Net migration rate:
-4.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 198
note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly
returning (2010 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 38% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 80.16 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 13
male: 89.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 70.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 55.69 years
country comparison to the world: 197
male: 53.27 years
female: 58.18 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.97 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.7% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
55,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,300 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Sierra Leonean(s)
adjective: Sierra Leonean
Ethnic groups:
Temne 35%, Mende 31%, Limba 8%, Kono 5%, Kriole 2% (descendants of
freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the
late-18th century; also known as Krio), Mandingo 2%, Loko 2%, other
15% (includes refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, and small
numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians) (2008
census)
Religions:
Muslim 60%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs 30%
Languages:
English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende
(principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in
the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of
freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, a
lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but
understood by 95%)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende,
Temne, or Arabic
total population: 35.1%
male: 46.9%
female: 24.4% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 7 years
male: 9 years
female: 6 years (2001)
Education expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 114
Government ::Sierra Leone
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
conventional short form: Sierra Leone
local long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
local short form: Sierra Leone
Government type:
constitutional democracy
Capital:
name: Freetown
geographic coordinates: 8 30 N, 13 15 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*
Independence:
27 April 1961 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 April (1961)
Constitution:
1 October 1991; amended several times
Legal system:
based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ernest Bai KOROMA (since 17 September
2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Ernest Bai KOROMA (since 17 September
2007)
cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the
approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible
to the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 August 2007
and 8 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: second round results; percent of vote - Ernest Bai
KOROMA 54.6%, Solomon BEREWA 45.4%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (124 seats; 112 members elected by popular
vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections;
members to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 11 August 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
APC 59, SLPP 43, PMDC 10
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court
Political parties and leaders:
All People's Congress or APC [Ernest Bai KOROMA]; Peace and
Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington MORRISON]; People's Movement for
Democratic Change or PMDC [Charles MARGAI]; Sierra Leone People's
Party or SLPP [Solomon BEREWA]; numerous others
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: student unions; trade unions
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bockari Kortu STEVENS
chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263
FAX: [1] (202) 483-1793
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Glenn FEDZER
embassy: Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [232] (22) 515 000 or (76) 515 000
FAX: [232] (22) 515 355
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and blue; green
symbolizes agriculture, mountains, and natural resources, white
represents unity and justice, and blue the sea and the natural
harbor in Freetown
National anthem:
name: "High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free"
lyrics/music: Clifford Nelson FYLE/John Joseph AKA
note: adopted 1961
Economy ::Sierra Leone
Economy - overview:
Sierra Leone is an extremely poor nation with tremendous inequality
in income distribution. While it possesses substantial mineral,
agricultural, and fishery resources, its physical and social
infrastructure has yet to recover from the civil war, and serious
social disorders continue to hamper economic development. Nearly
half of the working-age population engages in subsistence
agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw
materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market.
Alluvial diamond mining remains the major source of hard currency
earnings accounting for nearly half of Sierra Leone's exports. The
fate of the economy depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace
and the continued receipt of substantial aid from abroad, which is
essential to offset the severe trade imbalance and supplement
government revenues. The IMF has completed a Poverty Reduction and
Growth Facility program that helped stabilize economic growth and
reduce inflation and in 2010 approved a new program worth $45
million over three years. Political stability has led to a revival
of economic activity such as the rehabilitation of bauxite and
rutile mining, which are set to benefit from planned tax incentives.
A number of offshore oil discoveries were announced in 2009 and
2010. The development on these reserves, which could be significant,
is still several years away.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.812 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
$4.574 billion (2009 est.)
$4.382 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.901 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
4.4% (2009 est.)
5.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
$900 (2009 est.)
$900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 49%
industry: 31%
services: 21% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
2.207 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
70.2% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 33.6% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
62.9 (1989)
country comparison to the world: 5
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.7% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Central bank discount rate:
NA%
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
24.5% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$209.4 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 173
$219.1 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$437 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 174
$434.3 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$178.4 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 175
$140.9 million (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry,
cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Industries:
diamond mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles,
cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small commercial ship
repair
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
80 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Electricity - consumption:
74.4 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
29 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Oil - consumption:
9,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Oil - exports:
502 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Oil - imports:
8,316 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Current account balance:
-$63 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Exports:
$216 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 179
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish
Exports - partners:
Belgium 26.56%, US 11.87%, Netherlands 7.91%, UK 7.4%, India 6.67%,
Cote d'Ivoire 6.13%, Greece 4.05% (2009)
Imports:
$560 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 186
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals
Imports - partners:
South Africa 14.61%, China 7.58%, US 5.87%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.65%,
India 5.19%, Malaysia 5.19%, France 5.08%, UK 4.48%, Netherlands
4.06% (2009)
Debt - external:
$1.61 billion (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Exchange rates:
leones (SLL) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2,961.7 (2006), 2,889.6
(2005), 2,701.3 (2004), 2,347.9 (2003)
Communications ::Sierra Leone
Telephones - main lines in use:
32,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 175
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.16 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 143
Telephone system:
general assessment: marginal telephone service with poor
infrastructure
domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects
Freetown to Bo and Kenema; while mobile-cellular service is growing
rapidly from a small base, service area coverage remains limited
international: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:
1 government-owned TV station; 1 private TV station began operating
in 2005; a pay-per-view TV service began operations in late 2007; 1
government-owned national radio broadcast station; about two dozen
private radio stations primarily clustered in major cities;
transmissions of several international broadcasters are available
(2007)
Internet country code:
.sl
Internet hosts:
281 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 184
Internet users:
14,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 198
Transportation ::Sierra Leone
Airports:
9 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 159
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
2 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 11,300 km
country comparison to the world: 132
paved: 904 km
unpaved: 10,396 km (2002)
Waterways:
800 km (600 km year round) (2007)
country comparison to the world: 73
Merchant marine:
total: 189
country comparison to the world: 35
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 131, carrier 1, chemical tanker 12,
container 3, liquefied gas 3, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 6,
petroleum tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 3,
vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 91 (Bangladesh 1, China 12, Cyprus 1, Egypt 2,
Estonia 1, Hong Kong 4, Japan 3, Malaysia 1, North Korea 1, Romania
4, Russia 6, Singapore 5, Syria 20, Taiwan 1, Turkey 14, UAE 6, UK
1, Ukraine 5, US 1, Yemen 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Freetown, Pepel, Sherbro Islands
Military ::Sierra Leone
Military branches:
Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): Army (includes
Maritime Wing and Air Wing) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years 6 months of age for male and female voluntary military
service (younger with parental consent); no conscription; candidates
must be HIV negative (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,156,724 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 713,190
females age 16-49: 813,830 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 53,349
female: 56,307 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 66
Transnational Issues ::Sierra Leone
Disputes - international:
as domestic fighting among disparate ethnic groups, rebel groups,
warlords, and youth gangs in Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and
Sierra Leone gradually abates, the number of refugees in border
areas has begun to slowly dwindle; Sierra Leone considers excessive
Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left
bank boundary of the Makona and Moa rivers and protests Guinea's
continued occupation of these lands including the hamlet of Yenga
occupied since 1998
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 27,311 (Liberia) (2007)
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Singapore (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Singapore
Background:
Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. It joined
the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two years later and
became independent. Singapore subsequently became one of the world's
most prosperous countries with strong international trading links
(its port is one of the world's busiest in terms of tonnage handled)
and with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of
Western Europe.
Geography ::Singapore
Location:
Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:
1 22 N, 103 48 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 697 sq km
country comparison to the world: 191
land: 687 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
193 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as
defined in treaties and practice
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons -
Northeastern monsoon (December to March) and Southwestern monsoon
(June to September); inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early
evening thunderstorms
Terrain:
lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment
area and nature preserve
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m
highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m
Natural resources:
fish, deepwater ports
Land use:
arable land: 1.47%
permanent crops: 1.47%
other: 97.06% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
0.6 cu km (1975)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.19 cu km/yr (45%/51%/4%)
per capita: 44 cu m/yr (1975)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited
land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal
smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes
People ::Singapore
Population:
4,701,069 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.4% (male 348,382/female 324,050)
15-64 years: 76.7% (male 1,737,972/female 1,833,415)
65 years and over: 8.9% (male 184,393/female 229,330) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.6 years
male: 39.1 years
female: 40 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.863% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Birth rate:
8.65 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
Death rate:
4.8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Net migration rate:
4.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Urbanization:
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.077 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 2.32 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 222
male: 2.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 82.06 years
country comparison to the world: 7
male: 79.45 years
female: 84.87 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.1 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
4,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Nationality:
noun: Singaporean(s)
adjective: Singapore
Ethnic groups:
Chinese 76.8%, Malay 13.9%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4% (2000 census)
Religions:
Buddhist 42.5%, Muslim 14.9%, Taoist 8.5%, Hindu 4%, Catholic 4.8%,
other Christian 9.8%, other 0.7%, none 14.8% (2000 census)
Languages:
Mandarin (official) 35%, English (official) 23%, Malay (official)
14.1%, Hokkien 11.4%, Cantonese 5.7%, Teochew 4.9%, Tamil (official)
3.2%, other Chinese dialects 1.8%, other 0.9% (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 96.6%
female: 88.6% (2000 census)
Education expenditures:
3.2% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 144
Government ::Singapore
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Singapore
conventional short form: Singapore
local long form: Republic of Singapore
local short form: Singapore
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
name: Singapore
geographic coordinates: 1 17 N, 103 51 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
National holiday:
National Day, 9 August (1965)
Constitution:
3 June 1959; amended 1965 (based on pre-independence State of
Singapore Constitution)
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President S R NATHAN (since 1 September 1999)
note: uses S R NATHAN but his full name and the one used in formal
communications is Sellapan RAMANATHAN
head of government: Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August
2004); Senior Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 12 August 2004); Senior
Minister Shunmugam JAYAKUMAR (since 1 April 2009); Minister Mentor
LEE Kuan Yew (since 12 August 2004); Deputy Prime Minister TEO Chee
Huan (since 1 April 2009) and Deputy Prime Minister WONG Kan Seng
(since 1 September 2005)
cabinet: appointed by president, responsible to parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term;
appointed on 17 August 2005 (next election to be held by August
2011); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or
leader of majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by
president; deputy prime ministers appointed by president
election results: Sellapan Rama (S R) NATHAN was appointed president
in August 2005 after Presidential Elections Committee disqualified
three other would-be candidates; scheduled election not held
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms); note - in addition, there are up to 9
nominated members; up to three losing opposition candidates who came
closest to winning seats may be appointed as "nonconstituency"
members
elections: last held on 6 May 2006 (next to be held by February 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 66.6%, WP 16.3%,
SDA 13%, SDP 4.1%; seats by party - PAP 82, WP 1, SDA 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president with the
advice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by the
president with the advice of the chief justice); Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders:
People's Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong]; Reform Party [NG
Teck Siong]; Singapore Democratic Alliance or SDA [CHIAM See Tong];
Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]; Workers' Party
or WP [Sylvia LIM Swee Lian]
note: SDA includes Singapore Justice Party or SJP, Singapore
National Malay Organization or PKMS, Singapore People's Party or SPP
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ADB, AOSIS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FATF, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIT, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee
chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100
FAX: [1] (202) 537-0876
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David I. ADELMAN
embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508
mailing address: FPO AP 96507-0001
telephone: [65] 6476-9100
FAX: [65] 6476-9340
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist
side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed
portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white
five-pointed stars arranged in a circle; red denotes brotherhood and
equality; white signifies purity and virtue; the waxing crescent
moon symbolizes a young nation on the ascendancy; the five stars
represent the nation's ideals of democracy, peace, progress,
justice, and equality
National anthem:
name: "Majulah Singapura" (Onward Singapore)
lyrics/music: ZUBIR Said
note: adopted 1965; the anthem, which was first performed in 1958 at
the Victoria Theatre, is sung only in Malay
Economy ::Singapore
Economy - overview:
Singapore has a highly developed and successful free-market economy.
It enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stable
prices, and a per capita GDP higher than that of most developed
countries. The economy depends heavily on exports, particularly in
consumer electronics, information technology products,
pharmaceuticals, and on a growing financial services sector. Real
GDP growth averaged 6.9% between 2004 and 2008. The economy
contracted 1.3% in 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis,
but rebounded nearly 15% in 2010, on the strength of renewed
exports. Over the longer term, the government hopes to establish a
new growth path that focuses on raising productivity growth, which
has sunk to 1% per year in the last decade. Singapore has attracted
major investments in pharmaceuticals and medical technology
production and will continue efforts to establish Singapore as
Southeast Asia's financial and high-tech hub.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$292.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$255 billion (2009 est.)
$258.3 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$217.4 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
14.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
-1.3% (2009 est.)
1.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$62,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
$54,700 (2009 est.)
$56,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0%
industry: 27.2%
services: 72.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
3.09 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 0%
industry: 23.8%
services: 76.2% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
2.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
3% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.4%
highest 10%: 23.2% (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
48.1 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 29
Investment (gross fixed):
27.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Public debt:
102.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
110% of GDP (2009 est.)
note: for Singapore, public debt consists largely of Singapore
Government Securities (SGS) issued to assist the Central Provident
Fund (CPF), which administers Singapore's defined contribution
pension fund; special issues of SGS are held by the CPF, and are
non-tradeable; the government has not borrowed to finance deficit
expenditures since the 1980s
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
0.6% (2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.38% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
5.38% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$80.5 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 35
$64.26 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$295.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$255.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$199.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$166.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$474.8 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 21
$268.6 billion (31 December 2008)
$353.5 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs; fish, ornamental fish
Industries:
electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment,
petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubber products, processed
food and beverages, ship repair, offshore platform construction,
life sciences, entrepot trade
Industrial production growth rate:
10.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Electricity - production:
41.72 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Electricity - consumption:
37.94 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
9,667 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Oil - consumption:
878,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Oil - exports:
1.289 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Oil - imports:
2.109 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Natural gas - consumption:
8.27 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Natural gas - imports:
8.27 billion cu m
country comparison to the world: 26
note: from Indonesia and Malaysia (2008 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Current account balance:
$40.44 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$32.63 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$358.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$273.4 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods,
pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, mineral fuels
Exports - partners:
Hong Kong 11.6%, Malaysia 11.5%, US 11.2%, Indonesia 9.7%, China
9.7%, Japan 4.6%, Hong Kong 11.6% (2009)
Imports:
$315.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$243.2 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs,
consumer goods
Imports - partners:
US 14.7%, Malaysia 11.6%, China 10.5%, Japan 7.6%, Indonesia 5.8%,
South Korea 5.7%, Taiwan 5.22% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$212.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$187.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$21.66 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$20.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$274.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$260.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$172.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$167.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar - 1.3702 (2010), 1.4545
(2009), 1.415 (2008), 1.507 (2007), 1.5889 (2006)
Communications ::Singapore
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.852 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 61
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6.652 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 83
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent service
domestic: excellent domestic facilities; launched 3G wireless
service in February 2005; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular
teledensity is more than 180 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 65; numerous submarine cables provide
links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US;
satellite earth stations - 4; supplemented by VSAT coverage (2008)
Broadcast media:
state controls broadcast media; 8 domestic TV stations operated by
MediaCorp, wholly owned by a state investment company; broadcasts
from Malaysian and Indonesian stations available; satellite dishes
banned; multi-channel cable TV service is accessible; a total of 18
domestic radio stations broadcasting with MediaCorp operating more
than a dozen and another 4 stations are closely linked to the ruling
party or controlled by the Singapore Armed Forces Reservists
Association; large number of Malaysian and Indonesian radio stations
are available (2008)
Internet country code:
.sg
Internet hosts:
992,786 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 44
Internet users:
3.235 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 65
Transportation ::Singapore
Airports:
8 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 164
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 106 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 3,356 km
country comparison to the world: 163
paved: 3,356 km (includes 161 km of expressways) (2009)
Merchant marine:
total: 1,422
country comparison to the world: 6
by type: bulk carrier 183, cargo 88, carrier 6, chemical tanker 233,
container 321, liquefied gas 117, petroleum tanker 404, refrigerated
cargo 5, roll on/roll off 13, vehicle carrier 52
foreign-owned: 850 (Australia 11, Bangladesh 2, Bermuda 21, Chile 7,
China 26, Cyprus 3, Denmark 125, France 3, Germany 30, Greece 19,
Hong Kong 38, India 19, Indonesia 53, Italy 3, Japan 146, Malaysia
27, Netherlands 1, Norway 132, Slovenia 1, South Africa 3, South
Korea 9, Sweden 9, Switzerland 4, Taiwan 79, Thailand 30, UAE 10, UK
6, US 33)
registered in other countries: 327 (Australia 2, Bahamas 7,
Bangladesh 3, Belize 7, Cambodia 4, Cyprus 1, Dominica 1, France 3,
Gibraltar 1, Honduras 12, Hong Kong 13, Indonesia 42, Isle of Man 1,
Kiribati 11, Liberia 27, Malaysia 19, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 28,
Mongolia 1, North Korea 2, Panama 79, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and
Nevis 5, Sierra Leone 5, Thailand 1, Tuvalu 25, US 17, unknown 6)
(2010)
Ports and terminals:
Singapore
Transportation - note:
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and
offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and
armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been
attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked
vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East
Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift
Military ::Singapore
Military branches:
Singapore Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (includes Air Defense)
(2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-21 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16 years of
age for volunteers; 2-year conscript service obligation, with a
reserve obligation to age 40 (enlisted) or age 50 (officers) (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,266,426 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,027,701
females age 16-49: 1,097,762 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 27,430
female: 25,918 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Transnational Issues ::Singapore
Disputes - international:
disputes persist with Malaysia over deliveries of fresh water to
Singapore, Singapore's extensive land reclamation works, bridge
construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore
Straits; in 2008, ICJ awards sovereignty of Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu
Puteh/Horsburgh Island) to Singapore, and Middle Rocks to Malaysia,
but does not rule on maritime regimes, boundaries, or disposition of
South Ledge; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on
finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining
unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; piracy remains a
problem in the Malacca Strait
Illicit drugs:
drug abuse limited because of aggressive law enforcement efforts; as
a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is
vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, as a venue for
money laundering
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Sint Maarten (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Sint Maarten
Background:
Although sighted by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and claimed for
Spain, it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 and set
about exploiting its salt deposits. The Spanish retook the island in
1633, but continued to be harassed by the Dutch. The Spanish finally
relinquished the island of Saint Martin to the French and Dutch, who
divided it amongst themselves in 1648. The establishment of cotton,
tobacco, and sugar plantations dramatically expanded slavery on the
island in the 18th and 19th centuries; the practice was not
abolished in the Dutch half until 1863. The island's economy
declined until 1939 when it became a free port; the tourism industry
was dramatically expanded beginning in the 1950s. In 1954, Sint
Maarten and several other Dutch Caribbean possessions became part of
the Kingdom of the Netherlands as the Netherlands Antilles. In a
2000 referendum, the citizens of Sint Maarten voted to become a
self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The
change in status became effective in October of 2010 with the
dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles.
Geography ::Sint Maarten
Location:
Caribbean, located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; Dutch
part of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea; Sint
Maarten lies east of the US Virgin Islands
Geographic coordinates:
18 4 N, 63 4 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 34 sq km
country comparison to the world: 235
land: 34 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin
Area - comparative:
one-fifth the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 15 km
border countries: Saint Martin (France) 15 km
Coastline:
364 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate:
tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds,
results in moderate temperatures; average rainfall of 1500 mm/year;
July-November is the hurricane season
Terrain:
low, hilly terrain, volcanic origin
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Flagstaff 386 m
Natural resources:
fish, salt
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 90%
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
subject to hurricanes from July to November
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
the northern border is shared with the French overseas collectivity
of Saint Martin; together, these two enties make up the smallest
landmass in the world shared by two self-governing states
People ::Sint Maarten
Population:
37,429 (January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.4% (male 4,299/female 4,455)
15-64 years: 73% (male 13,053/female 14,259)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 608/female 755) (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
NA
Birth rate:
NA
Death rate:
3 deaths/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 221
Net migration rate:
14.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 4
Sex ratio:
at birth: 0.98 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2010)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA
male: 73.1 years
female: 78.2 years (2009)
Total fertility rate:
1.7 children born/woman (2009)
country comparison to the world: 170
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Religions:
Roman Catholic 39%, Protestant 27%, Pentecostal 11.6%, none 6.7%,
Seventh Day Adventist 6.2%, other 5.4%, Jewish 3.4%, not reported
0.7% (2001 census)
Languages:
English 67.5% (official), Spanish 12.9%, Creole 8.2%, Dutch 4.2%
(official), Papiamento 2.2% (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English
dialect), French 1.5%, other 3.5% (2001 census)
Government ::Sint Maarten
Country name:
Dutch long form: Land Sint Maarten
Dutch short form: Sint Maarten
English long form: Country of Sint Maarten
English short form: Sint Maarten
former: Netherlands Antilles; Curacao and Dependencies
Dependency status:
constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full
autonomy in internal affairs granted in 2010; Dutch Government
responsible for defense and foreign affairs
Government type:
parliamentary
Capital:
name: Philipsburg
geographic coordinates: 18 1 N, 63 2 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:
Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the
throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)
Constitution:
Staatsregeling, 10 October 2010; revised Kingdom Charter pending
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 Eugene HOLIDAY (since 10
October 2010)
head of government: Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS (since 10 October 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections,
the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister
by the legislature
Legislative branch:
unicameral parliament or Staten (15 seats; members elected by
popular vote for four year term)
elections: last held 17 September 2010 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - National Alliance
45.9%, UPP 36.1%, Democratic Party 17.1%; seats by party - National
Alliance 7, UPP 6, Democratic Party 2
Judicial branch:
Common Court of Justice, Joint High Court of Justice (judges
appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party or DP [Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; National Alliance
or NA [William MARLIN]; United People's Party or UPP [Theodore
HEYLIGER]; Concordia Political Alliance or CPA [Jeffery RICHARDSON]
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Sint Maarten; the Consul General
to Curacao is accredited to Sint Maarten
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and blue with a white
isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the center of the
triangle displays the Sint Maarten coat of arms; the arms consist of
an orange-bordered blue shield prominently displaying the white
court house in Philipsburg, as well as a bouquet of yellow sage (the
national flower) in the upper left, and the silhouette of a
Dutch-French friendship monument in the upper right; the shield is
surmounted by a yellow rising sun in front of which is a Brown
Pelican in flight; a yellow scroll below the shield bears the motto:
SEMPER PROGREDIENS (Always Progressing); the three main colors are
identical to those on the Dutch flag
note: the flag somewhat resembles that of the Philippines, but with
the main red and blue bands reversed; the banner more closely evokes
the wartime Philippine flag
National anthem:
name: "O Sweet Saint Martin's Land"
lyrics/music: Gerard KEMPS
note: the song, written in 1958, is used as an unofficial anthem for
the entire island (both French and Dutch sides); as a collectivity
of France, in addition to the local anthem, "La Marseillaise" is
official on the French side (see France); as a constituent part of
the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in addition to the local anthem,
"Het Wilhelmus" is official on the Dutch side (see Netherlands)
Economy ::Sint Maarten
Economy - overview:
The economy of Sint Maarten centers around tourism with nearly
four-fifths of the labor force engaged in this sector. Over one
million visitors come to the island each year - 1.3 million in 2008
- with most arriving through the Princess Juliana International
Airport. Cruise ships and yachts also call on Sint Maarten's
numerous ports and harbors. No significant agriculture and limited
local fishing means that almost all food must be imported. Energy
resources and manufactured goods are also imported. Sint Maarten had
the highest per capita income among the five islands that formerly
comprised the Netherlands Antilles.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$794.7 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
$748.9 million (2007 est.)
$703.2 million (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$794.7 million (2008)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.6% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
4.5% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,400 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.4%
industry: 18.3%
services: 81.3% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
23,200 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1.1%
industry: 15.2%
services: 83.7% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
10.6% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.7% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
4.6% (2008 est.)
Agriculture - products:
sugar
Industries:
tourism, light industry, and manufacturing
Electricity - production:
304.3 million kWh (2008)
country comparison to the world: 167
Exports - commodities:
sugar
Exports - partners:
China 23.49%, US 10.91%, Japan 5.92% (2009)
Imports - partners:
China 17.35%, Japan 14.79%, US 8.96%, Saudi Arabia 6.89% (2009)
Exchange rates:
Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar - 1.79 (2009),
1.79 (2008), 1.79 (2007), 1.79 (2006)
Communications ::Sint Maarten
Telephones - main lines in use:
5,153 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 210
Telephone system:
general assessment: generally adequate facilities
domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
international: country code - 599; the Americas Region Caribbean
Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the Americas-2 submarine cable systems
provide connectivity to Central America, parts of South America and
the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)
Transportation ::Sint Maarten
Airports:
1
country comparison to the world: 214
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 53 km
country comparison to the world: 216
Ports and terminals:
Philipsburg
Military ::Sint Maarten
Military branches:
the Royal Netherlands Navy maintains a permanent and active presence
in the region from its main operating base on Curacao and through a
detachment on Sint Maarten; other local security forces include a
coast guard, para-military National Guard (Vrijwilligers Korps Sint
Maarten), and Police Force (KPSM) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
no conscription (2010)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Slovakia (Europe)
Introduction ::Slovakia
Background:
The dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World
War I allowed the Slovaks to join the closely related Czechs to form
Czechoslovakia. Following the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia
became a Communist nation within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe.
Soviet influence collapsed in 1989 and Czechoslovakia once more
became free. The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate
peacefully on 1 January 1993. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU
in the spring of 2004 and the euro area on 1 January 2009.
Geography ::Slovakia
Location:
Central Europe, south of Poland
Geographic coordinates:
48 40 N, 19 30 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 49,035 sq km
country comparison to the world: 130
land: 48,105 sq km
water: 930 sq km
Area - comparative:
about twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries:
total: 1,474 km
border countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 197 km, Hungary 676
km, Poland 420 km, Ukraine 90 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain:
rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in
the south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m
highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m
Natural resources:
brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and
manganese ore; salt; arable land
Land use:
arable land: 29.23%
permanent crops: 2.67%
other: 68.1% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,830 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
50.1 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.04
per capita: 193 cu m/yr (2003)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks;
acid rain damaging forests
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 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, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra
Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and
valleys
People ::Slovakia
Population:
5,470,306 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.8% (male 442,168/female 422,055)
15-64 years: 71.7% (male 1,952,527/female 1,965,646)
65 years and over: 12.5% (male 254,510/female 426,140) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.3 years
male: 35.7 years
female: 38.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.129% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Birth rate:
10.55 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Death rate:
9.56 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Net migration rate:
0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Urbanization:
urban population: 56% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.051 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.71 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 170
male: 7.83 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.62 years
country comparison to the world: 79
male: 71.7 years
female: 79.74 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.36 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Nationality:
noun: Slovak(s)
adjective: Slovak
Ethnic groups:
Slovak 85.8%, Hungarian 9.7%, Roma 1.7%, Ruthenian/Ukrainian 1%,
other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 68.9%, Protestant 10.8%, Greek Catholic 4.1%, other
or unspecified 3.2%, none 13% (2001 census)
Languages:
Slovak (official) 83.9%, Hungarian 10.7%, Roma 1.8%, Ukrainian 1%,
other or unspecified 2.6% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2004)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 16 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.6% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 129
Government ::Slovakia
Country name:
conventional long form: Slovak Republic
conventional short form: Slovakia
local long form: Slovenska Republika
local short form: Slovensko
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Bratislava
geographic coordinates: 48 09 N, 17 07 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:
8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky,
Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky, Trenciansky, Trnavsky, Zilinsky
Independence:
1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and
Slovakia)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)
Constitution:
ratified 1 September 1992, effective 1 January 1993; changed in
September 1998; amended February 2001
note: the change in September 1998 allowed direct election of the
president; the amendment of February 2001 allowed Slovakia to apply
for NATO and EU membership
Legal system:
civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; legal code modified to comply
with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ivan GASPAROVIC (since 15 June 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Iveta RADICOVA (since 8 July
2010); Deputy Prime Ministers Jan FIGEL, Ivan MIKLOS, Jozef MIHAL,
Rudolf CHMEL (since 9 July 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 March and 4
April 2009 (next to be held no later than April 2014); following
National Council elections, the leader of the majority party or the
leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by
the president
election results: Ivan GASPAROVIC reelected president in runoff;
percent of vote - Ivan GASPAROVIC 55.5%, Iveta RADICOVA 44.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic or Narodna Rada
Slovenskej Republiky (150 seats; members elected on the basis of
proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 12 June 2010 (next to be held in June 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - Smer 34.8%, SDKU-DS
15%, SaS 12.1%, KDH 8.5%, Most-Hid 8.1%, SNS 5.1%, other 16.2%;
seats by party - Smer 62, SDKU-DS 28, SaS 22, KDH 15, Most-Hid 14,
SNS 9
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Council);
Constitutional Court (judges appointed by president from group of
nominees approved by the National Council); Special Court (judges
elected by a council of judges and appointed by president)
Political parties and leaders:
parties in the Parliament:: Bridge or Most-Hid [Bela BUGAR];
Christian Democratic Movement or KDH [Jan FIGEL]; Direction-Social
Democracy or Smer-SD [Robert FICO]; Freedom and Solidarity or SaS
[Richard SULIK]; Slovak Democratic and Christian Union-Democratic
Party or SDKU-DS [Mikulas DZURINDA]; Slovak National Party or SNS
[Jan SLOTA]
selected parties outside the Parliament:: Alliance for a Europe of
Nations or AZEN [Milan URBANI]; Association of Slovak Workers or ZRS
[Jan LUPTAK]; Civic Conservative Party or OKS [Peter ZAJAC]; Green
Party or SZ [Peter PILINSKY]; Party of the Democratic Left or SDL
[Marek BLAHA]; Party of the Hungarian Coalition or SMK [Jozsef
BERENYI]; People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia or
LS-HZDS [Vladimir MECIAR]; People's Party - Our Slovakia or LSNS
[Marian KOTLEBA]; Slovak Communist Party or KSS [Jozef HRDLICKA];
Union - Party for Slovakia or Unia [Milan CELIK]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS; Confederation of Trade
Unions or KOZ; Entrepreneurs Association of Slovakia or ZPS;
Federation of Employers' Associations of the Slovak Republic;
National Union of Employers or RUZ; Slovak Chamber of Commerce and
Industry or SOPK; Slovenska Pospolitost; The Business Alliance of
Slovakia or PAS
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE, CEI,
CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF
(observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer),
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter BURIAN
chancery: 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 237-1054
FAX: [1] (202) 237-6438
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore SEDGWICK
embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava
mailing address: P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava
telephone: [421] (2) 5443-3338
FAX: [421] (2) 5441-8861
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red derive
from the Pan-Slav colors; the Slovakian coat of arms (consisting of
a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white Cross of Lorraine
surmounting three blue hills) is centered over the bands but offset
slightly to the hoist side
note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of
Russia
National anthem:
name: "Nad Tatrou sa blyska" (Storm Over the Tatras)
lyrics/music: Janko MATUSKA/traditional
note: adopted 1993, in use since 1844; the anthem"s music is based
on the Slovak folk song "Kopala studienku"
Economy ::Slovakia
Economy - overview:
Slovakia has made significant economic reforms since its separation
from the Czech Republic in 1993. Reforms to the taxation,
healthcare, pension, and social welfare systems helped Slovakia to
consolidate its budget and get on track to join the EU in 2004 and
to adopt the euro in January 2009. Major privatizations are nearly
complete, the banking sector is almost entirely in foreign hands,
and the government has helped facilitate a foreign investment boom
with business friendly policies such as labor market liberalization
and a 19% flat tax. Foreign investment in the automotive and
electronic sectors has been strong. Slovakia's economic growth
exceeded expectations in 2001-08 despite the general European
slowdown. Unemployment, at an unacceptable 18% in 2003-04, dropped
to 7.7% in 2008 but remains the economy's Achilles heel. FICO's
cabinet was careful to keep a lid on spending in order to meet euro
adoption criteria and has focused on regulating energy and food
prices instead. To maintain a stable operating environment for
investors, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
advised the Slovak government to refrain from intervening in
important sectors of the economy. However, Bratislava's approach to
mitigating the economic slowdown has included substantial government
intervention and the option to nationalize strategic companies.
Slovakia was admitted to the euro zone in January 2009. RADICOVA's
government, in power since July 2010, has allowed the budget deficit
to rise slightly, to 8.2% of GDP in 2010. GDP fell nearly 5% in 2009
before gaining back 4% in 2010, and unemployment rose above 12% in
2010, as the global recession impacted many segments of the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$121.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$116.7 billion (2009 est.)
$122.4 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$86.26 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
-4.7% (2009 est.)
6.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$22,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
$21,400 (2009 est.)
$22,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 35.6%
services: 61.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
2.673 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 27%
services: 69.4% (December 2009)
Unemployment rate:
12.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
11.4% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
21% (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 20.9% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 130
26.3 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
22.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Public debt:
41% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
35.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
1.6% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 124
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks from the
euro area; as of 1 January 2009 Slovakia became a member of the
Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$34.37 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 52
$34.1 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: this figure represents the US dollar value of Slovak koruny in
circulation prior to Slovakia joining the Economic and Monetary
Union (EMU); see entry for the European Union for money supply in
the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary
policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU);
individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money
circulating within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$52.63 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$52.68 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$65.09 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$64.25 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.672 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 80
$5.079 billion (31 December 2008)
$6.971 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry;
forest products
Industries:
metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas,
coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery;
paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles;
textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products
Industrial production growth rate:
7.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Electricity - production:
25.9 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Electricity - consumption:
28.75 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Electricity - exports:
8.891 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
9.412 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
4,114 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Oil - consumption:
79,930 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Oil - exports:
75,110 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Oil - imports:
144,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Oil - proved reserves:
9 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Natural gas - production:
103 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Natural gas - consumption:
6.493 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Natural gas - exports:
15 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Natural gas - imports:
6.974 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Natural gas - proved reserves:
14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Current account balance:
-$1.93 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
-$2.819 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$64.18 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$55.32 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment 35.9%, vehicles 21%, base metals
11.3%, chemicals and minerals 8.1%, plastics 4.9% (2009 est.)
Exports - partners:
Germany 20.1%, Czech Republic 12.9%, France 7.8%, Poland 7.2%,
Hungary 6.3%, Italy 6.1%, Austria 5.8%, UK 4.8% (2009)
Imports:
$62.43 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$53.67 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 31%, mineral products 13%,
vehicles 12%, base metals 9%, chemicals 8%, plastics 6% (2009 est.)
Imports - partners:
Germany 16.8%, Czech Republic 12.3%, Russia 9%, South Korea 6.8%,
China 5.8%, Hungary 5.3%, Poland 4% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$1.16 billion (31 January 2010 est.)
Debt - external:
$59.33 billion (30 June 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$52.53 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$52.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$50.26 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$2.643 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
$2.743 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Slovak koruny (SKK) per US dollar - 0.774 (2010), 0.718 (2009),
21.05 (2008), 24.919 (2007), 29.611 (2006)
Communications ::Slovakia
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.022 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 77
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.498 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 92
Telephone system:
general assessment: Slovakia has a modern telecommunications system
that has expanded dramatically in recent years with the growth in
cellular services
domestic: analog system is now receiving digital equipment and is
being enlarged with fiber-optic cable, especially in the larger
cities; 3 companies provide nationwide cellular services
international: country code - 421; 3 international exchanges (1 in
Bratislava and 2 in Banska Bystrica) are available; Slovakia is
participating in several international telecommunications projects
that will increase the availability of external services
Broadcast media:
state-owned public broadcaster, Slovak Television (STV), operates 3
national TV stations; roughly 35 privately-owned television
broadcast stations operating nationally, regionally, and locally;
about 40% of households are connected to multi-channel cable or
satellite TV systems; channels from the Czech Republic and Hungary
are widely viewed; state-owned public radio operates multiple
national and regional networks; more than 20 privately-owned radio
stations (2008)
Internet country code:
.sk
Internet hosts:
1.133 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 41
Internet users:
4.063 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 58
Transportation ::Slovakia
Airports:
36 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 107
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 20
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 10 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 7 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 6,769 km; oil 416 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 3,622 km
country comparison to the world: 48
broad gauge: 99 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 3,473 km 1.435-m gauge (1,577 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 50 km (1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 43,761 km
country comparison to the world: 85
paved: 38,085 km (includes 384 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,676 km (2008)
Waterways:
172 km (on Danube River) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 100
Merchant marine:
total: 23
country comparison to the world: 97
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 19, refrigerated cargo 3
foreign-owned: 21 (Germany 4, Greece 1, Ireland 1, Italy 2,
Montenegro 1, Poland 2, Slovenia 1, Turkey 2, Ukraine 7) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Bratislava, Komarno
Military ::Slovakia
Military branches:
Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej
Republiky): Land Forces (Pozemne Sily), Air Forces (Vzdusne Sily)
(2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
abolished in 2006; women are eligible to serve (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,413,079
females age 16-49: 1,377,754 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,162,282
females age 16-49: 1,147,526 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 33,915
female: 32,448 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.87% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Transnational Issues ::Slovakia
Disputes - international:
bilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group
negotiations continued in 2006 between Slovakia and Hungary over
Hungary's completion of its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros
hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that
forms part of the EU's external border, Slovakia has implemented the
strict Schengen border rules
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western
Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market; consumer of
ecstasy
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Slovenia (Europe)
Introduction ::Slovenia
Background:
The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the
latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, the
Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational
state, which was named Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II,
Slovenia became a republic of the renewed Yugoslavia, which though
Communist, distanced itself from Moscow's rule. Dissatisfied with
the exercise of power by the majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded
in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short 10-day war.
Historical ties to Western Europe, a strong economy, and a stable
democracy have assisted in Slovenia's transformation to a modern
state. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of
2004; it joined the eurozone in 2007.
Geography ::Slovenia
Location:
Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between
Austria and Croatia
Geographic coordinates:
46 07 N, 14 49 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 20,273 sq km
country comparison to the world: 154
land: 20,151 sq km
water: 122 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 1,086 km
border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 455 km, Hungary 102 km,
Italy 199 km
Coastline:
46.6 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to
hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east
Terrain:
a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain region
adjacent to Italy and Austria, mixed mountains and valleys with
numerous rivers to the east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Triglav 2,864 m
Natural resources:
lignite coal, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, forests
Land use:
arable land: 8.53%
permanent crops: 1.43%
other: 90.04% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
32.1 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.9
per capita: 457 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
flooding; earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; pollution of
coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals; forest damage
near Koper from air pollution (originating at metallurgical and
chemical plants) and resulting acid rain
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94,
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:
despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of
Europe's major transit routes
People ::Slovenia
Population:
2,003,136 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.5% (male 139,880/female 131,826)
15-64 years: 69.9% (male 707,219/female 695,470)
65 years and over: 16.5% (male 129,662/female 201,635) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 42.1 years
male: 40.4 years
female: 43.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.142% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Birth rate:
8.92 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Death rate:
10.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Net migration rate:
0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Urbanization:
urban population: 48% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.066 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.21 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 200
male: 4.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.12 years
country comparison to the world: 61
male: 73.45 years
female: 81.03 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.29 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
280 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Nationality:
noun: Slovene(s)
adjective: Slovenian
Ethnic groups:
Slovene 83.1%, Serb 2%, Croat 1.8%, Bosniak 1.1%, other or
unspecified 12% (2002 census)
Religions:
Catholic 57.8%, Muslim 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian 0.9%,
unaffiliated 3.5%, other or unspecified 23%, none 10.1% (2002 census)
Languages:
Slovenian (official) 91.1%, Serbo-Croatian 4.5%, other or
unspecified 4.4%, Italian (official) Only in municipalities where
Hungarian national communities reside, Hungarian (official) Only in
municipalities where Hungarian national communities reside (2002
census)
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6%
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 16 years
female: 18 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.2% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 57
Government ::Slovenia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
conventional short form: Slovenia
local long form: Republika Slovenija
local short form: Slovenija
former: People's Republic of Slovenia, Socialist Republic of Slovenia
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
name: Ljubljana
geographic coordinates: 46 03 N, 14 31 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:
210 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) including 11 urban
municipalities* (mestne obcine, singular - mestna obcina)
Ajdovscina, Apace, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled,
Bloke, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice,
Brezovica, Cankova, Celje*, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno,
Cerkvenjak, Cirkulane, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj,
Destrnik, Divaca, Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna, Dobrova-Polhov Gradec,
Dobrovnik/Dobronak, Dolenjske Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale,
Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gorje,
Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje,
Hajdina, Hoce-Slivnica, Hodos, Horjul, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina,
Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola/Isola, Jesenice,
Jezersko, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje,
Kocevje, Komen, Komenda, Koper-Capodistria*, Kosanjevica na Krki,
Kostel, Kozje, Kranj*, Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Krsko, Kungota,
Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava/Lendva, Litija, Ljubljana*, Ljubno,
Ljutomer, Log-Dragomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc
na Pohorju, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk, Makole, Maribor*, Markovci,
Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz na Dravskem Polju,
Miren-Kostanjevica, Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Mokronog-Trebelno, Moravce,
Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Murska Sobota*, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje,
Nova Gorica*, Novo Mesto*, Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica,
Pesnica, Piran/Pirano, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka,
Poljcane, Polzela, Postojna, Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Ptuj*,
Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica,
Ravne na Koroskem, Razkrizje, Recica ob Savinji, Rence-Vogrsko,
Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogaska Slatina, Rogasovci, Rogatec,
Ruse, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic, Sevnica, Sezana, Slovenj Gradec*,
Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Sodrazica, Solcava, Sredisce
ob Dravi, Starse, Straza, Sveta Ana, Sveta Trojica v Slovenskih
Goricah, Sveti Andraz v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij, Sveti Jurij
v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Tomaz, Salovci, Sempeter-Vrtojba,
Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur, Sentrupert, Skocjan, Skofja
Loka, Skofljica, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smarjeske Toplice, Smartno ob
Paki, Smartno pri Litiji, Sostanj, Store, Tabor, Tisina, Tolmin,
Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trnovska Vas, Trzic, Trzin, Turnisce, Velenje*,
Velika Polana, Velike Lasce, Verzej, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice,
Vojnik, Vransko, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc,
Zelezniki, Zetale, Ziri, Zirovnica, Zrece, Zuzemberk
Independence:
25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:
Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
Constitution:
adopted 23 December 1991, amended 14 July 1997 and 25 July 2000
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Danilo TURK (since 22 December 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Borut PAHOR (since 7 November
2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
elected by the National Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 October and
11 November 2007 (next to be held on 8 October 2012); following
National Assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or the
leader of a majority coalition usually nominated to become prime
minister by the president and elected by the National Assembly;
election last held on 21 September 2008 (next National Assembly
elections to be held in 8 October 2012)
election results: Danilo TURK elected president; percent of vote -
Danilo TURK 68.2%, Alojze PETERLE 31.8%; Borut PAHOR elected prime
minister by National Assembly vote
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of a National Council or Drzavni Svet
(40 seats; members indirectly elected by an electoral college to
serve five-year terms; note - this is primarily an advisory body
with limited legislative powers; it may propose laws, ask to review
any National Assembly decision, and call national referenda) and the
National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor (90 seats; 40 members directly
elected and 50 are elected on a proportional basis; note - the
number of directly elected and proportionally elected seats varies
with each election; the constitution mandates 1 seat each for
Slovenia's Hungarian and Italian minorities; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held on 21 September 2008 (next
to be held on 8 October 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - SD 30.5%, SDS 29.3%,
ZARES 9.4%, DeSUS 7.5%, SNS 5.5%, SLS+SMS 5.2%, LDS 5.2%, other
7.4%; seats by party - SD 29, SDS 28, ZARES 9, DeSUS 7, SNS 5,
SLS+SMS 5, LDS 5, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Assembly on the
recommendation of the Judicial Council); Constitutional Court
(judges elected for nine-year terms by the National Assembly and
nominated by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia or DeSUS [Karl ERJAVEC];
Liberal Democracy of Slovenia or LDS [Katarina KRESAL]; New Slovenia
or NSi [Ljudmila NOVAK (acting)]; Slovene National Party or SNS
[Zmago JELINCIC]; Slovene People's Party or SLS [Radovan ZERJAV];
Slovene Youth Party or SMS [Darko KRANJC]; Slovenian Democratic
Party or SDS [Janez JANSA]; Social Democrats or SD [Borut PAHOR]
(formerly ZLSD); ZARES [Gregor GOLOBIC]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Slovenian Roma Association [Jozek Horvat MUC]
other: Catholic Church
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA
(cooperating state), EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer),
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roman KIRN
chancery: 2410 California Street N.W., Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 386-6601
FAX: [1] (202) 386-6633
consulate(s) general: Cleveland, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Bradley
FREDEN
embassy: Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana
mailing address: American Embassy Ljubljana, US Department of State,
7140 Ljubljana Place, Washington, DC 20521-7140
telephone: [386] (1) 200-5500
FAX: [386] (1) 200-5555
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, derive
from the medieval coat of arms of the Duchy of Carniola; the
Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia's
highest peak, in white against a blue background at the center;
beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and
above it are three six-pointed stars arranged in an inverted
triangle, which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of
Celje, the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early
15th centuries) appears in the upper hoist side of the flag centered
on the white and blue bands
National anthem:
name: "Zdravljica" (A Toast)
lyrics/music: France PRESEREN/Stanko PREMRL
note: adopted 1989; the anthem was originally written in 1848; the
full poem, whose seventh verse is used as the anthem, speaks of
pan-Slavic nationalism
Economy ::Slovenia
Economy - overview:
Slovenia became the first 2004 European Union entrant to adopt the
euro (on 1 January 2007) and has become a model of economic success
and stability for the region. With the highest per capita GDP in
Central Europe, Slovenia has excellent infrastructure, a
well-educated work force, and a strategic location between the
Balkans and Western Europe. Privatization has lagged since 2002, and
the economy has one of highest levels of state control in the EU.
Structural reforms to improve the business environment have allowed
for somewhat greater foreign participation in Slovenia's economy and
have helped to lower unemployment. In March 2004, Slovenia became
the first transition country to graduate from borrower status to
donor partner at the World Bank. In December 2007, Slovenia was
invited to begin the accession process for joining the OECD. Despite
its economic success, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Slovenia
has lagged behind the region average, and taxes remain relatively
high. Furthermore, the labor market is often seen as inflexible, and
legacy industries are losing sales to more competitive firms in
China, India, and elsewhere. In 2009, the world recession caused the
economy to contract - through falling exports and industrial
production - by more than 8%, and unemployment to rise above 9%.
Although growth resumed in 2010, the unemployment rate continued to
rise, topping 10%.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$56.81 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
$56.24 billion (2009 est.)
$61.2 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$46.44 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
-8.1% (2009 est.)
3.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$28,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$28,000 (2009 est.)
$30,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 31%
services: 66.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
930,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 35%
services: 62.8% (2009)
Unemployment rate:
10.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
9.2% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
12.3% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 24.6% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
28.4 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 120
23.8 (2004)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Public debt:
35.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
31.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
0.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 123
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.47% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
7.41% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$10.47 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 71
$10.33 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: the figure for 2006 represents the US dollar value of tolars
in circulation prior to Slovenia joining the Economic and Monetary
Union (EMU); see entry for the European Union for money supply in
the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary
policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU);
individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money
circulating within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$24.03 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
$25.65 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$52.67 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
$50.46 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$11.77 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 59
$22.1 billion (31 December 2008)
$28.96 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; cattle, sheep,
poultry
Industries:
ferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting;
electronics (including military electronics), trucks, automobiles,
electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals,
machine tools
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Electricity - production:
13 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Electricity - consumption:
14.7 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Electricity - exports:
7.82 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
6.218 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
5 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Oil - consumption:
60,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Oil - imports:
57,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Natural gas - consumption:
1.05 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas - imports:
1.05 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Current account balance:
-$598 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
-$732.4 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$24.97 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$22.53 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals,
food
Exports - partners:
Germany 19.36%, Italy 11.31%, Croatia 7.75%, Austria 7.42%, France
7.35% (2009)
Imports:
$25.96 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$23.5 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals,
fuels and lubricants, food
Imports - partners:
Germany 16.46%, Italy 15.89%, Austria 11.81%, France 4.98%, Croatia
4.32% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$1.08 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$51.57 billion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 56
$54.61 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$15.73 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$15.13 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$9.001 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$7.901 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.77399 (2010), 0.72 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007)
Communications ::Slovenia
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.034 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 76
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.1 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 132
Telephone system:
general assessment: well-developed telecommunications infrastructure
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
roughly 150 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 386
Broadcast media:
public television broadcaster, Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTV),
operates a system of national and regional TV stations; 35 domestic
commercial television stations operating nationally, regionally, and
locally; about 60% of households are connected to multi-channel
cable TV systems; public radio broadcaster operates 3 national and 4
regional stations; more than 75 regional and local commercial and
non-commercial radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.si
Internet hosts:
137,494 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 72
Internet users:
1.298 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 92
Transportation ::Slovenia
Airports:
16 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 143
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 840 km; oil 11 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 1,228 km
country comparison to the world: 85
standard gauge: 1,228 km 1.435-m gauge (503 km electrified) (2007)
Roadways:
total: 38,873 km
country comparison to the world: 90
paved: 38,873 km (includes 696 km of expressways) (2008)
Waterways:
some transport on Drava River (2010)
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 25 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Bahamas 1,
Cyprus 4, Liberia 5, Malta 4, Marshall Islands 6, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines 2, Singapore 1, Slovakia 1) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 93
Ports and terminals:
Koper
Military ::Slovenia
Military branches:
Slovenian Army (includes air and naval forces)
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
abolished in 2003 (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 483,488
females age 16-49: 470,325 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 397,440
females age 16-49: 385,505 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 9,979
female: 9,610 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Transnational Issues ::Slovenia
Disputes - international:
the Croatia-Slovenia land and maritime boundary agreement, which
would have ceded most of Piran Bay and maritime access to Slovenia
and several villages to Croatia, remains unratified and in dispute;
Slovenia also protests Croatia's 2003 claim to an exclusive economic
zone in the Adriatic; as a member state that forms part of the EU's
external border, Slovenia has implemented the strict Schengen border
rules to curb illegal migration and commerce through southeastern
Europe while encouraging close cross-border ties with Croatia
Illicit drugs:
minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound for
Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Solomon Islands (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Solomon Islands
Background:
The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the
1890s. Some of the most bitter fighting of World War II occurred on
this archipelago. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and
independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government
malfeasance, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil
society. In June 2003, then Prime Minister Sir Allan KEMAKEZA sought
the assistance of Australia in reestablishing law and order; the
following month, an Australian-led multinational force arrived to
restore peace and disarm ethnic militias. The Regional Assistance
Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has generally been effective
in restoring law and order and rebuilding government institutions.
Geography ::Solomon Islands
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua
New Guinea
Geographic coordinates:
8 00 S, 159 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 28,896 sq km
country comparison to the world: 143
land: 27,986 sq km
water: 910 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
5,313 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather
Terrain:
mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Popomanaseu 2,310 m
Natural resources:
fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel
Land use:
arable land: 0.62%
permanent crops: 2.04%
other: 97.34% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
44.7 cu km (1987)
Natural hazards:
typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with
frequent earthquakes, tremors, and volcanic activity; tsunamis
volcanism: Tinakula (elev. 851 m, 2,792 ft) has frequent eruption
activity, while an eruption of Savo (elev. 485 m, 1,591 ft) could
affect the capital Honiara on nearby Guadalcanal
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are
dead or dying
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location on sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean,
the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea; on 2 April 2007 an undersea
earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale occurred 345 km WNW of
the capital Honiara; the resulting tsunami devastated coastal areas
of Western and Choiseul provinces with dozens of deaths and
thousands dislocated; the provincial capital of Gizo was especially
hard hit
People ::Solomon Islands
Population:
559,198 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.5% (male 119,875/female 115,127)
15-64 years: 57.1% (male 171,792/female 168,023)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 9,849/female 10,947) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.6 years
male: 20.4 years
female: 20.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.27% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Birth rate:
28.6 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Death rate:
3.96 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Net migration rate:
-1.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Urbanization:
urban population: 18% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 18.41 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 103
male: 20.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.94 years
country comparison to the world: 106
male: 71.37 years
female: 76.63 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.67 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Solomon Islander(s)
adjective: Solomon Islander
Ethnic groups:
Melanesian 94.5%, Polynesian 3%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 1.1%,
unspecified 0.2% (1999 census)
Religions:
Church of Melanesia 32.8%, Roman Catholic 19%, South Seas
Evangelical 17%, Seventh-Day Adventist 11.2%, United Church 10.3%,
Christian Fellowship Church 2.4%, other Christian 4.4%, other 2.4%,
unspecified 0.3%, none 0.2% (1999 census)
Languages:
Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca; English
(official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population); 120
indigenous languages
Literacy:
NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 9 years
female: 9 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
2.2% of GDP (1999)
country comparison to the world: 167
Government ::Solomon Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Solomon Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Solomon Islands
former: British Solomon Islands
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Honiara
geographic coordinates: 9 26 S, 159 57 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central, Choiseul,
Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona,
Temotu, Western
Independence:
7 July 1978 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
Constitution:
7 July 1978
Legal system:
English common law, which is widely disregarded; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Frank KABUI (since 7 July 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Danny PHILIP (since 25 August
2010)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 20 members appointed by the governor
general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members
of parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch on the advice of parliament for up to five years
(eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition
usually elected prime minister by parliament; deputy prime minister
appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime
minister from among the members of parliament
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members elected from
single-member constituencies by popular vote to serve four-year
terms)
elections: last held on 4 August 2010 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Solomon Islands Democratic Party 13, Our Party 3, Reformed
Democratic Party 3, Independent Democratic Party 2, PAP 2, SIPRA 2,
Peoples Congress Party 1, Peoples Federation Party 1, Rural
Development Party 1, Rural and Urban Political Party 1, Solomon
Islands Liberal Party 1, Solomon Islands National Party 1,
independents 19
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
Association of Independent Members or AIM [Thomas CHAN]; Christian
Alliance Solomon Islands or CASI [Edward RONIA]; LAFARI Party [John
GARO]; National Party [Francis HILLY]; People's Alliance Party or
PAP [Sir Allan KEMAKEZA]; Social Credit Party or SOCRED [Manasseh
Damukana SOGAVARE]; Solomon First Party [David QUAN]; Solomon
Islands Democratic Party [Gabriel SURI]; Solomon Islands Labor Party
or SILP [Joses TUHANUKU]; Solomon Islands Liberal Party [Bartholomew
ULUFA'ALU]; Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement or SIPRA
[Job D. TAUSINGA]; United Party [Sir Peter KENILOREA]
note: in general, Solomon Islands politics is characterized by fluid
coalitions
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM); Malaita Eagle Force (MEF); note -
these rival armed ethnic factions crippled the Solomon Islands in a
wave of violence from 1999 to 2003
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Collin David BECK
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6192, 6193
FAX: [1] (212) 661-8925
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in the Solomon Islands; the US
ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands
Flag description:
divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side
corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white
five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is
green; blue represents the ocean; green the land; and yellow
sunshine; the five stars stand for the five main island groups of
the Solomon Islands
National anthem:
name: "God Save Our Solomon Islands"
lyrics/music: Panapasa BALEKANA and Matila BALEKANA/Panapasa BALEKANA
note: adopted 1978
Government - note:
by the end of 2007, the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon
Islands (RAMSI) - originally made up of police and troops from
Australia, NZ, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga - had been scaled
back to 303 police officers, 197 civilian technical advisers, and 72
military advisers from 15 countries across the region
Economy ::Solomon Islands
Economy - overview:
The bulk of the population depends on agriculture, fishing, and
forestry for at least part of its livelihood. Most manufactured
goods and petroleum products must be imported. The islands are rich
in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and
gold. Prior to the arrival of RAMSI, severe ethnic violence, the
closing of key businesses, and an empty government treasury
culminated in economic collapse. RAMSI's efforts to restore law and
order and economic stability have led to modest growth as the
economy rebuilds.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.559 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
$1.517 billion (2009 est.)
$1.553 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$674 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
-2.3% (2009 est.)
7.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
$2,800 (2009 est.)
$2,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 42%
industry: 11%
services: 47% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
202,500 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 168
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 75%
industry: 5%
services: 20% (2000 est.)
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):
6.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15.26% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
14.44% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$139.9 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 176
$124.4 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$227.1 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 180
$195.9 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$221.9 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
$183.8 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
cocoa beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables,
fruit; timber; cattle, pigs; fish
Industries:
fish (tuna), mining, timber
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
71 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Electricity - consumption:
66.03 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Oil - consumption:
2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Oil - imports:
1,323 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Current account balance:
-$143 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Exports:
$237 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 177
Exports - commodities:
timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa
Exports - partners:
China 54.07%, South Korea 6.19%, Philippines 6.04%, Spain 4.87%
(2009)
Imports:
$256 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 197
Imports - commodities:
food, plant and equipment, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Singapore 24.69%, Australia 23.06%, NZ 5.2%, Fiji 4.47%, Papua New
Guinea 4.34%, Malaysia 3.98% (2009)
Debt - external:
$166 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 176
Exchange rates:
Solomon Islands dollars (SBD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 7.3447
(2006), 7.5299 (2005), 7.4847 (2004), 7.5059 (2003)
Communications ::Solomon Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
8,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 204
Telephones - mobile cellular:
30,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 202
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: mobile-cellular telephone density is about 5 telephones
per 100 persons
international: country code - 677; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast media:
Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) is the sole TV
broadcaster with 1 station; multi-channel pay-TV is available; SIBC,
the public service broadcaster, operates 2 national radio stations
and 2 provincial stations; 2 local commercial radio stations
operating; Radio Australia is obtainable via satellite feed (2009)
Internet country code:
.sb
Internet hosts:
4,065 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 141
Internet users:
10,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 200
Transportation ::Solomon Islands
Airports:
36 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 108
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 34
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 25 (2010)
Heliports:
3 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 1,360 km
country comparison to the world: 177
paved: 33 km
unpaved: 1,327 km
note: includes 800 km of private plantation roads (2002)
Ports and terminals:
Honiara, Malloco Bay, Viru Harbor, Tulaghi
Military ::Solomon Islands
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Solomon Islands Police Force (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 150,987 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 125,928
females age 16-49: 126,999 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 7,256
female: 6,995 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 45
Transnational Issues ::Solomon Islands
Disputes - international:
since 2003, RAMSI, consisting of police, military, and civilian
advisors drawn from 15 countries, has assisted in reestablishing and
maintaining civil and political order while reinforcing regional
stability and security
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 5,400 (displaced by tsunami on 2 April 2007) (2007)
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Somalia (Africa)
Introduction ::Somalia
Background:
Britain withdrew from British Somaliland in 1960 to allow its
protectorate to join with Italian Somaliland and form the new nation
of Somalia. In 1969, a coup headed by Mohamed SIAD Barre ushered in
an authoritarian socialist rule characterized by the persecution,
jailing and torture of political opponents and dissidents. After the
regime's collapse early in 1991, Somalia descended into turmoil,
factional fighting, and anarchy. In May 1991, northern clans
declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes the
administrative regions of Awdal, Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sanaag,
and Sool. Although not recognized by any government, this entity has
maintained a stable existence and continues efforts to establish a
constitutional democracy, including holding municipal,
parliamentary, and presidential elections. The regions of Bari,
Nugaal, and northern Mudug comprise a neighboring semi-autonomous
state of Puntland, which has been self-governing since 1998 but does
not aim at independence; it has also made strides toward
reconstructing a legitimate, representative government but has
suffered some civil strife. Puntland disputes its border with
Somaliland as it also claims portions of eastern Sool and Sanaag.
Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian effort (primarily in
the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but when the UN
withdrew in 1995, having suffered significant casualties, order
still had not been restored. In 2000, the Somalia National Peace
Conference (SNPC) held in Djibouti resulted in the formation of an
interim government, known as the Transitional National Government
(TNG). When the TNG failed to establish adequate security or
governing institutions, the Government of Kenya, under the auspices
of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), led a
subsequent peace process that concluded in October 2004 with the
election of Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed as President of a second interim
government, known as the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of
the Somali Republic. The TFG included a 275-member parliamentary
body, known as the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP). President
YUSUF resigned late in 2008 while United Nations-sponsored talks
between the TFG and the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of
Somalia (ARS) were underway in Djibouti. In January 2009, following
the creation of a TFG-ARS unity government, Ethiopian military
forces, which had entered Somalia in December 2006 to support the
TFG in the face of advances by the opposition Islamic Courts Union
(ICU), withdrew from the country. The TFP was increased to 550 seats
with the addition of 200 ARS and 75 civil society members of
parliament. The expanded parliament elected Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh
Ahmed, the former CIC and ARS chairman as president on 31 January
2009, in Djibouti. Subsequently, President SHARIF appointed Omar
Abdirashid ali SHARMARKE, son of a former president of Somalia, as
prime minister on 13 February 2009. SHARMARKE resigned in September
2010 and was replaced by Mohamed Abdullahi MOHAMED, aka Farmajo, a
dual US-Somali citizen that lived in the United Stated from 1985
until his return to Somalia in October 2010. The creation of the TFG
was based on the Transitional Federal Charter (TFC), which outlines
a five-year mandate leading to the establishment of a new Somali
constitution and a transition to a representative government
following national elections. However, in January 2009 the TFP
amended the TFC to extend TFG's mandate until 2011.
Geography ::Somalia
Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean,
east of Ethiopia
Geographic coordinates:
10 00 N, 49 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 637,657 sq km
country comparison to the world: 43
land: 627,337 sq km
water: 10,320 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 2,340 km
border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km, Kenya 682 km
Coastline:
3,025 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate:
principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February),
moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon
(May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south,
irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between
monsoons
Terrain:
mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m
Natural resources:
uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum,
bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves
Land use:
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 98.32% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
15.7 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 3.29 cu km/yr (0%/0%/100%)
per capita: 400 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in
summer; floods during rainy season
Environment - current issues:
famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health
problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of
the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to
Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal
People ::Somalia
Population:
10,112,453
country comparison to the world: 82
note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in
1975 by the Somali Government; population counting in Somalia is
complicated by the large number of nomads and by refugee movements
in response to famine and clan warfare (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 2,215,331/female 2,204,503)
15-64 years: 52.6% (male 2,588,356/female 2,579,737)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 101,764/female 142,326) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.6 years
male: 17.4 years
female: 17.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.809% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Birth rate:
43.33 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Death rate:
15.24 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Urbanization:
urban population: 37% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 107.42 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 5
male: 116.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 98.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50 years
country comparison to the world: 213
male: 48.12 years
female: 51.94 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.44 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
24,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,600 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and Rift Valley fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Somali(s)
adjective: Somali
Ethnic groups:
Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including Arabs 30,000)
Religions:
Sunni Muslim
Languages:
Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.8%
male: 49.7%
female: 25.8% (2001 est.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Somalia
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Somalia
local long form: Jamhuuriyada Demuqraadiga Soomaaliyeed
local short form: Soomaaliya
former: Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic
Government type:
no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary
federal government
Capital:
name: Mogadishu
geographic coordinates: 2 04 N, 45 22 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Awdal, Bakool,
Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe (Middle
Jubba), Jubbada Hoose (Lower Jubba), Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag,
Shabeellaha Dhexe (Middle Shabeelle), Shabeellaha Hoose (Lower
Shabeelle), Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed
Independence:
1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland that became
independent from the UK on 26 June 1960 and Italian Somaliland that
became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1
July 1960 to form the Somali Republic)
National holiday:
Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June
(1960) in Somaliland
Constitution:
25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979
note: the formation of transitional governing institutions, known as
the Transitional Federal Government, is currently ongoing
Legal system:
no national system; a mixture of English common law, Italian law,
Islamic sharia, and Somali customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Transitional Federal President Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh
Ahmed (since 31 January 2009); note - a transitional governing
entity with a five-year mandate, known as the Transitional Federal
Institutions (TFIs), was established in October 2004; the TFIs
relocated to Somalia in June 2004; in 2009, the TFI's were given a
two-year extension to October 2011
head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed FARMAJO
(since 1 November 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by the
Transitional Federal Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
election results: Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh Ahmed elected president by
the expanded Transitional Federal Assembly in Djibouti
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly
note: unicameral Transitional Federal Assembly (TFA) (550 seats; 475
members appointed according to the 4.5 clan formula, with the
remaining 75 seats reserved for civil society and business persons)
Judicial branch:
following the breakdown of the central government, most regions have
reverted to local forms of conflict resolution, either secular,
traditional Somali customary law, or sharia (Islamic) law with a
provision for appeal of all sentences
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: numerous clan and sub-clan factions exist both in support and
in opposition to the transitional government
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ITSO, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Somalia does not have an embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8
May 1991); note - the Transitional Federal Government is represented
in the United States through its Permanent Mission to the United
Nations
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Somalia; US interests are
represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya at United Nations
Avenue, Nairobi; mailing address: Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831;
telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000; FAX [254] (20) 363-6157
Flag description:
light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; the
blue field was originally influenced by the flag of the UN, but
today is said to denote the sky and the neighboring Indian Ocean;
the five points of the star represent the five regions in the horn
of Africa that are inhabited by Somali people: the former British
Somaliland and Italian Somaliland (which together make up Somalia),
Djibouti, Ogaden (Ethiopia), and the Northern Frontier District
(Kenya)
National anthem:
name: "Soomaaliyeey toosoo" (Somalia Wake Up)
lyrics/music: Ali Mire AWALE and Yuusuf Xaaji Aadan Cilmi QABILLE
note: adopted 2000; written in 1947, the lyrics speak of creating
unity and an end to fighting
Government - note:
although an interim government was created in 2004, other regional
and local governing bodies continue to exist and control various
regions of the country, including the self-declared Republic of
Somaliland in northwestern Somalia and the semi-autonomous State of
Puntland in northeastern Somalia
Economy ::Somalia
Economy - overview:
Despite the lack of effective national governance, Somalia has
maintained a healthy informal economy, largely based on livestock,
remittance/money transfer companies, and telecommunications.
Agriculture is the most important sector with livestock normally
accounting for about 40% of GDP and more than 50% of export
earnings. Nomads and semi-pastoralists, who are dependent upon
livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the
population. Livestock, hides, fish, charcoal, and bananas are
Somalia's principal exports, while sugar, sorghum, corn, qat, and
machined goods are the principal imports. Somalia's small industrial
sector, based on the processing of agricultural products, has
largely been looted and the machinery sold as scrap metal. Somalia's
service sector also has grown. Telecommunication firms provide
wireless services in most major cities and offer the lowest
international call rates on the continent. In the absence of a
formal banking sector, money transfer/remittance services have
sprouted throughout the country, handling up to $1.6 billion in
remittances annually. Mogadishu's main market offers a variety of
goods from food to the newest electronic gadgets. Hotels continue to
operate and are supported with private-security militias. Due to
armed attacks on and threats to humanitarian aid workers, the World
Food Programme partially suspended its operations in southern
Somalia in early January 2010 pending improvement in the security
situation. Somalia's arrears to the IMF have continued to grow.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.896 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
$5.75 billion (2009 est.)
$5.607 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.372 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
2.6% (2009 est.)
2.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225
$600 (2009 est.)
$600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 65%
industry: 10%
services: 25% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
3.447 million (few skilled laborers) (2007)
country comparison to the world: 97
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 71%
industry and services: 29% (1975)
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):
NA%
note: businesses print their own money, so inflation rates cannot be
easily determined
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA%
Agriculture - products:
bananas, sorghum, corn, coconuts, rice, sugarcane, mangoes, sesame
seeds, beans; cattle, sheep, goats; fish
Industries:
a few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, wireless
communication
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
280 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Electricity - consumption:
260.4 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
108 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Oil - exports:
1,475 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Oil - imports:
6,387 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Natural gas - proved reserves:
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Exports:
$300 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 173
Exports - commodities:
livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal
Exports - partners:
UAE 58.27%, Yemen 20.32%, Saudi Arabia 3.78% (2009)
Imports:
$798 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 178
Imports - commodities:
manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction
materials, qat
Imports - partners:
Djibouti 30.84%, Kenya 8.06%, India 7.86%, China 6.97%, Brazil
6.59%, Yemen 4.97%, Oman 4.72%, UAE 4.6% (2009)
Debt - external:
$3 billion (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Exchange rates:
Somali shillings (SOS) per US dollar - NA (2007-08), 1,438.3 (2006)
official rate; the unofficial black market rate was about 23,000
shillings per dollar as of February 2007
note: the Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared independent
country not recognized by any foreign government, issues its own
currency, the Somaliland shilling
Communications ::Somalia
Telephones - main lines in use:
100,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 144
Telephones - mobile cellular:
641,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 155
Telephone system:
general assessment: the public telecommunications system was almost
completely destroyed or dismantled during the civil war; private
companies offer limited local fixed-line service and private
wireless companies offer service in most major cities while charging
the lowest international rates on the continent
domestic: local cellular telephone systems have been established in
Mogadishu and in several other population centers
international: country code - 252; international connections are
available from Mogadishu by satellite
Broadcast media:
2 private TV stations rebroadcast Al-Jazeera and CNN; Somaliland has
1 government-operated TV station and Puntland has 1 private TV
station; Radio Mogadishu operated by the transitional government; 1
SW and roughly 10 private FM radio stations broadcast in Mogadishu;
several radio stations operate in central and southern regions;
Somaliland has 1 government-operated radio station; Puntland has
roughly a half dozen private radio stations; transmissions of at
least 2 international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.so
Internet hosts:
3 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 228
Internet users:
106,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 159
Transportation ::Somalia
Airports:
59 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 80
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 52
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 6 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 22,100 km
country comparison to the world: 106
paved: 2,608 km
unpaved: 19,492 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 1
country comparison to the world: 154
by type: cargo 1
foreign-owned: 1 (UAE 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Berbera, Kismaayo
Transportation - note:
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and
offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean are high risk
for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous vessels,
including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked
and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crew, passengers,
and cargo are held for ransom; the presence of several naval task
forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on
the part of ship operators have reduced the piracy incidents; in
response local pirates shifted operations farther south along the
east coast of Somalia and eastward along the coast of Oman
Military ::Somalia
Military branches:
National Security Force (NSF): Somali Army (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
note: since 2005, the UN has listed the Transitional Federal
Government and its allied militias as persistent violators in
recruiting child soldiers (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,261,704
females age 16-49: 2,217,584 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,328,567
females age 16-49: 1,386,971 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 99,919
female: 99,771 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Transnational Issues ::Somalia
Disputes - international:
Ethiopian forces invaded southern Somalia and routed Islamist Courts
from Mogadishu in January 2007; "Somaliland" secessionists provide
port facilities in Berbera to landlocked Ethiopia and have
established commercial ties with other regional states; "Puntland"
and "Somaliland" "governments" seek international support in their
secessionist aspirations and overlapping border claims; the
undemarcated former British administrative line has little meaning
as a political separation to rival clans within Ethiopia's Ogaden
and southern Somalia's Oromo region; Kenya works hard to prevent the
clan and militia fighting in Somalia from spreading south across the
border, which has long been open to nomadic pastoralists
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 1.1 million (civil war since 1988, clan-based competition for
resources) (2007)
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@South Africa (Africa)
Introduction ::South Africa
Background:
Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of modern day South Africa
in 1652 and established a stopover point on the spice route between
the Netherlands and the Far East, founding the city of Cape Town.
After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of
the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own
republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred
wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native
inhabitants. The Boers resisted British encroachments but were
defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902); however, the British and the
Afrikaners, as the Boers became known, ruled together beginning in
1910 under the Union of South Africa, which became a republic in
1961 after a whites-only referendum. In 1948, the National Party was
voted into power and instituted a policy of apartheid - the separate
development of the races - which favored the white minority at the
expense of the black majority. The African National Congress (ANC)
led the opposition to apartheid and many top ANC leaders, such as
Nelson MANDELA, spent decades in South Africa's prisons. Internal
protests and insurgency, as well as boycotts by some Western nations
and institutions, led to the regime's eventual willingness to
negotiate a peaceful transition to majority rule. The first
multi-racial elections in 1994 brought an end to apartheid and
ushered in majority rule under an ANC-led government. South Africa
since then has struggled to address apartheid-era imbalances in
decent housing, education, and health care. ANC infighting, which
has grown in recent years, came to a head in September 2008 when
President Thabo MBEKI resigned, and Kgalema MOTLANTHE, the party's
General-Secretary, succeeded him as interim president. Jacob ZUMA
became president after the ANC won general elections in April 2009.
In January 2011, South Africa assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN
Security Council for the 2011-12 term.
Geography ::South Africa
Location:
Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Geographic coordinates:
29 00 S, 24 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1,219,090 sq km
country comparison to the world: 25
land: 1,214,470 sq km
water: 4,620 sq km
note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince
Edward Island)
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 4,862 km
border countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491
km, Namibia 967 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km
Coastline:
2,798 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 semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool
nights
Terrain:
vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m
Natural resources:
gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel,
phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds,
platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 12.1%
permanent crops: 0.79%
other: 87.11% (2005)
Irrigated land:
14,980 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
50 cu km (1990)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 12.5 cu km/yr (31%/6%/63%)
per capita: 264 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
prolonged droughts
volcanism: the volcano forming Marion Island in the Prince Edward
Islands, which last erupted in 2004, is South Africa's only active
volcano
Environment - current issues:
lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water
conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing
supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban
discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion;
desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely
surrounds Swaziland
People ::South Africa
Population:
49,109,107
country comparison to the world: 25
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.9% (male 7,093,328/female 7,061,579)
15-64 years: 65.8% (male 16,275,424/female 15,984,181)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 1,075,117/female 1,562,860) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.7 years
male: 24.4 years
female: 25 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.051% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Birth rate:
19.61 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Death rate:
16.99 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Net migration rate:
-3.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 185
note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa
and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2010 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 61% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 43.78 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 61
male: 47.88 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 39.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 49.2 years
country comparison to the world: 215
male: 50.08 years
female: 48.29 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.33 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
18.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5.7 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
350,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: South African(s)
adjective: South African
Ethnic groups:
black African 79%, white 9.6%, colored 8.9%, Indian/Asian 2.5% (2001
census)
Religions:
Zion Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%, Catholic 7.1%,
Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%, Muslim 1.5%,
other Christian 36%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none 15.1% (2001
census)
Languages:
IsiZulu (official) 23.8%, IsiXhosa (official) 17.6%, Afrikaans
(official) 13.3%, Sepedi (offcial) 9.4%, English (official) 8.2%,
Setswana (official) 8.2%, Sesotho (official) 7.9%, Xitsonga
(official) 4.4%, other 7.2%, isiNdebele (official), Tshivenda
(official), siSwati (official) (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 87%
female: 85.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
5.4% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 49
Government ::South Africa
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of South Africa
conventional short form: South Africa
former: Union of South Africa
abbreviation: RSA
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Pretoria (administrative capital)
geographic coordinates: 25 42 S, 28 13 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial
capital)
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal,
Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North-West, Western Cape
Independence:
31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British
colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); 31
May 1961 (republic declared); 27 April 1994 (majority rule)
National holiday:
Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)
Constitution:
10 December 1996; note - certified by the Constitutional Court on 4
December 1996; was signed by then President MANDELA on 10 December
1996; and entered into effect on 4 February 1997
Legal system:
based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacob ZUMA (since 9 May 2009); Executive
Deputy President Kgalema MOTLANTHE (since 11 May 2009); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Jacob ZUMA (since 9 May 2009);
Executive Deputy President Kgalema MOTLANTHE (since 11 May 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 6
May 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: Jacob ZUMA elected president; National Assembly
vote - Jacob ZUMA 277, Mvume DANDALA 47, other 76
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consisting of the National Council of Provinces
(90 seats; 10 members elected by each of the nine provincial
legislatures for five-year terms; has special powers to protect
regional interests, including the safeguarding of cultural and
linguistic traditions among ethnic minorities) and the National
Assembly (400 seats; members elected by popular vote under a system
of proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly and National Council of Provinces -
last held on 22 April 2009 (next to be held in April 2014)
election results: National Council of Provinces - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote
by party - ANC 65.9%, DA 16.7%, COPE 7.4%, IFP 4.6%, other 5.4%;
seats by party - ANC 264, DA 67, COPE 30, IFP 18, other 21
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Supreme Court of Appeals; High Courts;
Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders:
African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP [Kenneth MESHOE]; African
National Congress or ANC [Jacob ZUMA]; Congress of the People or
COPE [Mosiuoa LEKOTA]; Democratic Alliance or DA [Helen ZILLE];
Freedom Front Plus or FF+ [Pieter MULDER]; Independent Democrats or
ID [Patricia DE LILLE]; Inkatha Freedom Party or IFP [Mangosuthu
BUTHELEZI]; Pan-Africanist Congress or PAC [Motsoko PHEKO]; United
Christian Democratic Party or UCDP [Lucas MANGOPE]; United
Democratic Movement or UDM [Bantu HOLOMISA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Congress of South African Trade Unions or COSATU [Zwelinzima VAVI,
general secretary]; South African Communist Party or SACP [Blade
NZIMANDE, general secretary]; South African National Civics
Organization or SANCO [Mlungisi HLONGWANE, national president]
note: note - COSATU and SACP are in a formal alliance with the ANC
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, BIS, C, CD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO,
NAM, NSG, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UN
Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ebrahim RASOOL
chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-4400
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1607
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald H. GIPS
embassy: 877 Pretorius Street, Pretoria
mailing address: P. O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001
telephone: [27] (12) 431-4000
FAX: [27] (12) 342-2299
consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg
Flag description:
two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by
a central green band that splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of
which end at the corners of the hoist side; the Y embraces a black
isosceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow
yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green
band and its arms by narrow white stripes; the flag colors do not
have any official symbolism, but the Y stands for the "convergence
of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road
ahead in unity"; black, yellow, and green are found on the flag of
the African National Congress, while red, white, and blue are the
colors in the flags of the Netherlands and the UK, whose settlers
ruled South Africa during the colonial era
note: the South African flag is the only national flag to display
six colors as part of its primary design
National anthem:
name: "National Anthem of South Africa"
lyrics/music: Enoch SONTONGA and Cornelius Jacob LANGENHOVEN/Enoch
SONTONGA and Marthinus LOURENS de Villiers
note: adopted 1994; the anthem is a combination of "N'kosi Sikelel'
iAfrica" (God Bless Africa) and "Die Stem van Suid Afrika" (The Call
of South Africa), which were respectively the anthems of the
non-white and white communities under apartheid; the official lyrics
contain a mixture of Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans, and English;
the music incorporates the melody used in the Tanzanian and Zambian
anthems
Economy ::South Africa
Economy - overview:
South Africa is a middle-income, emerging market with an abundant
supply of natural resources; well-developed financial, legal,
communications, energy, and transport sectors; a stock exchange that
is the 18th largest in the world; and modern infrastructure
supporting a relatively efficient distribution of goods to major
urban centers throughout the region. At the end of 2007, South
Africa began to experience an electricity crisis. State power
supplier Eskom encountered problems with aged plants, necessitating
"load-shedding" cuts to residents and businesses in the major
cities. Growth was robust from 2004 to 2007 as South Africa reaped
the benefits of macroeconomic stability and a global commodities
boom, but began to slow in the second half of 2007 due to the
electricity crisis and the subsequent global financial crisis'
impact on commodity prices and demand. GDP fell nearly 2% in 2009.
Unemployment remains high and outdated infrastructure has
constrained growth. Daunting economic problems remain from the
apartheid era - especially poverty, lack of economic empowerment
among the disadvantaged groups, and a shortage of public
transportation. South Africa's former economic policy was fiscally
conservative, focusing on controlling inflation, and attaining a
budget surplus. The current government largely follows the same
prudent policies, but must contend with the impact of the global
crisis and is facing growing pressure from special interest groups
to use state-owned enterprises to deliver basic services to
low-income areas and to increase job growth. More than one-quarter
of South Africa's population currently receives social grants.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$527.5 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
$512.2 billion (2009 est.)
$521.6 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$354.4 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
-1.8% (2009 est.)
3.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$10,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
$10,400 (2009 est.)
$10,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 31.2%
services: 65.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
17.32 million economically active (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 26%
services: 65% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
23.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
24% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
50% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 44.7% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
65 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 2
59.3 (1994)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Public debt:
33.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
29.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
7.2% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
7% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 37
11.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.71% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
15.13% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$65.87 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 41
$52.04 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$256.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
$199.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$328.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$255.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$704.8 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 18
$491.3 billion (31 December 2008)
$833.5 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; beef, poultry, mutton,
wool, dairy products
Industries:
mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium),
automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles, iron and
steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Electricity - production:
240.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Electricity - consumption:
215.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Electricity - exports:
14.16 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
10.57 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
191,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Oil - consumption:
579,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Oil - exports:
128,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Oil - imports:
490,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Oil - proved reserves:
15 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Natural gas - production:
3.25 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Natural gas - consumption:
6.45 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Natural gas - imports:
3.2 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Natural gas - proved reserves:
27.16 million cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Current account balance:
-$16.51 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
-$11.3 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$76.86 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$66.54 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and
equipment
Exports - partners:
China 10.34%, US 9.19%, Japan 7.59%, Germany 7.01%, UK 5.54%,
Switzerland 4.72% (2009)
Imports:
$77.04 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$66.01 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific
instruments, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
China 17.21%, Germany 11.24%, US 7.38%, Saudi Arabia 4.87%, Japan
4.67%, Iran 3.95% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$45.52 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$39.68 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$80.52 billion (30 June 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$73.84 billion (30 June 2009)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$83.08 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$73.61 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$53.38 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$51.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
rand (ZAR) per US dollar - 7.38 (2010), 8.4234 (2009), 7.9576
(2008), 7.05 (2007), 6.7649 (2006)
Communications ::South Africa
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.32 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 33
Telephones - mobile cellular:
46.436 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 26
Telephone system:
general assessment: the system is the best developed and most modern
in Africa
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
roughly 105 telephones per 100 persons; consists of carrier-equipped
open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay links,
fiber-optic cable, radiotelephone communication stations, and
wireless local loops; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town,
Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria
international: country code - 27; the SAT-3/WASC and SAFE fiber
optic cable systems connect South Africa to Europe and Asia;
satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic
Ocean)
Broadcast media:
the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) operates 4 TV
stations, 3 are free-to-air and 1 is pay TV; e.tv, a private
station, is accessible to more than half the population; multiple
subscription TV services provide a mix of local and international
channels; well developed mix of public and private radio stations at
the national, regional, and local levels; the SABC radio network,
state-owned and controlled but nominally independent, operates 18
stations, one for each of the 11 official languages, 4 community
stations, and 3 commercial stations; more than 100 community-based
stations extend coverage to rural areas (2007)
Internet country code:
.za
Internet hosts:
3.751 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 24
Internet users:
4.42 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 54
Transportation ::South Africa
Airports:
578 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 11
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 147
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 53
914 to 1,523 m: 67
under 914 m: 10 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 431
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 32
914 to 1,523 m: 261
under 914 m: 137 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 11 km; gas 908 km; oil 980 km; refined products 1,379 km
(2009)
Railways:
total: 20,872 km
country comparison to the world: 14
narrow gauge: 20,436 km 1.065-m gauge (8,271 km electrified); 436 km
0.610-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 362,099 km
country comparison to the world: 18
paved: 73,506 km (includes 239 km of expressways)
unpaved: 288,593 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
total: 4
country comparison to the world: 133
by type: container 1, petroleum tanker 3
foreign-owned: 1 (Denmark 1)
registered in other countries: 11 (Mexico 1, NZ 1, Seychelles 1,
Singapore 3, UK 5) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha Bay
Military ::South Africa
Military branches:
South African National Defense Force (SANDF): South African Army,
South African Navy (SAN), South African Air Force (SAAF), Joint
Operations Command, Military Intelligence, South African Military
Health Services (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; women are eligible
to serve in noncombat roles; 2-year service obligation (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 13,508,255
females age 16-49: 12,541,371 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,676,331
females age 16-49: 6,521,338 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 492,743
female: 496,374 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.7% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 92
Military - note:
with the end of apartheid and the establishment of majority rule,
former military, black homelands forces, and ex-opposition forces
were integrated into the South African National Defense Force
(SANDF); as of 2003 the integration process was considered complete
Transnational Issues ::South Africa
Disputes - international:
South Africa has placed military along the border to apprehend the
thousands of Zimbabweans fleeing economic dysfunction and political
persecution; as of January 2007, South Africa also supports large
numbers of refugees and asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic
of the Congo (33,000), Somalia (20,000), Burundi (6,500), and other
states in Africa (26,000); managed dispute with Namibia over the
location of the boundary in the Orange River; in 2006, Swazi king
advocates resort to ICJ to claim parts of Mpumalanga and
KwaZulu-Natal from South Africa
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 10,772 (Democratic Republic of Congo);
7,818 (Somalia); 5,759 (Angola) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment center for heroin, hashish, and cocaine, as well as a
major cultivator of marijuana in its own right; cocaine and heroin
consumption on the rise; world's largest market for illicit
methaqualone, usually imported illegally from India through various
east African countries, but increasingly producing its own synthetic
drugs for domestic consumption; attractive venue for money
launderers given the increasing level of organized criminal and
narcotics activity in the region and the size of the South African
economy
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Southern Ocean (Oceans)
Introduction ::Southern Ocean
Background:
A large body of recent oceanographic research has shown that the
Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), an ocean current that flows
from west to east around Antarctica, plays a crucial role in global
ocean circulation. The region where the cold waters of the ACC meet
and mingle with the warmer waters of the north defines a distinct
border - the Antarctic Convergence - which fluctuates with the
seasons, but which encompasses a discrete body of water and a unique
ecologic region. The Convergence concentrates nutrients, which
promotes marine plant life, and which in turn allows for a greater
abundance of animal life. In the spring of 2000, the International
Hydrographic Organization decided to delimit the waters within the
Convergence as a fifth world ocean - the Southern Ocean - by
combining the southern portions of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean,
and Pacific Ocean. The Southern Ocean extends from the coast of
Antarctica north to 60 degrees south latitude, which coincides with
the Antarctic Treaty Limit and which approximates the extent of the
Antarctic Convergence. As such, the Southern Ocean is now the fourth
largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean,
Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean, but larger than the Arctic Ocean).
It should be noted that inclusion of the Southern Ocean does not
imply recognition of this feature as one of the world's primary
oceans by the US Government.
Geography ::Southern Ocean
Location:
body of water between 60 degrees south latitude and Antarctica
Geographic coordinates:
60 00 S, 90 00 E (nominally), but the Southern Ocean has the unique
distinction of being a large circumpolar body of water totally
encircling the continent of Antarctica; this ring of water lies
between 60 degrees south latitude and the coast of Antarctica and
encompasses 360 degrees of longitude
Map references:
Antarctic Region
Area:
total: 20.327 million sq km
note: includes Amundsen Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, part of the Drake
Passage, Ross Sea, a small part of the Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and
other tributary water bodies
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of the US
Coastline:
17,968 km
Climate:
sea temperatures vary from about 10 degrees Celsius to -2 degrees
Celsius; cyclonic storms travel eastward around the continent and
frequently are intense because of the temperature contrast between
ice and open ocean; the ocean area from about latitude 40 south to
the Antarctic Circle has the strongest average winds found anywhere
on Earth; in winter the ocean freezes outward to 65 degrees south
latitude in the Pacific sector and 55 degrees south latitude in the
Atlantic sector, lowering surface temperatures well below 0 degrees
Celsius; at some coastal points intense persistent drainage winds
from the interior keep the shoreline ice-free throughout the winter
Terrain:
the Southern Ocean is deep, 4,000 to 5,000 m over most of its extent
with only limited areas of shallow water; the Antarctic continental
shelf is generally narrow and unusually deep, its edge lying at
depths of 400 to 800 m (the global mean is 133 m); the Antarctic
icepack grows from an average minimum of 2.6 million sq km in March
to about 18.8 million sq km in September, better than a sixfold
increase in area; the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (21,000 km in
length) moves perpetually eastward; it is the world's largest ocean
current, transporting 130 million cubic meters of water per second -
100 times the flow of all the world's rivers
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: -7,235 m at the southern end of the South Sandwich
Trench
highest point: sea level 0 m
Natural resources:
probable large and possible giant oil and gas fields on the
continental margin; manganese nodules, possible placer deposits,
sand and gravel, fresh water as icebergs; squid, whales, and seals -
none exploited; krill, fish
Natural hazards:
huge icebergs with drafts up to several hundred meters; smaller
bergs and iceberg fragments; sea ice (generally 0.5 to 1 m thick)
with sometimes dynamic short-term variations and with large annual
and interannual variations; deep continental shelf floored by
glacial deposits varying widely over short distances; high winds and
large waves much of the year; ship icing, especially May-October;
most of region is remote from sources of search and rescue
Environment - current issues:
increased solar ultraviolet radiation resulting from the Antarctic
ozone hole in recent years, reducing marine primary productivity
(phytoplankton) by as much as 15% and damaging the DNA of some fish;
illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in recent years,
especially the landing of an estimated five to six times more
Patagonian toothfish than the regulated fishery, which is likely to
affect the sustainability of the stock; large amount of incidental
mortality of seabirds resulting from long-line fishing for toothfish
note: the now-protected fur seal population is making a strong
comeback after severe overexploitation in the 18th and 19th centuries
Environment - international agreements:
the Southern Ocean is subject to all international agreements
regarding the world's oceans; in addition, it is subject to these
agreements specific to the Antarctic region: International Whaling
Commission (prohibits commercial whaling south of 40 degrees south
[south of 60 degrees south between 50 degrees and 130 degrees
west]); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (limits
sealing); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living
Resources (regulates fishing)
note: many nations (including the US) prohibit mineral resource
exploration and exploitation south of the fluctuating Polar Front
(Antarctic Convergence), which is in the middle of the Antarctic
Circumpolar Current and serves as the dividing line between the cold
polar surface waters to the south and the warmer waters to the north
Geography - note:
the major chokepoint is the Drake Passage between South America and
Antarctica; the Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence) is the best
natural definition of the northern extent of the Southern Ocean; it
is a distinct region at the middle of the Antarctic Circumpolar
Current that separates the cold polar surface waters to the south
from the warmer waters to the north; the Front and the Current
extend entirely around Antarctica, reaching south of 60 degrees
south near New Zealand and near 48 degrees south in the far South
Atlantic coinciding with the path of the maximum westerly winds
Economy ::Southern Ocean
Economy - overview:
Fisheries in 2006-07 landed 126,976 metric tons, of which 82%
(104,586 tons) was krill (Euphausia superba) and 9.5% (12,027 tons)
Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides - also known as
Chilean sea bass), compared to 127,910 tons in 2005-06 of which 83%
(106,591 tons) was krill and 9.7% (12,396 tons) Patagonian toothfish
(estimated fishing from the area covered by the Convention of the
Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), which
extends slightly beyond the Southern Ocean area). International
agreements were adopted in late 1999 to reduce illegal, unreported,
and unregulated fishing, which in the 2000-01 season landed, by one
estimate, 8,376 metric tons of Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish.
In the 2007-08 Antarctic summer, 45,213 tourists visited the
Southern Ocean, compared to 35,552 in 2006-2007, and 29,799 in
2005-2006 (estimates provided to the Antarctic Treaty by the
International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), and
does not include passengers on overflights and those flying directly
in and out of Antarctica).
Transportation ::Southern Ocean
Ports and terminals:
McMurdo, Palmer, and offshore anchorages in Antarctica
note: few ports or harbors exist on the southern side of the
Southern Ocean; ice conditions limit use of most to short periods in
midsummer; even then some cannot be entered without icebreaker
escort; most Antarctic ports are operated by government research
stations and, except in an emergency, are not open to commercial or
private vessels
Transportation - note:
Drake Passage offers alternative to transit through the Panama Canal
Transnational Issues ::Southern Ocean
Disputes - international:
Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctica entry), but
Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and UK assert
claims (some overlapping), including the continental shelf in the
Southern Ocean; several states have expressed an interest in
extending those continental shelf claims under the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to include undersea
ridges; the US and most other states do not recognize the land or
maritime claims of other states and have made no claims themselves
(the US and Russia have reserved the right to do so); no formal
claims exist in the waters in the sector between 90 degrees west and
150 degrees west
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (South America)
Introduction ::South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
Background:
The islands, which have large bird and seal populations, lie
approximately 1,000 km east of the Falkland Islands and have been
under British administration since 1908 - except for a brief period
in 1982 when Argentina occupied them. Grytviken, on South Georgia,
was a 19th and early 20th century whaling station. Famed explorer
Ernest SHACKLETON stopped there in 1914 en route to his ill-fated
attempt to cross Antarctica on foot. He returned some 20 months
later with a few companions in a small boat and arranged a
successful rescue for the rest of his crew, stranded off the
Antarctic Peninsula. He died in 1922 on a subsequent expedition and
is buried in Grytviken. Today, the station houses scientists from
the British Antarctic Survey. Recognizing the importance of
preserving the marine stocks in adjacent waters, the UK, in 1993,
extended the exclusive fishing zone from 12 nm to 200 nm around each
island.
Geography ::South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
Location:
Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of
the tip of South America
Geographic coordinates:
54 30 S, 37 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 3,903 sq km
country comparison to the world: 176
land: 3,903 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Shag Rocks, Black Rock, Clerke Rocks, South Georgia
Island, Bird Island, and the South Sandwich Islands, which consist
of 11 islands
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
NA
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year
interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as
snow
Terrain:
most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are rugged and
mountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep,
glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of
volcanic origin with some active volcanoes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Paget (South Georgia) 2,934 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some
sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen) (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
the South Sandwich Islands have prevailing weather conditions that
generally make them difficult to approach by ship; they are also
subject to active volcanism
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which
provide good anchorage; reindeer, introduced early in the 20th
century, live on South Georgia
People ::South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: the small military garrison on South Georgia withdrew in March
2001 replaced by a permanent group of scientists of the British
Antarctic Survey, which also has a biological station on Bird
Island; the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited
Government ::South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
conventional short form: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
abbreviation: SGSSI
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina;
administered from the Falkland Islands by a commissioner, who is
concurrently governor of the Falkland Islands, representing Queen
ELIZABETH II
Legal system:
the laws of the UK where applicable apply; the senior magistrate
from the Falkland Islands presides over the Magistrates Court
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)
Flag description:
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands coat of arms centered
on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a shield
with a golden lion rampant, holding a torch; the shield is supported
by a fur seal on the left and a Macaroni penguin on the right; a
reindeer appears above the crest, and below the shield on a scroll
is the motto LEO TERRAM PROPRIAM PROTEGAT (Let the Lion Protect its
Own Land)); the lion with the torch represents the UK and discovery;
the background of the shield, blue and white estoiles, are found in
the coat of arms of James Cook, discoverer of the islands; all the
outer supporting animals represented are native to the islands
Economy ::South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
Economy - overview:
Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters. There is a potential
source of income from harvesting finfish and krill. The islands
receive income from postage stamps produced in the UK, sale of
fishing licenses, and harbor and landing fees from tourist vessels.
Tourism from specialized cruise ships is increasing rapidly.
Communications ::South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken
Internet country code:
.gs
Internet hosts:
320 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 183
Transportation ::South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
Ports and terminals:
Grytviken
Military ::South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
Disputes - international:
Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly
occupied them by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek
settlement by force
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@Spain (Europe)
Introduction ::Spain
Background:
Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries
ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent
failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused
the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic
and political power. Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II
but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). A peaceful
transition to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco
FRANCO in 1975, and rapid economic modernization (Spain joined the
EU in 1986) gave Spain a dynamic and rapidly growing economy and
made it a global champion of freedom and human rights. The
government continues to battle the Basque Fatherland and Liberty
(ETA) terrorist organization, but its major focus for the immediate
future will be on measures to reverse the severe economic recession
that started in mid-2008.
Geography ::Spain
Location:
Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea,
North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees Mountains, southwest of France
Geographic coordinates:
40 00 N, 4 00 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 505,370 sq km
country comparison to the world: 51
land: 498,980 sq km
water: 6,390 sq km
note: there are two autonomous cities - Ceuta and Melilla - and 17
autonomous communities including Balearic Islands and Canary
Islands, and three small Spanish possessions off the coast of
Morocco - Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez
de la Gomera
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 1,917.8 km
border countries: Andorra 63.7 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km,
Portugal 1,214 km, Morocco (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Morocco (Melilla) 9.6 km
Coastline:
4,964 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean)
Climate:
temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy
along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and
cool along coast
Terrain:
large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills;
Pyrenees in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m
Natural resources:
coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten,
mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin,
potash, hydropower, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 27.18%
permanent crops: 9.85%
other: 62.97% (2005)
Irrigated land:
37,800 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
111.1 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 37.22 cu km/yr (13%/19%/68%)
per capita: 864 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts, occasional flooding
volcanism: Spain experiences volcanic activity in the Canary
Islands, located off Africa's northwest coast; Teide (elev. 3,715 m,
12,188 ft) has been deemed a "Decade Volcano" by the International
Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior,
worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to
human populations; La Palma (elev. 2,426 m, 7,959 ft), which last
erupted in 1971, is the most active of the Canary Islands volcanoes;
Lanzarote is the only other historically active volcano
Environment - current issues:
pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents
from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality and
quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 94, 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, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar; Spain
controls a number of territories in northern Morocco including the
enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de
la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas
People ::Spain
Population:
46,505,963 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.5% (male 3,021,822/female 2,842,597)
15-64 years: 67.4% (male 13,705,107/female 13,601,399)
65 years and over: 18.1% (male 3,071,394/female 4,282,683) (2010
est.)
Median age:
total: 40.1 years
male: 38.9 years
female: 41.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.493% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Birth rate:
10.91 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Death rate:
8.72 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Net migration rate:
2.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Urbanization:
urban population: 77% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.065 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.42 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 214
male: 3.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 81.07 years
country comparison to the world: 13
male: 78.06 years
female: 84.27 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.47 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
140,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,300 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Nationality:
noun: Spaniard(s)
adjective: Spanish
Ethnic groups:
composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types
Religions:
Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%
Languages:
Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque
2%, are official regionally
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 98.7%
female: 97.2% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
4.4% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 93
Government ::Spain
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain
conventional short form: Spain
local long form: Reino de Espana
local short form: Espana
Government type:
parliamentary monarchy
Capital:
name: Madrid
geographic coordinates: 40 24 N, 3 41 W
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
note: Spain is divided into two time zones including the Canary
Islands
Administrative divisions:
17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular -
comunidad autonoma) and 2 autonomous cities* (ciudades autonomas,
singular - ciudad autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Baleares
(Balearic Islands), Ceuta*, Canarias (Canary Islands), Cantabria,
Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna (Catalonia), Comunidad
Valenciana (Valencian Community), Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja,
Madrid, Melilla*, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco (Basque Country)
note: the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla plus three small
islands of Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez
de la Gomera, administered directly by the Spanish central
government, are all along the coast of Morocco and are collectively
referred to as Places of Sovereignty (Plazas de Soberania)
Independence:
1492; the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of
independent kingdoms prior to the Muslim occupation that began in
the early 8th century A.D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the
small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost
immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this
event completed the unification of several kingdoms and is
traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain
National holiday:
National Day, 12 October (1492); year when Columbus first set foot
in the Americas
Constitution:
approved by legislature 31 October 1978; passed by referendum 6
December 1978; signed by the king 27 December 1978
Legal system:
civil law system with regional applications; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975); Heir
Apparent Prince FELIPE, son of the monarch, born 30 January 1968
head of government: President of the Government (Prime Minister
equivalent) Jose Luis Rodriguez ZAPATERO (since 17 April 2004);
First Vice President (and Minister of the Interior) Alfredo Perez
RUBALCABA (since 20 October 2010), Second Vice President (and
Minister of Economy and Finance) Elena SALGADO Mendez (since 8 April
2009), and Third Vice President (and Minister of Regional Affairs)
Manuel CHAVES Gonzalez (since 8 April 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
note: there is also a Council of State that is the supreme
consultative organ of the government, but its recommendations are
non-binding
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually proposed president by the monarch and
elected by the National Assembly; election last held on 9 and 11
April 2008 (next to be held in March 2012); vice presidents
appointed by the monarch on the proposal of the president
election results: Jose Luis Rodriguez ZAPATERO reelected President
of the Government; percent of National Assembly vote - 46.9%
Legislative branch:
bicameral; General Courts or Las Cortes Generales (National
Assembly) consists of the Senate or Senado (264 seats as of 2008;
208 members directly elected by popular vote and the other 56 - as
of 2008 - appointed by the regional legislatures; members to serve
four-year terms) and the Congress of Deputies or Congreso de los
Diputados (350 seats; each of the 50 electoral provinces fills a
minimum of two seats and the North African enclaves of Ceuta and
Melilla fill one seat each with members serving a four-year term;
the other 248 members are determined by proportional representation
based on popular vote on block lists who serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 9 March 2008 (next to be held by
March 2012); Congress of Deputies - last held on 9 March 2008 (next
to be held by March 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PP 101, PSOE 88, Entesa Catalona de Progress 12, CiU 4, PNV
2, CC 1, members appointed by regional legislatures 56; Congress of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - PSOE 43.6%, PP 40.1%, CiU
3.1%, PNV 1.2%, ERC 1.2%, other 10.8%; seats by party - PSOE 169, PP
154, CiU 10, PNV 6, ERC 3, other 8; note - seats by party in the
Congress of Deputies as of 15 December 2009 - PSOE 169, PP 153, CiU
10, PNV 6, ERC 3, other 9
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo
Political parties and leaders:
Basque Nationalist Party or PNV or EAJ [Inigo URKULLU Renteria];
Canarian Coalition or CC [Claudina MORALES Rodriquez] (a coalition
of five parties); Convergence and Union or CiU [Artur MAS i Gavarro]
(a coalition of the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia or CDC
[Artur MAS i Gavarro] and the Democratic Union of Catalonia or UDC
[Josep Antoni DURAN i LLEIDA]); Entesa Catalonia de Progress (a
Senate coalition grouping four Catalan parties - PSC, ERC, ICV,
EUA); Galician Nationalist Bloc or BNG [Guillerme VAZQUEZ Vazquez];
Initiative for Catalonia Greens or ICV [Joan SAURA i Laporta];
Navarra Yes or NaBai [collective leadership] (a coalition of four
Navarran parties); Popular Party or PP [Mariano RAJOY Brey];
Republican Left of Catalonia or ERC [Joan PUIGCERCOS i Boixassa];
Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE [Jose Luis Rodriguez
ZAPATERO]; Union of People of Navarra or UPN [Yolanda BARCINA
Angulo]; Union, Progress and Democracy or UPyD [Rosa DIEZ Gonzalez];
United Left or IU [Cayo LARA Moya] (a coalition of parties including
the Communist Party of Spain or PCE and other small parties)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Association for Victims of Terrorism or AVT (grassroots organization
devoted primarily to opposing ETA terrorist attacks and supporting
its victims); Basta Ya (Spanish for "Enough is Enough"); grassroots
organization devoted primarily to opposing ETA terrorist attacks and
supporting its victims); Nunca Mais (Galician for "Never Again";
formed in response to the oil Tanker Prestige oil spill); Socialist
General Union of Workers or UGT and the smaller independent Workers
Syndical Union or USO; Trade Union Confederation of Workers'
Commissions or CC.OO.
other: business and landowning interests; Catholic Church; free
labor unions (authorized in April 1977); university students
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council
(observer), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CBSS (observer), CE, CERN,
EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA
(observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer),
SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union
Latina, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jorge DEZCALLAR de Mazarredo
chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100, 728-2340
FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alan D. SOLOMONT
embassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid
mailing address: PSC 61, APO AE 09642
telephone: [34] (91) 587-2200
FAX: [34] (91) 587-2303
consulate(s) general: Barcelona
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red
with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band;
the coat of arms is quartered to display the emblems of the
traditional kingdoms of Spain (clockwise from upper left, Castile,
Leon, Navarre, and Aragon) while Granada is represented by the
stylized pomegranate at the bottom of the shield; the arms are
framed by two columns representing the Pillars of Hercules, which
are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the
eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar; the red scroll across the
two columns bears the imperial motto of "Plus Ultra" (further
beyond) referring to Spanish lands beyond Europe; the triband
arrangement with the center stripe twice the width of the outer
dates to the 18th century
note: the red and yellow colors are related to those of the oldest
Spanish kingdoms: Aragon, Castile, Leon, and Navarre
National anthem:
name: "Himno Nacional Espanol" (National Anthem of Spain)
lyrics/music: none/unknown
note: officially in use between 1770 and 1931, restored in 1939; the
Spanish anthem has no lyrics; in the years prior to 1931 it became
known as "Marcha Real" (The Royal March); it first appeared in a
1761 military bugle call book and was replaced by "Himno de Riego"
in the years between 1931 and 1939; the long version of the anthem
is used for the king, while the short version is used for the
prince, prime minister, and occasions such as sporting events
Economy ::Spain
Economy - overview:
Spain's mixed capitalist economy is the 12th largest in the world,
and its per capita income roughly matches that of Germany and
France. However, after almost 15 years of above average GDP growth,
the Spanish economy began to slow in late 2007 and entered into a
recession in the second quarter of 2008. GDP contracted by 3.7% in
2009, ending a 16-year growth trend, and by another 0.4% in 2010,
making Spain the last major economy to emerge from the global
recession. The reversal in Spain's economic growth reflects a
significant decline in the construction sector, an oversupply of
housing, falling consumer spending, and slumping exports. Government
efforts to boost the economy through stimulus spending, extended
unemployment benefits, and loan guarantees did not prevent a sharp
rise in the unemployment rate, which rose from a low of about 8% in
2007 to 20% in 2010. The government budget deficit worsened from
3.8% of GDP in 2008 to about 9.7% of GDP in 2010, more than three
times the euro-zone limit. Spain's large budget deficit and poor
economic growth prospects have made it vulnerable to financial
contagion from other highly-indebted euro zone members despite the
government's efforts to cut spending, privatize industries, and
boost competitiveness through labor market reforms. Spanish banks'
high exposure to the collapsed domestic construction and real estate
market also poses a continued risk for the sector. The government
intervened in one regional savings bank in 2009, and investors
remain concerned that Madrid may need to bail out more troubled
banks. The Bank of Spain, however, is seeking to boost confidence in
the financial sector by pressuring banks to come clean about their
losses and consolidate into stronger groups.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.374 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$1.379 trillion (2009 est.)
$1.432 trillion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.375 trillion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
-3.7% (2009 est.)
0.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$29,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$29,800 (2009 est.)
$31,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.9%
industry: 25.5%
services: 71.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
22.96 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 4.2%
industry: 24%
services: 71.7% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
20% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
18.1% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
19.8% (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 26.6% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 102
32.5 (1990)
Investment (gross fixed):
22.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Public debt:
63.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
53.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
-0.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 122
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.72% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
11.02% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$849.2 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 9
$856.5 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro
area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating
within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$2.264 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$2.451 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.683 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$3.451 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.297 trillion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 11
$946.1 billion (31 December 2008)
$1.8 trillion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus; beef,
pork, poultry, dairy products; fish
Industries:
textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages,
metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles,
machine tools, tourism, clay and refractory products, footwear,
pharmaceuticals, medical equipment
Industrial production growth rate:
-2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Electricity - production:
300.5 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Electricity - consumption:
276.1 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Electricity - exports:
16.92 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
5.88 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
27,230 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Oil - consumption:
1.482 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Oil - exports:
218,600 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Oil - imports:
1.716 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Oil - proved reserves:
150 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Natural gas - production:
13 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Natural gas - consumption:
33.88 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Natural gas - exports:
975 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Natural gas - imports:
34.67 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.548 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Current account balance:
-$66.74 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
-$80.38 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$268.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
$224 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, medicines,
other consumer goods
Exports - partners:
France 19.27%, Germany 11.11%, Portugal 9.21%, Italy 8.24%, UK 6.18%
(2009)
Imports:
$324.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$286.8 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods,
foodstuffs, consumer goods, measuring and medical control instruments
Imports - partners:
Germany 15.02%, France 12.82%, Italy 7.17%, China 5.8%, Netherlands
5.22%, UK 4.7% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$28.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.166 trillion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 9
$2.317 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$668.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$664 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$641 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$634.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Spain
Telephones - main lines in use:
20.057 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 13
Telephones - mobile cellular:
50.991 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 23
Telephone system:
general assessment: well developed, modern facilities; fixed-line
teledensity is roughly 50 per 100 persons
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is
nearly 175 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 34; submarine cables provide
connectivity to Europe, Middle East, Asia, and US; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA
Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries
Broadcast media:
a mixture of both publicly-operated and privately-owned TV and radio
stations broadcasting; overall, hundreds of TV channels are
available including national, regional, local, public, and
international channels; satellite and cable TV systems are
accessible; multiple national radio networks, a large number of
regional radio networks, and a larger number of local radio stations
broadcasting; overall, hundreds of radio stations operating (2008)
Internet country code:
.es
Internet hosts:
3.822 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 23
Internet users:
28.119 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 14
Transportation ::Spain
Airports:
154 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 35
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 97
over 3,047 m: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 24
under 914 m: 24 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 57
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 38 (2010)
Heliports:
9 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 7,738 km; oil 560 km; refined products 3,445 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 15,288 km
country comparison to the world: 18
broad gauge: 11,919 km 1.668-m gauge (6,950 km electrified)
standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (1,054 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,949 km 1.000-m gauge (815 km electrified); 28 km
0.914-m gauge (28 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 681,298 km
country comparison to the world: 10
paved: 681,298 km (includes 15,152 km of expressways) (2008)
Waterways:
1,000 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 65
Merchant marine:
total: 138
country comparison to the world: 44
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 17, chemical tanker 12, container 8,
liquefied gas 13, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 40, petroleum tanker
17, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 13, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 26 (Canada 5, Denmark 2, Germany 5, Italy 1, Mexico
2, Norway 10, Switzerland 1)
registered in other countries: 107 (Angola 1, Argentina 3, Bahamas
9, Belize 1, Brazil 12, Cape Verde 1, Cyprus 7, France 1, Malta 10,
Nigeria 1, Panama 40, Portugal 15, Uruguay 5, Venezuela 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Algeciras, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, Huelva, Tarragona, Valencia
(Spain); Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands)
Military ::Spain
Military branches:
Spanish Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito de Tierra), Spanish Navy
(Armada Espanola, AE; includes Marine Corps), Spanish Air Force
(Ejercito del Aire Espanola, EdA) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
20 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 9,851,306
females age 16-49: 9,574,929 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,040,207
females age 16-49: 7,798,254 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 193,038
female: 181,703 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Transnational Issues ::Spain
Disputes - international:
in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to
reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the government of
Gibraltar insists on equal participation in talks between the UK and
Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater
autonomy; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves
of Ceuta, Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera,
Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters;
both countries claim Isla Perejil (Leila Island); Morocco serves as
the primary launching site of illegal migration into Spain from
North Africa; Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over
the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of
the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz
Illicit drugs:
despite rigorous law enforcement efforts, North African, Latin
American, Galician, and other European traffickers take advantage of
Spain's long coastline to land large shipments of cocaine and
hashish for distribution to the European market; consumer for Latin
American cocaine and North African hashish; destination and minor
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering
site for Colombian narcotics trafficking organizations and organized
crime
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Spratly Islands (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Spratly Islands
Background:
The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs.
They are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and potentially by gas
and oil deposits. They are claimed in their entirety by China,
Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are claimed by Malaysia and the
Philippines. About 45 islands are occupied by relatively small
numbers of military forces from China, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Taiwan, and Vietnam. Brunei has established a fishing zone that
overlaps a southern reef but has not made any formal claim.
Geography ::Spratly Islands
Location:
Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the South China
Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the
southern Philippines
Geographic coordinates:
8 38 N, 111 55 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: less than 5 sq km
country comparison to the world: 247
land: less than 5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts
scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km of the central South
China Sea
Area - comparative:
NA
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
926 km
Maritime claims:
NA
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
flat
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m
Natural resources:
fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the
central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls,
shoals, and coral reefs
People ::Spratly Islands
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several
claimant states
Government ::Spratly Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Spratly Islands
Economy ::Spratly Islands
Economy - overview:
Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to
nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the
potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely
unexplored. There are no reliable estimates of potential reserves.
Commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.
Transportation ::Spratly Islands
Airports:
4 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 185
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
3 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military ::Spratly Islands
Military - note:
Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs of
which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
Transnational Issues ::Spratly Islands
Disputes - international:
all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China (including Taiwan)
and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Brunei, Malaysia and the
Philippines; despite no public territorial claim to Louisa Reef,
Brunei implicitly lays claim by including it within the natural
prolongation of its continental shelf and basis for a seabed median
with Vietnam; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on
the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," which has eased
tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct"; in
March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines,
and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic
activities in the Spratly Islands
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@Sri Lanka (South Asia)
Introduction ::Sri Lanka
Background:
The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century
B.C. probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced in about
the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at
the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circa
A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th
century, a south Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in
northern Sri Lanka. The coastal areas of the island were controlled
by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the 17th
century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown
colony in 1802, and was united under British rule by 1815. As
Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri
Lanka in 1972. Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil
separatists erupted into war in 1983. After two decades of fighting,
the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
formalized a cease-fire in February 2002 with Norway brokering peace
negotiations. Violence between the LTTE and government forces
intensified in 2006 and the government regained control of the
Eastern Province in 2007. In May 2009, the government announced that
its military had finally defeated the remnants of the LTTE and that
its leader, Velupillai PRABHAKARAN, had been killed.
Geography ::Sri Lanka
Location:
Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Geographic coordinates:
7 00 N, 81 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 65,610 sq km
country comparison to the world: 121
land: 64,630 sq km
water: 980 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,340 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; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest
monsoon (June to October)
Terrain:
mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central
interior
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
Natural resources:
limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay,
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 13.96%
permanent crops: 15.24%
other: 70.8% (2005)
Irrigated land:
7,430 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
50 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 12.61 cu km/yr (2%/2%/95%)
per capita: 608 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
occasional cyclones and tornadoes
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by
poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining
activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being
polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air
pollution in Colombo
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: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes
People ::Sri Lanka
Population:
21,513,990
country comparison to the world: 55
note: since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and
armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand
Tamil civilians have fled the island and more than 200,000 Tamils
have sought refuge in the West (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.9% (male 2,594,815/female 2,493,002)
15-64 years: 68% (male 7,089,307/female 7,418,123)
65 years and over: 8.1% (male 803,172/female 926,372) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.3 years
male: 30.3 years
female: 32.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.863% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Birth rate:
15.88 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Death rate:
6.2 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Net migration rate:
-1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Urbanization:
urban population: 15% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.044 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 18.14 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 105
male: 19.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.3 years
country comparison to the world: 85
male: 73.22 years
female: 77.47 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.96 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,800 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and chikungunya
water contact disease: leptospirosis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Sri Lankan(s)
adjective: Sri Lankan
Ethnic groups:
Sinhalese 73.8%, Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%, Indian Tamil 4.6%, Sri
Lankan Tamil 3.9%, other 0.5%, unspecified 10% (2001 census
provisional data)
Religions:
Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified
10% (2001 census provisional data)
Languages:
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national
language) 18%, other 8%
note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken
competently by about 10% of the population
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.7%
male: 92.3%
female: 89.1% (2001 census)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Sri Lanka
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
conventional short form: Sri Lanka
local long form: Shri Lamka Prajatantrika Samajaya di
Janarajaya/Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu
local short form: Shri Lamka/Ilankai
former: Serendib, Ceylon
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Colombo
geographic coordinates: 6 56 N, 79 51 E
time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces; Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North
Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western
Independence:
4 February 1948 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 February (1948)
Constitution:
adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978; amended 20
December 2001
Legal system:
a highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch,
Kandyan, and Jaffna Tamil law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (since 19 November
2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; Dissanayake Mudiyanselage JAYARATNE holds the largely
ceremonial title of prime minister (since 21 April 2010)
head of government: President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (since 19
November 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the
prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(two-term limit); election last held on 26 January 2010 (next to be
held in 2016)
election results: Mahinda RAJAPAKSA reelected president for second
term; percent of vote - Mahinda RAJAPAKSA 57.88%, Sarath FONSEKA
40.15%, other 1.97%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (225 seats; members elected by popular vote on
the basis of an open-list, proportional representation system by
electoral district to serve six-year terms)
elections: last held on 8 April 2010 with a repoll in two
electorates held on 20 April 2010 (next to be held by April 2016)
election results: percent of vote by alliance or party - United
People's Freedom Alliance 60.93%, United National Party 29.34%,
Democratic National Alliance 5.49%, Tamil National Alliance 2.9%,
other 1.94%; seats by alliance or party - United People's Freedom
Alliance 144, United National Party 60, Tamil National Alliance 14,
Democratic National Alliance 7
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeals; judges for both courts are
appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders:
Coalitions and leaders: Democratic National Alliance led by Janatha
Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP [Somawansa AMARASINGHE]; Tamil National
Alliance led by Illandai Tamil Arasu Kachchi [R. SAMPANTHAN]; United
National Front led by United National Party [Ranil WICKREMESINGHE];
United People's Freedom Alliance led by Sri Lanka Freedom Party
[Mahinda RAJAPAKSA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE [P. SIVAPARAN, Chief of
International Secretariat; V. RUDRAKUMARAN, legal advisor]; note -
this insurgent group suffered military defeat in May 2009; some
cadres remain scattered throughout country;
other: Buddhist clergy; labor unions; radical chauvinist Sinhalese
groups such as the National Movement Against Terrorism; Sinhalese
Buddhist lay groups
International organization participation:
ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CP, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO,
MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO
(dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jaliya Chitran WICKRAMASURIYA
chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028
FAX: [1] (202) 232-7181
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia A. BUTENIS
embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3
mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo
telephone: [94] (11) 249-8500
FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345
Flag description:
yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal
vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other larger
panel depicts a yellow lion holding a sword on a dark red
rectangular field that also displays a yellow bo leaf in each
corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag
and extends between the two panels; the lion represents Sinhalese
ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery; the sword
demonstrates the sovereignty of the nation; the four bo leaves -
symbolizing Buddhism and its influence on the country - stand for
the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and
equanimity; orange signifies Sri Lankan Tamils, green the Sri Lankan
Moors; dark red represents the European Burghers, but also refers to
the rich colonial background of the country; yellow denotes other
ethnic groups; also referred to as the Lion Flag
National anthem:
name: "Sri Lanka Matha" (Mother Sri Lanka)
lyrics/music: Ananda SAMARKONE
note: adopted 1951
Economy ::Sri Lanka
Economy - overview:
Sri Lanka is engaging in large-scale reconstruction and development
projects following the end of the 26-year conflict with the LTTE,
including increasing electricity access and rebuilding its road and
rail network. Additionally, Sri Lanka seeks to reduce poverty by
using a combination of state directed policies and private
investment promotion to spur growth in disadvantaged areas, develop
small and medium enterprises, and promote increased agriculture,
High levels of government funding may be difficult, as the
government already is faced with high debt interest payments, a
bloated civil service, and historically high budget deficits. The
2008-09 global financial crisis and recession exposed Sri Lanka's
economic vulnerabilities and nearly caused a balance of payments
crisis, which was alleviated by a $2.6 billion IMF standby agreement
in July 2009. The end of the civil war and the IMF loan, however,
have largely restored investors' confidence, reflected in part by
the Sri Lankan stock market's recognition as one of the best
performing markets in the world. Sri Lankan growth rates averaged
nearly 5% in during the war, but increased government spending on
development and fighting the LTTE in the final years spurred GDP
growth to around 6-7% per year in 2006-08. After experiencing 3.5%
growth in 2009, Sri Lanka's economy is poised to achieve high growth
rates in the postwar period.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$104.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$97.91 billion (2009 est.)
$94.6 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$48.24 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
3.5% (2009 est.)
6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
$4,600 (2009 est.)
$4,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.6%
industry: 29.8%
services: 57.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
8.1 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 32.7%
industry: 26.3%
services: 41% (December 2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
5.9% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
23% (2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 39.7% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
49 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 27
46 (1995)
Investment (gross fixed):
23.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Public debt:
86.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
85.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
7.25% (December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 55
7.5% (31 December 2009)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.37% (December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 41
15.89% (31 December 2008)
Stock of narrow money:
$4.4 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 96
$3.628 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$19.72 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
$16.41 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$18.34 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$16.64 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$11.5 billion (December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 70
$8.133 billion (31 December 2009)
$4.326 billion (31 December 2008)
Agriculture - products:
rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, vegetables, fruit,
tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef; fish
Industries:
processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural
commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; tourism,
shipping; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining,
information technology services, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
6.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Electricity - production:
9.882 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Electricity - consumption:
8.417 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Oil - consumption:
90,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Oil - imports:
90,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Current account balance:
-$1.784 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
-$291 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$7.908 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
$7.085 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
textiles and apparel, tea and spices; rubber manufactures; precious
stones; coconut products, fish
Exports - partners:
US 20.59%, UK 12.87%, Italy 5.51%, Germany 5.29%, India 4.54%,
Belgium 4.43% (2009)
Imports:
$11.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
$9.186 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum, textiles, machinery and transportation equipment,
building materials, mineral products, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
India 20.73%, China 13.45%, Singapore 7.26%, Iran 6.7%, South Korea
5.23% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$5.63 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$5.358 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$17.97 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$17.44 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar - 113.36 (2010), 114.95
(2009), 108.33 (2008), 110.78 (2007), 103.99 (2006)
Communications ::Sri Lanka
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.523 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 44
Telephones - mobile cellular:
15.868 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 46
Telephone system:
general assessment: telephone services have improved significantly
and are available in most parts of the country
domestic: national trunk network consists mostly of digital
microwave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo area
and fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is
strong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribership
is increasing
international: country code - 94; the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4
submarine cables provide connectivity to Asia, Australia, Middle
East, Europe, US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian
Ocean)
Broadcast media:
government operates 2 television channels and a radio network;
multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services are
obtainable; 8 private TV stations and about a dozen private radio
stations in operation (2008)
Internet country code:
.lk
Internet hosts:
8,865 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 131
Internet users:
1.777 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 77
Transportation ::Sri Lanka
Airports:
18 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 139
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Railways:
total: 1,449 km
country comparison to the world: 82
broad gauge: 1,449 km 1.676-m gauge (2007)
Roadways:
total: 91,907 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 54
Waterways:
160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 101
Merchant marine:
total: 22
country comparison to the world: 99
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 14, chemical tanker 1, petroleum
tanker 3
foreign-owned: 5 (Germany 5) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Colombo
Military ::Sri Lanka
Military branches:
Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 5-year service
obligation (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,493,050
females age 16-49: 5,622,632 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,518,582
females age 16-49: 4,701,942 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 172,081
female: 166,358 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 55
Transnational Issues ::Sri Lanka
Disputes - international:
none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 460,000 (both Tamils and non-Tamils displaced due to long-term
civil war between the government and the separatist Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Sri Lanka is a source and destination country for
men and women trafficked for the purposes of involuntary servitude
and commercial sexual exploitation; Sri Lankan men and women migrate
willingly to the Persian Gulf, Middle East, and East Asia to work as
construction workers, domestic servants, or garment factory workers,
where some find themselves in situations of involuntary servitude
when faced with restrictions on movement, withholding of passports,
threats, physical or sexual abuse, and debt bondage; children are
trafficked internally for commercial sexual exploitation and, less
frequently, for forced labor
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a fourth consecutive year, Sri
Lanka is on the Tier 2 Watch List for failing to provide evidence of
increasing efforts to combat severe forms of human trafficking,
particularly in the area of law enforcement; the government failed
to arrest, prosecute, or convict any person for trafficking offenses
and continued to punish some victims of trafficking for crimes
committed as a result of being trafficked; Sri Lanka has not
ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Sudan (Africa)
Introduction ::Sudan
Background:
Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have
dominated national politics since independence from the UK in 1956.
Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars during most of the
remainder of the 20th century. These conflicts were rooted in
northern economic, political, and social domination of largely
non-Muslim, non-Arab southern Sudanese. The first civil war ended in
1972 but broke out again in 1983. The second war and famine-related
effects resulted in more than four million people displaced and,
according to rebel estimates, more than two million deaths over a
period of two decades. Peace talks gained momentum in 2002-04 with
the signing of several accords. The final North/South Comprehensive
Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in January 2005, granted the southern
rebels autonomy for six years. After which, a referendum for
independence is scheduled to be held. A separate conflict, which
broke out in the western region of Darfur in 2003, has displaced
nearly two million people and caused an estimated 200,000 to 400,000
deaths. The UN took command of the Darfur peacekeeping operation
from the African Union on 31 December 2007. As of early 2009,
peacekeeping troops were struggling to stabilize the situation,
which has become increasingly regional in scope and has brought
instability to eastern Chad. Sudan also has faced large refugee
influxes from neighboring countries primarily Ethiopia and Chad.
Armed conflict, poor transport infrastructure, and lack of
government support have chronically obstructed the provision of
humanitarian assistance to affected populations.
Geography ::Sudan
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea
Geographic coordinates:
15 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 2,505,813 sq km
country comparison to the world: 10
land: 2.376 million sq km
water: 129,813 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 7,687 km
border countries: Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km,
Democratic Republic of the Congo 628 km, Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605
km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km
Coastline:
853 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season varies by
region (April to November)
Terrain:
generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in far south, northeast
and west; desert dominates the north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Red Sea 0 m
highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m
Natural resources:
petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc,
tungsten, mica, silver, gold, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 6.78%
permanent crops: 0.17%
other: 93.05% (2005)
Irrigated land:
18,630 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
154 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 37.32 cu km/yr (3%/1%/97%)
per capita: 1,030 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
dust storms and periodic persistent droughts
Environment - current issues:
inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations
threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification;
periodic drought
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:
largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries
People ::Sudan
Population:
43,939,598 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40.7% (male 8,535,551/female 8,173,616)
15-64 years: 56.8% (male 11,745,683/female 11,603,906)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 532,968/female 496,101) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.4 years
male: 18 years
female: 18.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.497% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Birth rate:
36.58 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Death rate:
11.66 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Net migration rate:
0.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Urbanization:
urban population: 43% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 72.39 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 19
male: 73.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 71.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.21 years
country comparison to the world: 200
male: 53.04 years
female: 55.44 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.93 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.4% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
320,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
25,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, African trypanosomiasis
(sleeping sickness)
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Sudanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Sudanese
Ethnic groups:
black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), Christian 5% (mostly in south and
Khartoum), indigenous beliefs 25%
Languages:
Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse
dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages
note: program of "Arabization" in process
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 61.1%
male: 71.8%
female: 50.5% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 4 years (2000)
Education expenditures:
6% of GDP (1991)
country comparison to the world: 38
Government ::Sudan
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan
conventional short form: Sudan
local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan
local short form: As-Sudan
former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Government type:
Government of National Unity (GNU) - the National Congress Party
(NCP) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) formed a
power-sharing government under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace
Agreement (CPA); the NCP, which came to power by military coup in
1989, is the majority partner; the agreement stipulated national
elections in 2009, but these were subsequently rescheduled for April
2010
Capital:
name: Khartoum
geographic coordinates: 15 36 N, 32 32 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
25 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); A'ali an Nil (Upper Nile),
Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrat (Lakes), Al Jazira (Gezira),
Al Khartoum (Khartoum), Al Qadarif (Gedaref), Al Wahda (Unity), An
Nil al Abyad (White Nile), An Nil al Azraq (Blue Nile), Ash
Shimaliyya (Northern), Bahr al Jabal (Central Equatoria), Gharb al
Istiwa'iyya (Western Equatoria), Gharb Bahr al Ghazal (Western Bahr
el Ghazal), Gharb Darfur (Western Darfur), Janub Darfur (Southern
Darfur), Janub Kurdufan (Southern Kordofan), Junqoley (Jonglei),
Kassala (Kassala), Nahr an Nil (River Nile), Shimal Bahr al Ghazal
(Northern Bahr el Ghazal), Shimal Darfur (Northern Darfur), Shimal
Kurdufan (Northern Kordofan), Sharq al Istiwa'iyya (Eastern
Equatoria), Sinnar (Sinnar), Warab (Warrap)
Independence:
1 January 1956 (from Egypt and the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
Constitution:
Interim National Constitution ratified 5 July 2005
note: under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Interim National
Constitution was ratified 5 July 2005; Constitution of Southern
Sudan was signed December 2005
Legal system:
based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January 1991,
the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law in
the northern states; Islamic law applies to all residents of the
northern states regardless of their religion; however, the CPA
establishes some protections for non-Muslims in Khartoum; some
separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations; the southern legal system is still developing under
the CPA following the civil war; Islamic law will not apply to the
southern states
Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16
October 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16
October 1993)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - the
National Congress Party or NCP (formerly the National Islamic Front
or NIF) dominates al-BASHIR's cabinet
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: election on 11-15 April 2010; next to be held in 2015
election results: Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR reelected president;
percent of vote - Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR 68.2%, Yasir ARMAN
21.7%, Abdullah Deng NHIAL 3.9%, others 6.2%
note: al-BASHIR assumed power as chairman of Sudan's Revolutionary
Command Council for National Salvation (RCC) in June 1989 and served
concurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, prime minister,
and minister of defense until mid-October 1993 when he was appointed
president by the RCC; he was elected president by popular vote for
the first time in March 1996
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Legislature consists of a Council of States (50
seats; members indirectly elected by state legislatures to serve
six-year terms) and a National Assembly (450 seats; 60% from
geographic constituencies, 25% from a women's list, and 15% from
party lists; members to serve six-year terms)
elections: last held on 11-15 April 2010 (next to be held in 2016)
election results: Not available; prior to the 11-15 April 2010
election, members appointmented under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace
Agreement
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court of nine justices; National Supreme Court;
National Courts of Appeal; other national courts; National Judicial
Service Commission will undertake overall management of the National
Judiciary
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Unionist Party or DUP [Hatim al-SIR]; National Congress
Party or NCP [Umar Hassan al-BASHIR]; Popular Congress Party or PCP
[Hassan al-TURABI]; Sudan People's Liberation Movement or SPLM
[Salva KIIR]; elements of the National Democratic Alliance or NDA
including factions of the Democratic Union Party [Muhammad Uthman
al-MIRGHANI] and Umma Party
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Umma Party [SADIQ Siddiq al-Mahdi]; Popular Congress Party or PCP
[Hassan al-TURABI]; Darfur rebel groups including the Justice and
Equality Movement or JEM [Khalil IBRAHIM] and the Sudan Liberation
Movement or SLM [various factional leaders]
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Akec Khoc
ACIEW Khoc
chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565
FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert E.
WHITEHEAD
embassy: Sharia Ali Abdul Latif Street, Khartoum
mailing address: P.O. Box 699, Khartoum; APO AE 09829
telephone: [249] (183) 774700 through 704
FAX: [249] (183) 774137
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a
green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; colors and design
based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I, but the meanings of
the colors are expressed as follows: red signifies the struggle for
freedom, white is the color of peace, light, and love, black
represents Sudan itself (in Arabic 'Sudan' means black), green is
the color of Islam, agriculture, and prosperity
National anthem:
name: "Nahnu Djundulla Djundulwatan" (We Are the Army of God and of
Our Land)
lyrics/music: Sayed Ahmad Muhammad SALIH/Ahmad MURJAN
note: adopted 1956; the song originally served as the anthem of the
Sudanese military
Economy ::Sudan
Economy - overview:
Since 1997, Sudan has been working with the IMF to implement
macroeconomic reforms including a managed float of the exchange rate
and a large reserve of foreign exchange. A new currency, the
Sudanese Pound, was introduced in January 2007 at an initial
exchange rate of $1.00 equals 2 Sudanese Pounds. Sudan began
exporting crude oil in the last quarter of 1999 and the economy
boomed on the back of increases in oil production, high oil prices,
and significant inflows of foreign direct investment until the
second half of 2008. The Darfur conflict, the aftermath of two
decades of civil war in the south, the lack of basic infrastructure
in large areas, and a reliance by much of the population on
subsistence agriculture ensure much of the population will remain at
or below the poverty line for years to come despite rapid rises in
average per capita income. Sudan's real GDP expanded by 5.2% during
2010, an improvement over 2009's 4.2% growth but significantly below
the more that 10% per year growth experienced prior to the global
financial crisis in 2006 and 2007. While the oil sector continues to
drive growth, services and utilities play an increasingly important
role in the economy with agriculture production remaining important
as it employs 80% of the work force and contributes a third of GDP.
In the lead up to the referendum on southern secession, scheduled in
January 2011, Sudan saw its currency depreciate considerably on the
black market with the Central Bank's official rate also losing value
as the Sudanese people started to hoard foreign currency. The
Central Bank of Sudan intervened heavily in the currency market to
defend the value of the pound and the Sudanese government introduced
a number of measures to restrain excess local demand for hard
currency, but uncertainty ahead of the referendum has meant that
foreign exchange remained in heavy demand as 2010 came to a close.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$98.79 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$93.91 billion (2009 est.)
$90.12 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$65.93 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
4.2% (2009 est.)
6.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
$2,200 (2009 est.)
$2,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 32.1%
industry: 29%
services: 38.9% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
11.92 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80%
industry: 7%
services: 13% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:
18.7% (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Population below poverty line:
40% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
20.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Public debt:
94.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
105.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
11.2% (2009 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$7.713 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 76
$7.003 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$13.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
$12.31 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$10.15 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
$9.307 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic,
sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), mangos, papaya, bananas, sweet
potatoes, sesame; sheep, livestock
Industries:
oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap
distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments,
automobile/light truck assembly
Industrial production growth rate:
3.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Electricity - production:
4.341 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Electricity - consumption:
3.438 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
486,700 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Oil - consumption:
84,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Oil - exports:
303,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Oil - imports:
11,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Oil - proved reserves:
6.8 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Natural gas - proved reserves:
84.95 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Current account balance:
-$2.595 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
-$2.817 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$9.777 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
$7.56 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil and petroleum products; cotton, sesame, livestock, groundnuts,
gum arabic, sugar
Exports - partners:
China 58.29%, Japan 14.7%, Indonesia 8.83%, India 4.86% (2009)
Imports:
$8.483 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
$8.253 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactured goods, refinery and transport equipment,
medicines and chemicals, textiles, wheat
Imports - partners:
China 21.87%, Saudi Arabia 7.22%, Egypt 6.1%, India 5.53%, UAE 5.3%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.063 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
$897 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$37.98 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$35.71 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Sudanese pounds (SDG) per US dollar - 2.36 (2010), 2.32 (2009), 2.1
(2008), 2.06 (2007), 2.172 (2006)
Communications ::Sudan
Telephones - main lines in use:
370,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 105
Telephones - mobile cellular:
15.34 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 47
Telephone system:
general assessment: well-equipped system by regional standards and
being upgraded; cellular communications started in 1996 and have
expanded substantially with wide coverage of most major cities
domestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, fiber optic,
radiotelephone communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic
satellite system with 14 earth stations
international: country code - 249; linked to international submarine
cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earth
stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2000)
Broadcast media:
in the north, the Sudanese Government directly controls TV and
radio, requiring that both media reflect government policies; TV has
a permanent military censor; a private radio station is in
operation; in southern Sudan, TV is controlled by the regional
government; several private FM stations are operational in southern
Sudan; some foreign radio broadcasts are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.sd
Internet hosts:
70 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 207
Internet users:
4.2 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 56
Transportation ::Sudan
Airports:
140 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 41
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 121
1,524 to 2,437 m: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 62
under 914 m: 38 (2010)
Heliports:
5 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 156 km; oil 4,070 km; refined products 1,613 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 5,978 km
country comparison to the world: 30
narrow gauge: 4,578 km 1.067-m gauge; 1,400 km 0.600-m gauge for
cotton plantations (2008)
Roadways:
total: 11,900 km
country comparison to the world: 131
paved: 4,320 km
unpaved: 7,580 km (2000)
Waterways:
4,068 km (1,723 km open year round on White and Blue Nile rivers)
(2008)
country comparison to the world: 25
Merchant marine:
total: 2
country comparison to the world: 142
by type: cargo 2 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Port Sudan
Military ::Sudan
Military branches:
Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF): Land Forces, Navy (includes Marines),
Sudanese Air Force (Sikakh al-Jawwiya as-Sudaniya), Popular Defense
Forces; Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA): Popular Army, Air
Force (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18-33 years of age for male and female compulsory and voluntary
military service; 12-24 month service obligation (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 10,264,087
females age 16-49: 9,894,457 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,094,209
females age 16-49: 6,213,984 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 506,742
female: 487,434 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Transnational Issues ::Sudan
Disputes - international:
the effects of Sudan's almost constant ethnic and rebel militia
fighting since the mid-20th century have penetrated all of the
neighboring states; as of 2006, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Central
African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda
provided shelter for over half a million Sudanese refugees, which
includes 240,000 Darfur residents driven from their homes by
Janjawid armed militia and the Sudanese military forces; Sudan, in
turn, hosted about 116,000 Eritreans, 20,000 Chadians, and smaller
numbers of Ethiopians, Ugandans, Central Africans, and Congolese as
refugees; in February 2006, Sudan and DROC signed an agreement to
repatriate 13,300 Sudanese and 6,800 Congolese; Sudan accuses
Eritrea of supporting Sudanese rebel groups; efforts to demarcate
the porous boundary with Ethiopia proceed slowly due to civil and
ethnic fighting in eastern Sudan; the boundary that separates Kenya
and Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the "Ilemi Triangle," which
Kenya has administered since colonial times; Sudan claims but Egypt
de facto administers security and economic development of Halaib
region north of the 22nd parallel boundary; periodic violent
skirmishes with Sudanese residents over water and grazing rights
persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the
Central African Republic
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 157,220 (Eritrea); 25,023 (Chad);
11,009 (Ethiopia); 7,895 (Uganda); 5,023 (Central African Republic)
IDPs: 5.3 - 6.2 million (civil war 1983-2005; ongoing conflict in
Darfur region) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Sudan is a source country for men, women, and
children trafficked internally for the purposes of forced labor and
sexual exploitation; Sudan is also a transit and destination country
for Ethiopian women trafficked abroad for domestic servitude;
Sudanese women and girls are trafficked within the country as well
as possibly to Middle Eastern countries for domestic servitude; the
terrorist rebel organization, Lord's Resistance Army, continues to
harbor small numbers of Sudanese and Ugandan children in the
southern part of the country for use as cooks, porters, and
combatants; some of these children are also trafficked across
borders into Uganda or the Democratic Republic of the Congo; militia
groups in Darfur, some of which are linked to the government, abduct
women for short periods of forced labor and to perpetrate sexual
violence; during the two decades-long north-south civil war,
thousands of Dinka women and children were abducted and subsequently
enslaved by members of the Missiriya and Rezeigat tribes; while
there have been no known new abductions of Dinka by members of
Baggara tribes in the last few years, inter-tribal abductions
continue in southern Sudan
tier rating: Tier 3 - Sudan does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so; combating human trafficking through
law enforcement or prevention measures was not a priority for the
government in 2007 (2008)
page last updated on January 26, 2011
======================================================================
@Suriname (South America)
Introduction ::Suriname
Background:
First explored by the Spaniards in the 16th century and then settled
by the English in the mid-17th century, Suriname became a Dutch
colony in 1667. With the abolition of slavery in 1863, workers were
brought in from India and Java. Independence from the Netherlands
was granted in 1975. Five years later the civilian government was
replaced by a military regime that soon declared a socialist
republic. It continued to exert control through a succession of
nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when international
pressure finally forced a democratic election. In 1990, the military
overthrew the civilian leadership, but a democratically elected
government - a four-party coalition - returned to power in 1991. The
coalition expanded to eight parties in 2005 and has continued to
rule since.
Geography ::Suriname
Location:
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
French Guiana and Guyana
Geographic coordinates:
4 00 N, 56 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 163,820 sq km
country comparison to the world: 91
land: 156,000 sq km
water: 7,820 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,703 km
border countries: Brazil 593 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km
Coastline:
386 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m
Natural resources:
timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small
amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 0.36%
permanent crops: 0.06%
other: 99.58% (2005)
Irrigated land:
510 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
122 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.67 cu km/yr (4%/3%/93%)
per capita: 1,489 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland
waterways by small-scale mining activities
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
smallest independent country on South American continent; mostly
tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna that, for
the most part, is increasingly threatened by new development;
relatively small population, mostly along the coast
People ::Suriname
Population:
486,618 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.1% (male 66,603/female 64,035)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 159,525/female 160,871)
65 years and over: 6.3% (male 13,004/female 17,229) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.3 years
male: 27.9 years
female: 28.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.108% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Birth rate:
16.61 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Death rate:
5.53 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Urbanization:
urban population: 75% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.068 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 18.19 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 104
male: 21.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.98 years
country comparison to the world: 103
male: 71.24 years
female: 76.91 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.97 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.4% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,800 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever, Mayaro virus, and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Surinamer(s)
adjective: Surinamese
Ethnic groups:
Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their ancestors
emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th
century) 37%, Creole (mixed white and black) 31%, Javanese 15%,
"Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the country in
the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior)
10%, Amerindian 2%, Chinese 2%, white 1%, other 2%
Religions:
Hindu 27.4%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), Roman
Catholic 22.8%, Muslim 19.6%, indigenous beliefs 5%
Languages:
Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo
(Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of
Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca
among others), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.6%
male: 92%
female: 87.2% (2004 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 11 years
female: 13 years (2002)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Suriname
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Suriname
conventional short form: Suriname
local long form: Republiek Suriname
local short form: Suriname
former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
Government type:
constitutional democracy
Capital:
name: Paramaribo
geographic coordinates: 5 50 N, 55 10 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo,
Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo,
Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Independence:
25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Constitution:
ratified 30 September 1987; effective 30 October 1987
Legal system:
based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Desire Delano BOUTERSE (since 12 August
2010); Vice President Robert AMEERALI (since 12 August 2010); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Desire Delano BOUTERSE (since 12
August 2010); Vice President Robert AMEERALI (since 12 August 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidate
receives a two-thirds constitutional majority in the National
Assembly after two votes, by a simple majority in the larger United
People's Assembly (893 representatives from the national, local, and
regional councils), for five-year terms (no term limits); election
last held on 19 July 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: Desire Delano BOUTERSE elected president; percent
of vote - Desire Delano BOUTERSE 70.6%, Chandrikapersad SATOKHI
25.5%, other 3.9%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 25 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - Mega Combination 45.1%,
New Front 27.5%, A-Com 13.7%, People's Alliance 11.8%, DOE 1.9%;
seats by party - Mega Combination 23, New Front 14, A-Com 7,
People's Alliance 6, DOE 1
Judicial branch:
Cantonal Courts and a Court of Justice as an appellate court
(justices are nominated for life); member of the Caribbean Court of
Justice (CCJ)
Political parties and leaders:
A-Combination (a coalition that includes the General Liberation and
Development Party ABOP [Ronnie BRUNSWIJK], SEEKA [Paul ABENA], Union
of Brotherhood and Unity in Politics BEP [Caprino ALENDY]; Basic
Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD [Dilip SARDJOE]; Basic Party
for Renewal and Democracy or PVF [Soedeschand JAIRAM]; Democratic
Union Suriname or DUS [Japhet DIEKO]; Mega-Combination-Ruling
Coalition (a coalition that joined with A-Combination and the PL to
form a majority in Parliament in 2010 - includes the National
Democratic Party or NDP [Desire BOUTERSE] (largest party in the
coalition), Progressive Worker and Farmer's Union or PALU [Jim HOK],
Party for National Unity and Solidarity of the Highest Order or KTPI
[Willy SOEMITA], DNP-2000 [Jules WIJDENBOSCH], and New Suriname or
NS [Nanan PANDAY]); National Union or NU [P. VAN LEEUWAARDE]; New
Front for Democracy and Development or NF (a coalition made up of
the National Party of Suriname or NPS [Runaldo VENETIAAN], United
Reform Party or VHP [Ramdien SARDJOE], Democratic Alternative 1991
or DA-91 - an independent, business-oriented party [Winston
JESSURUN], Surinamese Labor Party or SPA [Siegfried GILDS]); Party
for Democracy and Development in Unity or DOE [Carl BREEVELD]; Party
for the Permanent Prosperity Republic Suriname or PVRS [NA];
People's Alliance, Pertjaja Luhur's or PL [Paul SOMOHARDJO](includes
D-21 [Soewarta MOESTADJA] and Pendawa Lima [Raymond SAPEON], which
merged with PL in 2010)
note: BVD and PVF participated in the elections as a coalition
(BVD/PVF) in the most recent elections, but separated after the
election
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Association of Indigenous Village Chiefs [Ricardo PANE]; Association
of Saramaccan Authorities or Maroon [Head Captain WASE]; Women's
Parliament Forum or PVF [Iris GILLIAD]
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, Caricom, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDB,
IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, PetroCaribe, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jacques Ruben Constantijn KROSS
chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488
FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878
consulate(s) general: Miami
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John R. NAY
embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
mailing address: US Department of State, PO Box 1821, Paramaribo
telephone: [597] 472-900
FAX: [597] 410-025
Flag description:
five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red
(quadruple width), white, and green (double width); a large, yellow,
five-pointed star is centered in the red band; red stands for
progress and love; green symbolizes hope and fertility; white
signifies peace, justice, and freedom; the star represents the unity
of all ethnic groups; from its yellow light the nation draws
strength to bear sacrifices patiently while working toward a golden
future
National anthem:
name: "God zij met ons Suriname!" (God Be With Our Suriname)
lyrics/music: Cornelis Atses HOEKSTRA and Henry DE ZIEL/Johannes
Corstianus DE PUY
note: adopted 1959; the anthem, originally adapted from a Sunday
school song written in 1893, contains lyrics in both Dutch and
Sranan Tongo
Economy ::Suriname
Economy - overview:
The economy is dominated by the mining industry, with exports of
alumina, gold, and oil accounting for about 85% of exports and 25%
of government revenues, making the economy highly vulnerable to
mineral price volatility. In 2000, the government of Ronald
VENETIAAN, returned to office and inherited an economy with
inflation of over 100% and a growing fiscal deficit. He quickly
implemented an austerity program, raised taxes, attempted to control
spending, and tamed inflation. Economic growth reached about 6% in
2007 and 2008, owing to sizeable foreign investment in mining and
oil. Suriname has received aid for projects in the bauxite and gold
mining sectors from Netherlands, Belgium, and the European
Development Fund. The economy contracted in 2009, however, as
investment waned and the country earned less from its commodity
exports when global prices for most commodities fell. Trade picked
up, boosting Suriname's economic growth in 2010, but the
government's budget remained strained, with increased social
spending during last year's election. Suriname's economic prospects
for the medium term will depend on continued commitment to
responsible monetary and fiscal policies and to the introduction of
structural reforms to liberalize markets and promote competition.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.794 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
$4.632 billion (2009 est.)
$4.541 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.297 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
2% (2009 est.)
7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
$9,600 (2009 est.)
$9,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.8%
industry: 24.4%
services: 64.8% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
165,600 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 176
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 14%
services: 78% (2004)
Unemployment rate:
9.5% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 105
Population below poverty line:
70% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.4% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.65% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
12.2% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$608 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 153
$495.6 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$1.809 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 145
$1.573 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$793.1 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
$651 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts;
beef, chickens; shrimp; forest products
Industries:
bauxite and gold mining, alumina production; oil, lumbering, food
processing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:
6.5% (1994 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Electricity - production:
1.605 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Electricity - consumption:
1.467 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
15,190 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Oil - consumption:
14,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Oil - exports:
4,308 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Oil - imports:
6,296 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Oil - proved reserves:
79.6 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Current account balance:
$24 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Exports:
$1.391 billion (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Exports - commodities:
alumina, gold, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
Exports - partners:
Canada 35.47%, Belgium 14.92%, US 10.15%, UAE 9.87%, Norway 4.92%,
Netherlands 4.7%, France 4.47% (2009)
Imports:
$1.297 billion (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
US 30.79%, Netherlands 19.17%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.04%, China
6.8%, Japan 5.85% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$263.3 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 125
Debt - external:
$504.3 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Exchange rates:
Surinamese dollars (SRD) per US dollar - 2.745 (2007), 2.745 (2006),
2.7317 (2005), 2.7336 (2004), 2.6013 (2003)
note: in January 2004, the government replaced the guilder with the
Surinamese dollar, tied to a US dollar-dominated currency basket
Communications ::Suriname
Telephones - main lines in use:
83,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 146
Telephones - mobile cellular:
763,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 150
Telephone system:
general assessment: international facilities are good
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
roughly 175 telephones per 100 persons; microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast media:
2 state-owned TV stations; 1 state-owned radio station; multiple
private radio and TV stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.sr
Internet hosts:
171 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 199
Internet users:
163,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 146
Transportation ::Suriname
Airports:
51 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 91
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 46
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 41 (2010)
Pipelines:
oil 50 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 4,304 km
country comparison to the world: 154
paved: 1,130 km
unpaved: 3,174 km (2003)
Waterways:
1,200 km (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 60
Merchant marine:
total: 1
country comparison to the world: 153
by type: cargo 1 (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Paramaribo, Wageningen
Military ::Suriname
Military branches:
National Army (Nationaal Leger, NL; includes Marine Section and Air
Wing) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); recruitment is voluntary, with personnel
drawn almost exclusively from the Creole community (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 133,417
females age 16-49: 133,487 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 108,555
females age 16-49: 111,927 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 4,046
female: 4,056 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Transnational Issues ::Suriname
Disputes - international:
area claimed by French Guiana between Riviere Litani and Riviere
Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); Suriname claims a triangle
of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic
dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) arbitration to
resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of the
territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters
Illicit drugs:
growing transshipment point for South American drugs destined for
Europe via the Netherlands and Brazil; transshipment point for
arms-for-drugs dealing
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Svalbard (Europe)
Introduction ::Svalbard
Background:
First discovered by the Norwegians in the 12th century, the islands
served as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18th
centuries. Norway's sovereignty was recognized in 1920; five years
later it officially took over the territory.
Geography ::Svalbard
Location:
Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea,
Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Geographic coordinates:
78 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 62,045 sq km
country comparison to the world: 124
land: 62,045 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
3,587 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 4 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but
not recognized by Russia
Climate:
arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold
winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of
Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year
Terrain:
wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast
clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along west and north
coasts
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Natural resources:
coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (no trees; the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry)
(2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for
coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the
northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main
islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area;
Spitsbergen Island is the site of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a
seed repository established by the Global Crop Diversity Trust and
the Norwegian Government
People ::Svalbard
Population:
2,067 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 232
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.023% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
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:
0% (2001)
country comparison to the world: 170
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
0 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 165
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
0 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 156
Ethnic groups:
Norwegian 55.4%, Russian and Ukrainian 44.3%, other 0.3% (1998)
Languages:
Norwegian, Russian
Literacy:
NA
Government ::Svalbard
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as
Spitzbergen)
Dependency status:
territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the
Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in
Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty
was awarded to Norway
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Longyearbyen
geographic coordinates: 78 13 N, 15 33 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
Independence:
none (territory of Norway)
Legal system:
the laws of Norway where applicable apply
Executive branch:
chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)
head of government: Governor Odd Olsen INGERO (since September
2009); Assistant Governor Lars FAUSE (since September 2008)
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor and assistant
governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of
Justice
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
none
Flag description:
the flag of Norway is used
National anthem:
note: as a territory of Norway, "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" is
official (see Norway)
Economy ::Svalbard
Economy - overview:
Coal mining, tourism, and international research are the major
revenue sources on Svalbard. Coal mining is the dominant economic
activity and a treaty of 9 February 1920 gave the 41 signatories
equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian
regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have
mined in the past, the only companies still engaging in this are
Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially
company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly
60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the
local services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There
is also some hunting of seal, reindeer, and fox.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
Labor force:
1,234 in Norwegian settlements (2003)
country comparison to the world: 225
Exports:
$197.6 million (2000)
Imports:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar - 6.1533 (2009), 5.6361 (2008),
5.86 (2007), 6.418 (2006)
Communications ::Svalbard
Telephones - main lines in use:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: probably adequate
domestic: local telephone service
international: country code - 47-790; satellite earth station - 1 of
unknown type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only)
Broadcast media:
the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) began direct television
transmission to Svalbard via satellite in 1984; Longyearbyen
households have access to 3 NRK radio and 2 television stations
(2008)
Internet country code:
.sj
Transportation ::Svalbard
Airports:
4 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 186
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden
Military ::Svalbard
Military branches:
no regular military forces
Military - note:
Svalbard is a territory of Norway, demilitarized by treaty on 9
February 1920; Norwegian military activity is limited to fisheries
surveillance by the Norwegian Coast Guard
Transnational Issues ::Svalbard
Disputes - international:
despite recent discussions, Russia and Norway dispute their maritime
limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights beyond
Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zone
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Swaziland (Africa)
Introduction ::Swaziland
Background:
Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the
British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968.
Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured King MSWATI III,
the world's last absolute monarch, to grudgingly allow political
reform and greater democracy, although he has backslid on these
promises in recent years. A constitution came into effect in 2006,
but political parties remain banned. The African United Democratic
Party tried unsuccessfully to register as an official political
party in mid 2006. Talks over the constitution broke down between
the government and progressive groups in 2007. Swaziland recently
surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known
HIV/AIDS prevalence rate.
Geography ::Swaziland
Location:
Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Geographic coordinates:
26 30 S, 31 30 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 17,364 sq km
country comparison to the world: 158
land: 17,204 sq km
water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 535 km
border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain:
mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m
highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
Natural resources:
asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold
and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use:
arable land: 10.25%
permanent crops: 0.81%
other: 88.94% (2005)
Irrigated land:
500 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
4.5 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.04 cu km/yr (2%/1%/97%)
per capita: 1,010 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
drought
Environment - current issues:
limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being
depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil
degradation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
People ::Swaziland
Population:
1,354,051
country comparison to the world: 152
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.6% (male 260,840/female 254,781)
15-64 years: 57.9% (male 383,236/female 391,478)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 19,857/female 26,994) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.1 years
male: 19.7 years
female: 20.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.213% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Birth rate:
27.12 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Death rate:
14.99 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 107
Urbanization:
urban population: 25% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 66.71 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 23
male: 70.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 62.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.97 years
country comparison to the world: 218
male: 48.14 years
female: 47.8 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.19 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
26.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
190,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
10,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Swazi(s)
adjective: Swazi
Ethnic groups:
African 97%, European 3%
Religions:
Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral
worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, other (includes Anglican,
Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish) 30%
Languages:
English (official, government business conducted in English),
siSwati (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.6%
male: 82.6%
female: 80.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
7.9% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 13
Government ::Swaziland
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland
conventional short form: Swaziland
local long form: Umbuso weSwatini
local short form: eSwatini
Government type:
monarchy
Capital:
name: Mbabane
geographic coordinates: 26 18 S, 31 06 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Lobamba (royal and legislative capital)
Administrative divisions:
4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
Independence:
6 September 1968 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 September (1968)
Constitution:
signed by the King in July 2005; went into effect on 8 February 2006
Legal system:
based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts and Swazi
traditional law and custom in traditional courts; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age
Executive branch:
chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
head of government: Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso DLAMINI (since
16 October 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed by
the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by
the monarch from among the elected members of the House of Assembly
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Libandla consists of the Senate (30 seats;
10 members appointed by the House of Assembly and 20 appointed by
the monarch; members to serve five-year terms) and the House of
Assembly (65 seats; 10 members appointed by the monarch and 55
elected by popular vote; members to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held on 19 September 2008 (next
to be held in 2013)
election results: House of Assembly - balloting is done on a
nonparty basis; candidates for election nominated by the local
council of each constituency and for each constituency the three
candidates with the most votes in the first round of voting are
narrowed to a single winner by a second round
Judicial branch:
High Court; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed by
the monarch
Political parties and leaders:
the status of political parties, previously banned, is unclear under
the 2006 Constitution and currently being debated; the following are
considered political associations; African United Democratic Party
or AUDP [Stanley MAUNDZISA, president]; Imbokodvo National Movement
or INM; Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Obed DLAMINI,
president]; People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario
MASUKU, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Swaziland Democracy Campaign; Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions;
Swaziland and Solidarity Network or SSN
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent),
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Abednigo Mandla NTSHANGASE
chancery: 1712 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5002
FAX: [1] (202) 234-8254
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Earl M. IRVING
embassy: 2350 Mbabane Place, Mbabane
mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
telephone: [268] 404-2445
FAX: [268] 404-2059
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue;
the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large
black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated
with feather tassels, all placed horizontally; blue stands for peace
and stability, red represents past struggles, and yellow the mineral
resources of the country; the shield, spears, and staff symbolize
protection from the country's enemies, while the black and white of
the shield are meant to portray black and white people living in
peaceful coexistence
National anthem:
name: "Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati" (Oh God, Bestower of
the Blessings of the Swazi)
lyrics/music: Andrease Enoke Fanyana SIMELANE/David Kenneth RYCROFT
note: adopted 1968; the anthem uses elements of both ethnic Swazi
and Western music styles
Economy ::Swaziland
Economy - overview:
In this small, landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture occupies
approximately 70% of the population. The manufacturing sector has
diversified since the mid-1980s. Sugar and wood pulp remain
important foreign exchange earners. In 2007, the sugar industry
increased efficiency and diversification efforts, in response to a
17% decline in EU sugar prices. Mining has declined in importance in
recent years with only coal and quarry stone mines remaining active.
Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with
Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa from
which it receives more than nine-tenths of its imports and to which
it sends 60% of its exports. Swaziland's currency is pegged to the
South African rand, subsuming Swaziland's monetary policy to South
Africa. Customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union
(SACU) account for two-thirds of Swaziland's government revenues,
and worker remittances from South Africa substantially supplement
domestically earned income. Customs revenues plummeted during the
global economic crisis and Swaziland has appealed to SACU for
assistance. With an estimated 40% unemployment rate, Swaziland's
need to increase the number and size of small and medium enterprises
and attract foreign direct investment is acute. Overgrazing, soil
depletion, drought, and sometimes floods persist as problems for the
future. More than one-fourth of the population needed emergency food
aid in 2006-07 because of drought, and more than one-quarter of the
adult population has been infected by HIV/AIDS.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$6.055 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
$5.937 billion (2009 est.)
$5.913 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.165 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
0.4% (2009 est.)
2.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
$4,400 (2009 est.)
$4,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.6%
industry: 42%
services: 49.4% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
457,900 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 156
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
40% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Population below poverty line:
69% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 40.7% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.4 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 22
Investment (gross fixed):
12.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
7.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 39
11% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.38% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
14.83% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$335.7 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 163
$273.9 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.266 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
$920.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$258.5 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
$274.5 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 108
$203.1 million (31 December 2007)
$199.9 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, sorghum,
peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep
Industries:
coal, wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textiles and apparel
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Electricity - production:
441 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Electricity - consumption:
1.266 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008)
Electricity - imports:
770 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2008
est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Oil - imports:
4,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Current account balance:
-$374 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
-$213 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.417 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
$1.338 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn,
refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit
Imports:
$1.643 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
$1.585 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs,
petroleum products, chemicals
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$708 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$959 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$497 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
$411 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
emalangeni per US dollar - 7.57 (2010), 8.4737 (2009), 7.75 (2008),
7.4 (2007), 6.85 (2006)
Communications ::Swaziland
Telephones - main lines in use:
44,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 165
Telephones - mobile cellular:
656,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 154
Telephone system:
general assessment: a somewhat modern but not an advanced system
domestic: single source for mobile-cellular service with a
geographic coverage of about 90% and a rising subscribership base;
combined fixed-line and mobile cellular teledensity exceeded 60
telephones per 100 persons in 2009; telephone system consists of
carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio
relay
international: country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-owned TV station; satellite dishes are able to access South
African providers; state-owned radio network with 3 channels; 1
private radio station (2007)
Internet country code:
.sz
Internet hosts:
2,335 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 152
Internet users:
90,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 162
Transportation ::Swaziland
Airports:
15 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 146
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 7 (2010)
Railways:
total: 301 km
country comparison to the world: 121
narrow gauge: 301 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 3,594 km
country comparison to the world: 160
paved: 1,078 km
unpaved: 2,516 km (2002)
Military ::Swaziland
Military branches:
Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (USDF): Ground Force (includes Air
Wing) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for male and female voluntary military service;
no conscription; only HIV-negative applicants accepted; compulsory
HIV testing required (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 336,436 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 196,633
females age 16-49: 172,602 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 16,024
female: 15,630 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.7% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 18
Transnational Issues ::Swaziland
Disputes - international:
in 2006, Swazi king advocates resort to ICJ to claim parts of
Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal from South Africa
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Swaziland is a source, destination, and transit
country for women and children trafficked internally and
transnationally for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation,
domestic servitude, and forced labor in agriculture; Swazi girls,
particularly orphans, are trafficked internally for commercial
sexual exploitation and domestic servitude, as well as to South
Africa and Mozambique; Swazi boys are trafficked for forced labor in
commercial agriculture and market vending; some Swazi women are
forced into prostitution in South Africa and Mozambique after
voluntarily migrating to these countries in search of work
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the government of Swaziland does
not comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of
trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the
government believes that trafficking probably does occur, but does
not know the extent of the problem; the government does not judge
trafficking to be an "important" problem and chooses to direct its
limited resources towards other issues, a judgment which
significantly limited the government's current efforts to eliminate
human trafficking, or to plan anti-trafficking activities or
initiatives for the future (2010)
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Sweden (Europe)
Introduction ::Sweden
Background:
A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not
participated in any war for almost two centuries. An armed
neutrality was preserved in both World Wars. Sweden's
long-successful economic formula of a capitalist system interlarded
with substantial welfare elements was challenged in the 1990s by
high unemployment and in 2000-02 and 2009 by the global economic
downturns, but fiscal discipline over the past several years has
allowed the country to weather economic vagaries. Sweden joined the
EU in 1995, but the public rejected the introduction of the euro in
a 2003 referendum.
Geography ::Sweden
Location:
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia,
Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Geographic coordinates:
62 00 N, 15 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 450,295 sq km
country comparison to the world: 55
land: 410,335 sq km
water: 39,960 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 2,233 km
border countries: Finland 614 km, Norway 1,619 km
Coastline:
3,218 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of
straits to high seas)
exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy
summers; subarctic in north
Terrain:
mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad
-2.4 m
highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m
Natural resources:
iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium,
arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 5.93%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 94.06% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,150 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
179 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.68 cu km/yr (37%/54%/9%)
per capita: 296 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of
Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
Environment - current issues:
acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and
the Baltic Sea
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, 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, 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:
strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas
People ::Sweden
Population:
9,074,055 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.7% (male 733,597/female 692,194)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 3,003,358/female 2,927,038)
65 years and over: 18.8% (male 753,293/female 950,171) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 41.7 years
male: 40.6 years
female: 42.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.16% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Birth rate:
10.14 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Death rate:
10.2 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Net migration rate:
1.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Urbanization:
urban population: 85% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.061 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 2.74 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 220
male: 2.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.97 years
country comparison to the world: 14
male: 78.69 years
female: 83.4 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.67 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Nationality:
noun: Swede(s)
adjective: Swedish
Ethnic groups:
indigenous population: Swedes with Finnish and Sami minorities;
foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs,
Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks
Religions:
Lutheran 87%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist,
Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 13%
Languages:
Swedish (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
6.7% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 28
Government ::Sweden
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
conventional short form: Sweden
local long form: Konungariket Sverige
local short form: Sverige
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Stockholm
geographic coordinates: 59 20 N, 18 03 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:
21 counties (lan, singular and plural); Blekinge, Dalarna,
Gavleborg, Gotland, Halland, Jamtland, Jonkoping, Kalmar, Kronoberg,
Norrbotten, Orebro, Ostergotland, Skane, Sodermanland, Stockholm,
Uppsala, Varmland, Vasterbotten, Vasternorrland, Vastmanland, Vastra
Gotaland
Independence:
6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)
National holiday:
Swedish Flag Day, 6 June (1916); National Day, 6 June (1983)
Constitution:
1 January 1975
Legal system:
civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Heir
Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the
monarch (born 14 July 1977)
head of government: Prime Minister Fredrik REINFELDT (since 5
October 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Jan BJORKLUND (since 5 October
2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; members are elected by
popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held on 19 September 2010 (next to be held in
September 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 30.7%,
Moderates 30.1%, Greens 7.3%, Liberal People's Party 7.1%, Center
Party 6.6%, Sweden Democrats 5.7%, Christian Democrats 5.6%, Left
Party 5.6%; seats by party - Social Democrats 112, Moderates 107,
Greens 25, Liberal People's Party 24, Center Party 23, Sweden
Democrats 20, Christian Democrats 19, Left Party 19
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen (judges are appointed by the prime
minister and the cabinet)
Political parties and leaders:
Center Party [Maud OLOFSSON]; Christian Democratic Party [Goran
HAGGLUND]; Environment Party the Greens [no formal leader but party
spokespersons are Maria WETTERSTRAND and Peter ERIKSSON]; Left Party
or V (formerly Communist) [Lars OHLY]; Liberal People's Party [Jan
BJORKLUND]; Moderate Party [Fredrik REINFELDT]; Social Democratic
Party [Mona SAHLIN]; Sweden Democrats [Jimmie AKESSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Children's Rights in Society; Swedish Confederation of Professional
Employees or TCO; Swedish Federation of Trade Unions or LO
other: media
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council,
Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO,
FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen
Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNRWA,
UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jonas HAFSTROM
chancery: The House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600
FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Matthew W. BARZUN
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-11589 Stockholm
mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, US Department of State,
5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750
telephone: [46] (08) 783 53 00
FAX: [46] (08) 661 19 64
Flag description:
blue with a golden yellow cross extending to the edges of the flag;
the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the
style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the colors reflect those of
the Swedish coat of arms - three gold crowns on a blue field
National anthem:
name: "Du Gamla, Du Fria" (Thou Ancient, Thou Free)
lyrics/music: Richard DYBECK/traditional
note: in use since 1844; the anthem, also known as "Sang till
Norden" (Song of the North), is based on a Swedish folk tune; it has
never been officially adopted by the government; "Kungssangen" (The
King's Song) serves as the royal anthem and is played in the
presence of the royal family and during certain state ceremonies
Economy ::Sweden
Economy - overview:
Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole of the 20th century,
Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed
system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It
has a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external
communications, and a skilled labor force. In September 2003,
Swedish voters turned down entry into the euro system concerned
about the impact on the economy and sovereignty. Timber, hydropower,
and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily
oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for
about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering sector
accounts for 50% of output and exports. Agriculture accounts for
little more than 1% of GDP and of employment. Until 2008, Sweden was
in the midst of a sustained economic upswing, boosted by increased
domestic demand and strong exports. This and robust finances offered
the center-right government considerable scope to implement its
reform program aimed at increasing employment, reducing welfare
dependence, and streamlining the state's role in the economy.
Despite strong finances and underlying fundamentals, the Swedish
economy slid into recession in the third quarter of 2008 and growth
continued downward in 2009 as deteriorating global conditions
reduced export demand and consumption. Strong exports of commodities
and a return to profitability by Sweden's banking sector drove the
strong rebound in 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$354 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$340.1 billion (2009 est.)
$358.4 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$444.6 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
-5.1% (2009 est.)
-0.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$39,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$37,500 (2009 est.)
$39,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.7%
industry: 26.1%
services: 72.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
4.93 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1.1%
industry: 28.2%
services: 70.7% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
8.3% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 22.2% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
23 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 134
25 (1992)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Public debt:
40.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
41.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
-0.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
2% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 111
3.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$225 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 17
$205.2 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$293.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$260.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$640.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$583.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$432.3 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 22
$252.5 billion (31 December 2008)
$612.5 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk
Industries:
iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone
parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods,
motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate:
8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Electricity - production:
144 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Electricity - consumption:
134.5 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Electricity - exports:
14.71 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
12.75 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
4,833 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Oil - consumption:
328,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Oil - exports:
248,500 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Oil - imports:
589,900 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - consumption:
1.229 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Natural gas - imports:
1.229 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Current account balance:
$21.68 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
$30.23 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$162.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$133.3 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron
and steel products, chemicals
Exports - partners:
Norway 10.61%, Germany 10.2%, UK 7.45%, Denmark 7.35%, Finland
6.44%, US 6.36%, France 5.05%, Netherlands 4.67% (2009)
Imports:
$158.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
$120.5 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor
vehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners:
Germany 17.9%, Denmark 8.9%, Norway 8.7%, Netherlands 6.17%, UK
5.56%, Finland 5.14%, France 5.06%, China 4.79% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$47.29 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$853.3 billion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 16
$617.3 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$321.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
$304.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$383.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
$367.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar - 7.5077 (2010), 7.6529 (2009),
6.4074 (2008), 6.7629 (2007), 7.3731 (2006)
Communications ::Sweden
Telephones - main lines in use:
5.146 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 31
Telephones - mobile cellular:
11.426 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 60
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed telecommunications
infrastructure; ranked among leading countries for fixed-line,
mobile-cellular, Internet and broadband penetration
domestic: coaxial and multiconductor cables carry most of the voice
traffic; parallel microwave radio relay systems carry some
additional telephone channels
international: country code - 46; submarine cables provide links to
other Nordic countries and Europe; satellite earth stations - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and
Indian Ocean regions); note - Sweden shares the Inmarsat earth
station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland,
and Norway)
Broadcast media:
publicly-owned television broadcaster operates 2 terrestrial
networks plus regional stations; multiple privately-owned television
broadcasters operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 50
local TV stations; widespread access to pan-Nordic and international
broadcasters through multi-channel cable and satellite TV systems;
publicly-owned radio broadcaster operates 3 national stations and a
network of 25 regional channels; nearly a hundred privately-owned
local radio stations with some consolidating into near national
networks; an estimated 900 community and neighborhood radio stations
broadcast intermittently (2008)
Internet country code:
.se
Internet hosts:
4.396 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 20
Internet users:
8.398 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 33
Transportation ::Sweden
Airports:
249 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 26
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 152
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 76
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 36 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 97
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 92 (2010)
Heliports:
2 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 786 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 11,633 km
country comparison to the world: 20
standard gauge: 11,568 km 1.435-m gauge (7,531 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 65 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 572,900 km (includes 1,855 km of expressways)
country comparison to the world: 12
note: (includes 98,400 km of state roads, 433,500 km of private
roads, and 41,000 km of muncipal roads; 215,700 km of these are open
to public traffic) (2009)
Waterways:
2,052 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 43
Merchant marine:
total: 163
country comparison to the world: 39
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 20, carrier 1, chemical tanker 31,
passenger 5, passenger/cargo 37, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll
off 32, vehicle carrier 21
foreign-owned: 46 (Denmark 15, Estonia 3, Finland 16, Germany 3,
Ireland 1, Italy 5, Norway 3)
registered in other countries: 194 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Bahamas
6, Barbados 6, Bermuda 17, Cook Islands 3, Cyprus 5, Denmark 16,
Faroe Islands 5, France 6, Germany 1, Gibraltar 12, Isle of Man 1,
Italy 1, Liberia 10, Malta 3, Netherlands 18, former Netherlands
Antilles 1, Norway 33, Panama 1, Portugal 6, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 2, Singapore 9, UK 25, US 5, unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Brofjorden, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo,
Stockholm, Trelleborg, Visby
Military ::Sweden
Military branches:
Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten): Army (Armen), Royal Swedish
Navy (Marinen), Swedish Air Force (Svenska Flygvapnet) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-47 years of age for male and female voluntary military service;
service obligation: 7.5 months (Army), 7-15 months (Navy), 8-12
months (Air Force); the Swedish Parliament has abolished compulsory
military service, with exclusively voluntary recruitment as of July
2010; conscription remains an option in emergencies; after
completing initial service, soldiers have a reserve commitment until
age 47 (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,065,782
females age 16-49: 1,995,451 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,709,592
females age 16-49: 1,649,875 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 58,937
female: 56,225 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Transnational Issues ::Sweden
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Switzerland (Europe)
Introduction ::Switzerland
Background:
The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance
among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined
the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence
from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848,
subsequently modified in 1874, replaced the confederation with a
centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty and
neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and
the country was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The
political and economic integration of Europe over the past half
century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international
organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its
neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN
member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and
international organizations but retains a strong commitment to
neutrality.
Geography ::Switzerland
Location:
Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Geographic coordinates:
47 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 41,277 sq km
country comparison to the world: 135
land: 39,997 sq km
water: 1,280 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 1,852 km
border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km,
Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy
winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Terrain:
mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central
plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m
highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
Natural resources:
hydropower potential, timber, salt
Land use:
arable land: 9.91%
permanent crops: 0.58%
other: 89.51% (2005)
Irrigated land:
250 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
53.3 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.52 cu km/yr (24%/74%/2%)
per capita: 348 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
avalanches, landslides; flash floods
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid
rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural
fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with
southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has
the highest elevations in the Alps
People ::Switzerland
Population:
7,623,438 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.6% (male 616,561/female 571,610)
15-64 years: 68.1% (male 2,609,673/female 2,567,245)
65 years and over: 16.3% (male 514,761/female 724,617) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 41.3 years
male: 40.3 years
female: 42.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.223% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Birth rate:
9.56 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Death rate:
8.65 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Net migration rate:
1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Urbanization:
urban population: 73% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.054 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.12 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 203
male: 4.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.97 years
country comparison to the world: 15
male: 78.14 years
female: 83.95 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.46 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
25,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Nationality:
noun: Swiss (singular and plural)
adjective: Swiss
Ethnic groups:
German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Muslim 4.3%, Orthodox 1.8%,
other Christian 0.4%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%, none 11.1% (2000
census)
Languages:
German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 20.4%, Italian (official)
6.5%, Serbo-Croatian 1.5%, Albanian 1.3%, Portuguese 1.2%, Spanish
1.1%, English 1%, Romansch (official) 0.5%, other 2.8% (2000 census)
note: German, French, Italian, and Romansch are all national and
official languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 15 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.3% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 53
Government ::Switzerland
Country name:
conventional long form: Swiss Confederation
conventional short form: Switzerland
local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German);
Confederation Suisse (French); Confederazione Svizzera (Italian);
Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh)
local short form: Schweiz (German); Suisse (French); Svizzera
(Italian); Svizra (Romansh)
Government type:
formally a confederation but similar in structure to a federal
republic
Capital:
name: Bern
geographic coordinates: 46 57 N, 7 26 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:
26 cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone
in Italian; Kantone, singular - Kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell
Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft,
Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Jura,
Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen,
Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
note: 6 of the cantons - Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden,
Appenzell-Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Nidwalden,
Obwalden - are styled half cantons because they elect only one
member to the Council of States and, in popular referendums where a
majority of popular votes and a majority of cantonal votes are
required, these six cantons only have a half vote
Independence:
1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)
National holiday:
Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Constitution:
revision of Constitution of 1874 approved by the Federal Parliament
18 December 1998, adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, officially
entered into force 1 January 2000
Legal system:
civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of
legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general
obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of the Swiss Confederation Micheline
CALMY-REY (since 1 January 2011); Vice President Eveline
WIDMER-SCHLUMPF (since 1 January 2011); note - the president is both
the chief of state and head of government representing the Federal
Council; the Federal Council is the formal chief of state and head
of government whose council members, rotating in one-year terms as
federal president, represent the Council
head of government: President of the Swiss Confederation Micheline
CALMY-REY (since 1 January 2011); Vice President Eveline
WIDMER-SCHLUMPF (since 1 January 2011)
cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal
(in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) is elected by the
Federal Assembly usually from among its members for a four-year term
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal
Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for a
one-year term (they may not serve consecutive terms); election last
held on 8 December 2010 (next to be held in early December 2011)
election results: Micheline CALMY-REY elected president; number of
Federal Assembly votes - 106 of 189; Eveline WIDMER-SCHLUMPF elected
vice president; current Vice President Eveline WIDMER-SCHLUMPF is
slated to become president on 1 January 2012
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German),
Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian)
consists of the Council of States or Standerat (in German), Conseil
des Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats;
membership consists of 2 representatives from each canton and 1 from
each half canton; members serve four-year terms) and the National
Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French),
Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats; members elected by
popular vote on the basis of proportional representation serve
four-year terms)
elections: Council of States - last held in most cantons in October
2007 (each canton determines when the next election will be held);
National Council - last held on 21 October 2007 (next to be held in
October 2011)
election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - CVP 15, FDP 12, SVP 7, SPS 9, other 3; National
Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 29%, SPS 19.5%, FDP 15.6%,
CVP 14.6%, Greens 9.6%, other 11.7%; seats by party - SVP 62, SPS
43, FDP 31, CVP 31, Green Party 20, other small parties 13
Judicial branch:
Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by the
Federal Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Green Party (Gruene Partei der Schweiz or Gruene, Parti Ecologiste
Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida
Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) [Ueli LEUENBERGER]; Christian
Democratic People's Party (Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei der
Schweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, Partito
Democratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, Partida
Cristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Christophe DARBELLAY];
Free Democratic Party or FDP.The Liberals (FDP.Die Liberalen,
PLR.Les Liberaux-Radicaux, PLR.I Liberali) [Fulvio PELLI]; Social
Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS,
Parti Socialist Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS,
Partida Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Christian LEVRAT];
Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union
Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or UDC,
Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Toni BRUNNER]; and other minor
parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia
Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, ESA, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA
(observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF,
OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Manuel SAGER
chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900
FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco
consulate(s): Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald S. BEYER, Jr.
embassy: Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 Bern
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11
FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44
Flag description:
red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that
does not extend to the edges of the flag; various medieval legends
purport to describe the origin of the flag; a white cross used as
identification for troops of the Swiss Confederation is first
attested at the Battle of Laupen (1339)
National anthem:
name: "Schweizerpsalm" [German] "Cantique Suisse" [French] "Salmo
svizzero," [Italian] "Psalm svizzer" [Romansch] (Swiss Psalm)
lyrics/music: Leonhard WIDMER [German], Charles CHATELANAT [French],
Camillo VALSANGIACOMO [Italian], and Flurin CAMATHIAS
[Romansch]/Alberik ZWYSSIG
note: unofficially adopted 1961, official adoption 1981; the anthem
has been popular in a number of Swiss cantons since its composition
(in German) in 1841; translated into the other three official
languages of the country (French, Italian, and Romansch), it is
official in each of those languages
Economy ::Switzerland
Economy - overview:
Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and modern market economy
with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per
capita GDP among the highest in the world. Switzerland's economy
benefits from a highly developed service sector, led by financial
services, and a manufacturing industry that specializes in
high-technology, knowledge-based production. The Swiss have brought
their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's, in
order to enhance their international competitiveness, but some trade
protectionism remains, particularly for its small agricultural
sector. The global financial crisis and resulting economic downturn
put Switzerland in a recession in 2009 as global export demand
stalled. The Swiss National Bank during this period effectively
implemented a zero-interest rate policy in a bid to boost the
economy and prevent appreciation of the franc. Switzerland's economy
grew 2.8% in 2010, when Bern implemented a third fiscal stimulus
program, but its prized banking sector has recently faced
significant challenges. The country's largest banks suffered sizable
losses in 2008-09, leading its largest bank to accept a government
rescue deal in late 2008. Switzerland has also come under increasing
pressure from individual neighboring countries, the EU, the US, and
international institutions to reform its banking secrecy laws.
Consequently, the government agreed to conform to OECD regulations
on administrative assistance in tax matters, including tax evasion.
The government has renegotiated its double taxation agreements with
numerous countries, including the US, to incorporate the OECD
standard, and it is working with Germany and the UK to resolve
outsanding issues, particularly the possibility of imposing taxes on
bank deposits held by foreigners. Parliament passed the first five
double-taxation agreements, including that with the US, in March
2010, but the agreements are subject to public referendum. In 2009,
Swiss financial regulators ordered the country's largest bank to
reveal at Washington's behest the names of US account-holders
suspected of using the bank to commit tax fraud. These steps will
have a lasting impact on Switzerland's long history of bank secrecy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$326.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$318 billion (2009 est.)
$324.1 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$522.4 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
-1.9% (2009 est.)
1.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$42,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$41,800 (2009 est.)
$42,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.3%
industry: 27.5%
services: 71.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
4.13 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 23.9%
services: 72.3% (2009)
Unemployment rate:
3.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
3.7% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
7.4% (2009)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 7.5%
highest 10%: 19% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.7 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 93
33.1 (1992)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Public debt:
39.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
40.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
-0.5% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
0.05% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 140
0.05% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
2.75% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
3.34% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$384.2 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 11
$334.9 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$834.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$764.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$992.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
$923.1 billion (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.071 trillion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 12
$862.7 billion (31 December 2008)
$1.275 trillion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Industries:
machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments,
tourism, banking, and insurance
Industrial production growth rate:
2.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Electricity - production:
59.1 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Electricity - consumption:
62 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Electricity - exports:
49.9 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
46.6 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
3,488 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Oil - consumption:
280,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Oil - exports:
12,230 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Oil - imports:
269,400 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Natural gas - consumption:
3.282 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Natural gas - imports:
3.282 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Natural gas - proved reserves:
NA cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
Current account balance:
$49.35 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$54.01 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$235.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$208.5 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Exports - partners:
Germany 20.98%, US 9.09%, France 8.62%, Italy 8.08%, Austria 5.38%
(2009)
Imports:
$220.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$192.8 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products,
textiles
Imports - partners:
Germany 27.19%, Italy 10.42%, US 9.61%, France 7.69%, Netherlands
4.35% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$135.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.19 trillion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 13
$1.305 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$514 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$496.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$814.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$806.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.0723 (2010), 1.0881 (2009),
1.0774 (2008), 1.1973 (2007), 1.2539 (2006)
Communications ::Switzerland
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.65 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 32
Telephones - mobile cellular:
9.255 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 69
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed telecommunications
infrastructure with excellent domestic and international services
domestic: ranked among leading countries for fixed-line teledensity
and infrastructure; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 120 per
100 persons; extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks
international: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)
Broadcast media:
the publicly-owned radio and television broadcaster, Swiss
Broadcasting Corporation (SRG/SSR), operates 7 national television
networks, 3 broadcasting in German, 2 in Italian, and 2 in French;
private commercial television stations broadcast regionally and
locally; television broadcasts from stations in Germany, Italy, and
France are widely accessed using multi-channel cable and satellite
TV services; SRG/SSR operates 18 radio stations that, along with
private broadcasters, provide national to local coverage (2008)
Internet country code:
.ch
Internet hosts:
4.816 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 17
Internet users:
6.152 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 42
Transportation ::Switzerland
Airports:
65 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 76
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 42
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 17 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 23
under 914 m: 23 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 1,662 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 4,888 km
country comparison to the world: 36
standard gauge: 3,397 km 1.435-m gauge (3,142 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,481 km 1.000-m gauge (1,378 km electrified); 10 km
0.800-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 71,384 km
country comparison to the world: 66
paved: 71,384 km (includes 1,793 of expressways) (2009)
Waterways:
65 km; (Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and
Schaffhausen-Bodensee) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 103
Merchant marine:
total: 35
country comparison to the world: 81
by type: bulk carrier 15, cargo 9, chemical tanker 6, container 4,
petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries: 109 (Antigua and Barbuda 7, Bahamas
2, Cayman Islands 1, France 5, Germany 1, Italy 6, Liberia 17,
Luxembourg 1, Malta 14, Marshall Islands 12, NZ 2, Panama 22,
Portugal 3, Russia 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Singapore
4, Spain 1, Tonga 1, Tuvalu 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Basel
Military ::Switzerland
Military branches:
Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer
Luftwaffe) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
19-26 years of age for male compulsory military service; 18 years of
age for voluntary male and female military service; every Swiss male
has to serve at least 260 days in the armed forces; conscripts
receive 18 weeks of mandatory training, followed by seven 3-week
intermittent recalls for training during the next 10 years (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,839,382
females age 16-49: 1,797,317 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,502,736
females age 16-49: 1,468,785 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 47,043
female: 43,033 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Transnational Issues ::Switzerland
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
a major international financial center vulnerable to the layering
and integration stages of money laundering; despite significant
legislation and reporting requirements, secrecy rules persist and
nonresidents are permitted to conduct business through offshore
entities and various intermediaries; transit country for and
consumer of South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and
Western European synthetics; domestic cannabis cultivation and
limited ecstasy production
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Syria (Middle East)
Introduction ::Syria
Background:
Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern
portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French
administered the area as Syria until granting it independence in
1946. The new country lacked political stability, however, and
experienced a series of military coups during its first decades.
Syria united with Egypt in February 1958 to form the United Arab
Republic. In September 1961, the two entities separated, and the
Syrian Arab Republic was reestablished. In November 1970, Hafiz
al-ASAD, a member of the Socialist Ba'th Party and the minority
Alawite sect, seized power in a bloodless coup and brought political
stability to the country. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost
the Golan Heights to Israel. During the 1990s, Syria and Israel held
occasional peace talks over its return. Following the death of
President al-ASAD, his son, Bashar al-ASAD, was approved as
president by popular referendum in July 2000. Syrian troops -
stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role -
were withdrawn in April 2005. During the July-August 2006 conflict
between Israel and Hizballah, Syria placed its military forces on
alert but did not intervene directly on behalf of its ally
Hizballah. In May 2007 Bashar al-ASAD was elected to his second term
as president.
Geography ::Syria
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and
Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
35 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 185,180 sq km
country comparison to the world: 88
land: 183,630 sq km
water: 1,550 sq km
note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than North Dakota
Land boundaries:
total: 2,253 km
border countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon
375 km, Turkey 822 km
Coastline:
193 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
Climate:
mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild,
rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with
snow or sleet periodically in Damascus
Terrain:
primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain;
mountains in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m
highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore,
rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 24.8%
permanent crops: 4.47%
other: 70.73% (2005)
Irrigated land:
13,330 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
46.1 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 19.95 cu km/yr (3%/2%/95%)
per capita: 1,048 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
dust storms, sandstorms
volcanism: Syria's two historically active volcanoes, Es Safa and an
unnamed volcano near the Turkish border have not erupted in centuries
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water
pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate
potable water
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
there are 41 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (2010 est.)
People ::Syria
Population:
22,198,110 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
note: approximately 19,100 Israeli settlers live in the Golan
Heights (2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.4% (male 4,063,367/female 3,864,099)
15-64 years: 59.9% (male 6,628,644/female 6,406,864)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 372,172/female 427,832) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.5 years
male: 21.3 years
female: 21.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.954% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Birth rate:
24.44 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Death rate:
3.7 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Net migration rate:
-1.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 162
Urbanization:
urban population: 54% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.14 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 117
male: 18.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.46 years
country comparison to the world: 95
male: 72.1 years
female: 76.96 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.02 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Nationality:
noun: Syrian(s)
adjective: Syrian
Ethnic groups:
Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 74%, other Muslim (includes Alawite, Druze) 16%,
Christian (various denominations) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in
Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Languages:
Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widely
understood; French, English somewhat understood
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.6%
male: 86%
female: 73.6% (2004 census)
Education expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 77
Government ::Syria
Country name:
conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic
conventional short form: Syria
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
local short form: Suriyah
former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
Government type:
republic under an authoritarian regime
Capital:
name: Damascus
geographic coordinates: 33 30 N, 36 18 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Friday in April; ends last
Friday in October
Administrative divisions:
14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al
Ladhiqiyah (Latakia), Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a,
Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq
(Damascus), Tartus
Independence:
17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French
administration)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 17 April (1946)
Constitution:
13 March 1973
Legal system:
based on a combination of French and Ottoman civil law; Islamic law
is used in the family court system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000); Vice
President Farouk al-SHARA (since 11 February 2006) oversees foreign
policy; Vice President Najah al-ATTAR (since 23 March 2006) oversees
cultural policy
head of government: Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-UTRI (since 10
September 2003); Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdallah
al-DARDARI (since 14 June 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president approved by popular referendum for a second
seven-year term (no term limits); referendum last held on 27 May
2007 (next to be held in May 2014); the president appoints the vice
presidents, prime minister, and deputy prime ministers
election results: Bashar al-ASAD approved as president; percent of
vote - Bashar al-ASAD 97.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-Shaab (250 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 22-23 April 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NPF 172, independents 78
Judicial branch:
Supreme Judicial Council (appoints and dismisses judges; headed by
the president); national level - Supreme Constitutional Court
(adjudicates electoral disputes and rules on constitutionality of
laws and decrees; justices appointed for four-year terms by the
president); Court of Cassation; Appeals Courts (Appeals Courts
represent an intermediate level between the Court of Cassation and
local level courts); local level - Magistrate Courts; Courts of
First Instance; Juvenile Courts; Customs Courts; specialized courts
- Economic Security Courts (hear cases related to economic crimes);
Supreme State Security Court (hear cases related to national
security); Personal Status Courts (religious; hear cases related to
marriage and divorce)
Political parties and leaders:
legal parties: National Progressive Front or NPF [President Bashar
al-ASAD, Dr. Suleiman QADDAH] (includes Arab Socialist Renaissance
(Ba'th) Party [President Bashar al-ASAD]; Socialist Unionist
Democratic Party [Fadlallah Nasr Al-DIN]; Syrian Arab Socialist
Union or ASU [Safwan al-QUDSI]; Syrian Communist Party (two
branches) [Wissal Farha BAKDASH, Yusuf Rashid FAYSAL]; Syrian Social
Nationalist Party [As'ad HARDAN]; Unionist Socialist Party [Fayez
ISMAIL])
opposition parties not legally recognized: Communist Action Party
[Fateh al-JAMOUS]; National Democratic Rally [Hasan ABDUL-AZIM,
spokesman] (includes five parties - Arab Democratic Socialist Union
Party [Hasan ABDUL-AZIM], Arab Socialist Movement, Democratic Ba'th
Party [Ibrahim MAKHOS], Democratic People's Party [Riad al TURK],
Revolutionary Workers' Party [Abdul Hafez al HAFEZ])
Kurdish parties (considered illegal): Azadi Party [Kheirudin MURAD];
Future Party [Masha'l TAMMO]; Kurdish Democratic Alliance (includes
four parties); Kurdish Democratic Front (includes three parties);
Yekiti Party [Fu'ad ALEYKO]
other parties: Syrian Democratic Party [Mustafa QALAAJI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Arab Human Rights Organization in Syria or AHRO; Damascus
Declaration Group (a broad alliance of secular, religious, and
Kurdish opposition groups); National Salvation Front (alliance
between former Vice President Abd al-Halim KHADDAM and other small
opposition groups in exile; formerly included the Syrian Muslim
Brotherhood); Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression
[Mazin DARWISH]; Syrian Human Rights Organization [Muhanad
al-HASANI]; Syrian Human Rights Society or HRAS [Fayez FAWAZ];
Syrian Muslim Brotherhood or SMB [Muhammad Riyad al-SHAQFAH]
(operates in exile in London)
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Imad MOUSTAPHA
chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313
FAX: [1] (202) 265-4585
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Charles
(Chuck) F. HUNTER
embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansour Street, No. 2, Damascus
mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus
telephone: [963] (11) 3391-4444
FAX: [963] (11) 3391-3999
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; two
small, green, five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in
the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag
and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle
(red), to be replaced by a bright future (white); identical to the
former flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1961) where the two
stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; the
current design dates to 1980
note: similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band,
Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band,
and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the
white band
National anthem:
name: "Humat ad-Diyar" (Guardians of the Homeland)
lyrics/music: Khalil Mardam BEY/Mohammad Salim FLAYFEL and Ahmad
Salim FLAYFEL
note: adopted 1936, restored 1961; between 1958 and 1961, while
Syria was a member of the United Arab Republic with Egypt, the
country had a different anthem
Economy ::Syria
Economy - overview:
Syrian economic growth slowed to 1.8% in 2009 as the global economic
crisis affected oil prices and the economies of Syria's key export
partners and sources of investment. Damascus has implemented modest
economic reforms in the past few years, including cutting lending
interest rates, opening private banks, consolidating all of the
multiple exchange rates, raising prices on some subsidized items,
most notably gasoline and cement, and establishing the Damascus
Stock Exchange - which began operations in 2009. In addition,
President ASAD signed legislative decrees to encourage corporate
ownership reform, and to allow the Central Bank to issue Treasury
bills and bonds for government debt. Nevertheless, the economy
remains highly controlled by the government. Long-run economic
constraints include declining oil production, high unemployment,
rising budget deficits, and increasing pressure on water supplies
caused by heavy use in agriculture, rapid population growth,
industrial expansion, and water pollution.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$106.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$102.4 billion (2009 est.)
$97.48 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$59.63 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
5% (2009 est.)
4.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
$4,700 (2009 est.)
$4,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17.6%
industry: 26.8%
services: 55.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
5.527 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 16%
services: 67% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
8.5% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
11.9% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
16.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Public debt:
29.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
28.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
2.6% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 88
5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.04% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
10.19% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$21.6 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 62
$19.53 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$161 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 43
$147.5 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$27.14 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$23.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets;
beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk
Industries:
petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate
rock mining, cement, oil seeds crushing, car assembly
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Electricity - production:
36.5 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Electricity - consumption:
27.35 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
1.4 billion kWh (2007)
Oil - production:
400,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Oil - consumption:
252,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Oil - exports:
155,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Oil - imports:
58,710 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Oil - proved reserves:
2.5 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Natural gas - production:
6.04 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Natural gas - consumption:
6.18 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Natural gas - imports:
140 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Natural gas - proved reserves:
240.7 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Current account balance:
$649 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$394 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$12.84 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$11.76 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, minerals, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables,
cotton fiber, textiles, clothing, meat and live animals, wheat
Exports - partners:
Iraq 30.22%, Lebanon 12.21%, Germany 8.89%, Egypt 6.8%, Saudi Arabia
5.04%, Italy 4.55% (2009)
Imports:
$13.57 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$12.62 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, electric power machinery, food
and livestock, metal and metal products, chemicals and chemical
products, plastics, yarn, paper
Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 10.1%, China 9.95%, Turkey 6.97%, Egypt 6.44%, UAE
4.97%, Italy 4.93%, Russia 4.92%, Germany 4.38%, Lebanon 4.12% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$17.96 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$17.44 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$7.682 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
$7.359 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Syrian pounds (SYP) per US dollar - 46.456 (2010), 46.7082 (2009),
46.5281 (2008), 50.0085 (2007), 51.689 (2006)
Communications ::Syria
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.871 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 41
Telephones - mobile cellular:
9.697 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 66
Telephone system:
general assessment: fair system currently undergoing significant
improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology
and expansion of the network to rural areas
domestic: the number of fixed-line connections has increased
markedly since 2000; mobile-cellular service growing with telephone
subscribership reaching nearly 50 per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 963; submarine cable connection to
Egypt, Lebanon, and Cyprus; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat
(Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); coaxial
cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and
Turkey; participant in Medarabtel
Broadcast media:
state-run television and radio broadcast networks; state operates 2
TV networks and a satellite channel; roughly two-thirds of Syrian
homes have a satellite dish providing access to foreign TV
broadcasts; 3 state-run radio channels; first private radio station
launched in 2005; private radio broadcasters prohibited from
transmitting news or political content (2007)
Internet country code:
.sy
Internet hosts:
8,114 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 133
Internet users:
4.469 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 52
Transportation ::Syria
Airports:
104 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 57
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 29
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 75
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 59 (2010)
Heliports:
7 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 3,101 km; oil 1,997 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,052 km
country comparison to the world: 72
standard gauge: 1,801 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 251 km 1.050-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 97,401 km
country comparison to the world: 45
paved: 19,490 km (includes 1,103 km of expressways)
unpaved: 77,911 km (2006)
Waterways:
900 km (navigable not economically significant) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 69
Merchant marine:
total: 41
country comparison to the world: 77
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 30, carrier 3, container 1
foreign-owned: 5 (Jordan 2, Lebanon 2, Romania 1)
registered in other countries: 199 (Barbados 1, Belize 2, Bolivia 4,
Cambodia 22, Comoros 6, Cyprus 1, Dominica 2, Georgia 35, Lebanon 3,
Liberia 1, Libya 2, Malta 5, Moldova 3, North Korea 6, Panama 42,
Saint Kitts and Nevis 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 13, Sierra
Leone 20, Togo 5, unknown 8) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Baniyas, Latakia, Tartus
Military ::Syria
Military branches:
Syrian Armed Forces: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab
Air and Air Defense Forces (includes Air Defense Command) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service
obligation - 21 months (18 months in the Syrian Arab Navy); women
are not conscripted but may volunteer to serve (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,766,853
females age 16-49: 5,540,828 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,948,802
females age 16-49: 4,786,596 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 253,578
female: 241,777 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
5.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Transnational Issues ::Syria
Disputes - international:
Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied with the almost 1,000-strong UN
Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) patrolling a buffer zone since
1964; lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the
boundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with
several sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shab'a
Farms in the Golan Heights; 2004 Agreement and pending demarcation
settles border dispute with Jordan; approximately two million Iraqis
have fled the conflict in Iraq with the majority taking refuge in
Syria and Jordan
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 1-1.4 million (Iraq); 522,100
(Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA))
IDPs: 305,000 (most displaced from Golan Heights during 1967
Arab-Israeli War) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Syria is a destination and transit country for
women and children trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation and
forced labor; a significant number of women and children in the
large and expanding Iraqi refugee community in Syria are reportedly
forced into commercial sexual exploitation by Iraqi gangs or, in
some cases, their families; women from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the
Philippines, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone are recruited for work in
Syria as domestic servants, but some face conditions of involuntary
servitude, including long hours, non-payment of wages, withholding
of passports, restrictions on movement, threats, and physical or
sexual abuse
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Syria again failed to report any
law enforcement efforts to punish trafficking offenses in 2007; in
addition, the government did not offer protection services to
victims of trafficking and may have arrested, prosecuted, or
deported some victims for prostitution or immigration violations;
Syria has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)
Illicit drugs:
a transit point for opiates, hashish, and cocaine bound for regional
and Western markets; weak anti-money-laundering controls and bank
privatization may leave it vulnerable to money laundering
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Taiwan (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Taiwan
Background:
In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan.
Taiwan reverted to Chinese control after World War II. Following the
Communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalists
fled to Taiwan and established a government using the 1947
constitution drawn up for all of China. Over the next five decades,
the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated the
local population within the governing structure. In 2000, Taiwan
underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalist
to the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this period, the
island prospered and became one of East Asia's economic "Tigers."
The dominant political issues continue to be the relationship
between Taiwan and China - specifically the question of Taiwan's
eventual status - as well as domestic political and economic reform.
Geography ::Taiwan
Location:
Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea,
South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, off
the southeastern coast of China
Geographic coordinates:
23 30 N, 121 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 35,980 sq km
country comparison to the world: 138
land: 32,260 sq km
water: 3,720 sq km
note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy islands
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,566.3 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to
August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year
Terrain:
eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling
plains in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Yu Shan 3,952 m
Natural resources:
small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 75% (2001)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
67 cu km (2000)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes; typhoons
volcanism: Kueishantao Island (elev. 401 m, 1,316 ft), east of
Taiwan, is its only historically active volcano, although it has not
erupted in centuries
Environment - current issues:
air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw
sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in
endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's
international status
Geography - note:
strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the Luzon
Strait
People ::Taiwan
Population:
23,024,956 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.7% (male 1,996,905/female 1,844,611)
15-64 years: 72.6% (male 8,416,300/female 8,267,675)
65 years and over: 10.7% (male 1,183,382/female 1,265,474) (2010
est.)
Median age:
total: 37 years
male: 36.4 years
female: 37.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.213% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Birth rate:
8.97 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Death rate:
6.87 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Net migration rate:
0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.086 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.26 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 184
male: 5.53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.15 years
country comparison to the world: 50
male: 75.34 years
female: 81.2 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.15 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Taiwan (singular and plural)
note: example - he or she is from Taiwan; they are from Taiwan
adjective: Taiwan
Ethnic groups:
Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, indigenous 2%
Religions:
mixture of Buddhist and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%
Languages:
Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.1%
male: NA
female: NA (2003)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Taiwan
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Taiwan
local long form: none
local short form: Taiwan
former: Formosa
Government type:
multiparty democracy
Capital:
name: Taipei
geographic coordinates: 25 03 N, 121 30 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
includes main island of Taiwan plus smaller islands nearby and off
coast of China's Fujian Province; Taiwan is divided into 18 counties
(hsien, singular and plural), 5 municipalities (shih, singular and
plural), and 2 special municipalities (chih-hsia-shih, singular and
plural)
note: Taiwan uses a variety of romanization systems; while a
modified Wade-Giles system still dominates, the city of Taipei has
adopted a Pinyin romanization for street and place names within its
boundaries; other local authorities use different romanization
systems; names for administrative divisions that follow are taken
from the Taiwan Yearbook 2007 published by the Government
Information Office in Taipei.
counties: Changhua, Chiayi (county), Hsinchu (county), Hualien,
Kaohsiung (county), Kinmen, Lienchiang, Miaoli, Nantou, Penghu,
Pingtung, Taichung (county), Tainan (county), Taipei (county),
Taitung, Taoyuan, Yilan, and Yunlin
municipalities: Chiayi (city), Hsinchu (city), Keelung, Taichung
(city), Tainan (city)
special municipalities: Kaohsiung (city), Taipei (city)
National holiday:
Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October
(1911)
Constitution:
adopted on 25 December 1946; promulgated on 1 January 1947;
effective 25 December 1947; amended numerous times
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President MA Ying-jeou (since 20 May 2008); Vice
President Vincent SIEW (since 20 May 2008)
head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) WU
Den-yih (since 10 September 2009); Vice Premier (Vice President of
Executive Yuan) Sean CHEN (since 17 May 2010)
cabinet: Executive Yuan - (ministers appointed by president on
recommendation of premier)
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
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 on 22 March 2008 (next to be held in March 2012);
premier appointed by the president; vice premiers appointed by the
president on the recommendation of the premier
election results: MA Ying-jeou elected president; percent of vote -
MA Ying-jeou 58.45%, Frank HSIEH 41.55%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Yuan (113 seats - 73 district members elected
by popular vote, 34 at-large members elected on basis of proportion
of islandwide votes received by participating political parties, 6
elected by popular vote among aboriginal populations; members to
serve four-year terms); parties must receive 5% of vote to qualify
for at-large seats
elections: Legislative Yuan - last held on 12 January 2008 (next to
be held in December 2011 or January 2012)
election results: Legislative Yuan - percent of vote by party - KMT
53.5%, DPP 38.2%, NPSU 2.4%, PFP 0.3%, others 1.6%, independents 4%;
seats by party - KMT 81, DPP 27, NPSU 3, PFP 1, independent 1; note
- following the 2008 elections, several rounds of byelections were
held to fill seats vacated as a result of corruption changes; seats
by party as of December 2010 - KMT 74, DPP 33, NPSU 3, independent
2, vacant 1
Judicial branch:
Judicial Yuan (justices appointed by the president with consent of
the Legislative Yuan)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [TSAI Ing-wen]; Kuomintang or
KMT (Nationalist Party) [MA Ying-jeou]; Non-Partisan Solidarity
Union or NPSU [LIN Pin-kuan]; People First Party or PFP [James SOONG]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
environmental groups; independence movement; various business groups
note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the
mainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; public opinion polls
consistently show a substantial majority of Taiwan people supports
maintaining Taiwan's status quo for the foreseeable future;
advocates of Taiwan independence oppose the stand that the island
will eventually unify with mainland China; advocates of eventual
unification predicate their goal on the democratic transformation of
the mainland
International organization participation:
ADB, APEC, BCIE, ICC, IOC, ITUC, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none; commercial and cultural relations with the people in the
United States are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality,
the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United
States (TECRO), a private nonprofit corporation that performs
citizen and consular services similar to those at diplomatic posts
representative: Jason C. YUAN
office: 4201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] 202 895-1800
Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices (branch offices): Atlanta,
Boston, Chicago, Guam, Houston, Honolulu, Kansas City, Los Angeles,
Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none; commercial and cultural relations with the people on Taiwan
are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality, the American
Institute in Taiwan (AIT), a private nonprofit corporation that
performs citizen and consular services similar to those at
diplomatic posts
director: William A. STANTON
office: #7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, Taipei, Taiwan
telephone: [1] [886] (02) 2162-2000
FAX: [1] [886] (07) 238-7744
other offices: Kaohsiung
Flag description:
red field with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays; the blue and white
design of the canton (symbolizing the sun of progress) dates to
1895; it was later adopted as the flag of the Kuomintang Party; blue
signifies liberty, justice, and democracy; red stands for
fraternity, sacrifice, and nationaliam, white represents equality,
frankness, and the people's livelihood; the 12 rays of the sun are
those of the months and the twelve traditional Chinese hours (each
ray equals two hours)
note: somewhat resembles the flag of Burma
National anthem:
name: "Zhonghua Minguo guoge" (National Anthem of the Republic of
China)
lyrics/music: HU Han-min, TAI Chi-t'ao, and LIAO Chung-k'ai/CHENG
Mao-Yun
note: adopted 1930; the anthem is also the song of the Kuomintang
Party; it is informally known as "San Min Cau I" (Three Principles
of the People); because of political pressure from China, "Guo qi
ee" (National Banner Song) is used at international events rather
than the official anthem of Taiwan; the "National Banner Song" has
gained popularity in Taiwan and is commonly used during flag raisings
Economy ::Taiwan
Economy - overview:
Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasing
government guidance of investment and foreign trade. In keeping with
this trend, some large, state-owned banks and industrial firms have
been privatized. Exports, led by electronics and machinery, generate
about 70% of Taiwan's GDP growth, and have provided the primary
impetus for economic development. This heavy dependence on exports
makes the economy vulnerable to downturns in world demand. In 2009,
Taiwan's GDP fell by 1.9%, due primarily to a 20% year-on-year
decline in exports. GDP grew more than 8% in 2010, as exports
returned to the level of previous years. Taiwan's diplomatic
isolation, low birth rate, and rapidly aging population are major
long-term challenges. Free trade agreements have proliferated in
East Asia over the past several years, but so far Taiwan has been
excluded from this greater economic integration, largely for reasons
of diplomacy. Taiwan's birth rate of only 1.2 child per woman is
among the lowest in the world, raising the prospect of future labor
shortages, falling domestic demand, and declining tax revenues.
Taiwan's population is aging quickly, with the number of people over
65 accounting for 10.8% of the island's total population as of the
end of 2009. The island runs a large trade surplus, and its foreign
reserves are the world's fourth largest, behind China, Japan, and
Russia. Since President MA Ying-jeou took office in May 2008,
cross-Strait economic ties have increased significantly. Since 2005
China has overtaken the US to become Taiwan's second-largest source
of imports after Japan. China is also the island's number one
destination for foreign direct investment. Taipei has focused much
of its economic recovery effort on improving cross-Strait economic
integration. Three financial memorandums of understanding, covering
banking, securities, and insurance, took effect in mid-January 2010,
opening the island to greater investments from the Mainland's
financial firms and institutional investors, and providing new
opportunities for Taiwan financial firms to operate in China. Taiwan
and the mainland in June 2010 signed the landmark Economic
Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), an agreement similar to a
free-trade agreement deal that will increase cross-Strait economic
ties by lowering tariffs on a number of goods. Taiwan's goverment
has said that the ECFA will serve as a stepping stone toward trade
pacts with other regional partners and announced the beginning of
negotiations on such an agreement with Singapore in August.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$807.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$745.4 billion (2009 est.)
$759.8 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$427 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
8.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
-1.9% (2009 est.)
0.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$35,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$32,400 (2009 est.)
$33,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 31.1%
services: 67.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
11.03 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 5.1%
industry: 36.8%
services: 58% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
5.9% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
1.08% (2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: 41.1% (2002)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Public debt:
31.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
33% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
3.5% (2008)
Central bank discount rate:
1.25% (February 2009)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
2.56% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 153
4.06% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$331.7 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 14
$317.9 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$952.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
$891.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$661.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$630.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$657.3 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 20
$354.7 billion (31 December 2008)
$654 billion (28 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
rice, corn, vegetables, fruit, tea; pigs, poultry, beef, milk; fish
Industries:
electronics, communications and information technology products,
petroleum refining, armaments, chemicals, textiles, iron and steel,
machinery, cement, food processing, vehicles, consumer products,
pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:
16% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Electricity - production:
238.3 billion kWh (2008)
country comparison to the world: 18
Electricity - consumption:
229.8 billion kWh (2008)
country comparison to the world: 15
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
276,800 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Oil - consumption:
910,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Oil - exports:
359,800 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Oil - imports:
931,300 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Oil - proved reserves:
2.8 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Natural gas - production:
360 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Natural gas - consumption:
12.44 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Natural gas - imports:
12.08 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Natural gas - proved reserves:
6.229 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Current account balance:
$39 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$42.92 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$277.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
$203.4 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
electronics, flat panels, machinery; metals; textiles, plastics,
chemicals; optical, photographic, measuring, and medical instruments
Exports - partners:
China 26.6%, Hong Kong 14.4%, US 11.6%, Japan 7.2%, Singapore 4.2%
(2009)
Imports:
$250.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
$172.8 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
electronics, machinery, crude petroleum, precision instruments,
organic chemicals, metals
Imports - partners:
Japan 20.7%, China 14%, US 10.3%, South Korea 6%, Saudi Arabia 4.8%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$382.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
$353 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$91.41 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$75.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$65.38 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$107.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$122.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$145.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
New Taiwan dollars (TWD) per US dollar - 31.864 (2010), 33.061
(2009), 31.53 (2008), 32.84 (2007), 32.534 (2006)
Communications ::Taiwan
Telephones - main lines in use:
14.596 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 19
Telephones - mobile cellular:
26.959 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 33
Telephone system:
general assessment: provides telecommunications service for every
business and private need
domestic: thoroughly modern; completely digitalized
international: country code - 886; roughly 15 submarine fiber cables
cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East,
Europe, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2
Broadcast media:
5 free-to-air nationwide television networks operating roughly 75 TV
stations; about 85% of households utilize multi-channel cable TV;
national and regional radio networks with about 170 radio stations
broadcasting (2008)
Internet country code:
.tw
Internet hosts:
6.336 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 15
Internet users:
16.147 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 24
Transportation ::Taiwan
Airports:
41 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 104
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 38
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 4 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
4 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 405 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 1,582 km
country comparison to the world: 81
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,091 km 1.067-m gauge; 146 km .762-m gauge
note: the 146 km of .762 gauge track belongs primarily to Taiwan
Sugar Corporation and Taiwan Forestry Bureau, some to other entities
(2008)
Roadways:
total: 41,279 km
country comparison to the world: 88
paved: 40,843 km (includes 976 km of expressways)
unpaved: 436 km (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 101
country comparison to the world: 50
by type: bulk carrier 28, cargo 19, chemical tanker 2, container 27,
passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 12, refrigerated cargo 7, roll
on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 2 (France 1, Vietnam 1)
registered in other countries: 574 (Cambodia 1, Honduras 2, Hong
Kong 26, Indonesia 1, Italy 11, Kiribati 5, Liberia 88, Marshall
Islands 2, Panama 337, Philippines 1, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 79,
Thailand 1, UK 11, unknown 8) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Chilung (Keelung), Kaohsiung, Hualian, Taichung
Military ::Taiwan
Military branches:
Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force, Coast Guard
Administration, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service
Forces Command, Armed Forces Police Command
Military service age and obligation:
19-35 years of age for male compulsory military service; service
obligation 2 years; women may enlist; women in Air Force service are
restricted to noncombat roles; reserve obligation to age 30 (Army);
the Ministry of Defense is in the process of implementing a
voluntary enlistment system over the period 2010-2015, although
nonvolunteers will still be required to perform alternative service
or go through 4 months of military training (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,218,009
females age 16-49: 6,038,964 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,094,111
females age 16-49: 4,980,454 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 166,141
female: 155,070 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.2% of GDP (in 2009, the Taiwanese president pledged to maintain
defense spending at 3.0% or higher; projected 2.73% for 2011) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 68
Transnational Issues ::Taiwan
Disputes - international:
involved in complex dispute with Brunei, China, Malaysia, the
Philippines, and Vietnam over the Spratly Islands, and with China
and the Philippines over Scarborough Reef; the 2002 "Declaration on
the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions
but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by
several of the disputants; Paracel Islands are occupied by China,
but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam; in 2003, China and Taiwan became
more vocal in rejecting both Japan's claims to the uninhabited
islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally
declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea where all
parties engage in hydrocarbon prospecting
Illicit drugs:
regional transit point for heroin, methamphetamine, and precursor
chemicals; transshipment point for drugs to Japan; major problem
with domestic consumption of methamphetamine and heroin; rising
problems with use of ketamine and club drugs
page last updated on January 24, 2011
======================================================================
@Tajikistan (Central Asia)
Introduction ::Tajikistan
Background:
The Tajik people came under Russian rule in the 1860s and 1870s, but
Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened following the Revolution of
1917. Bolshevik control of the area was fiercely contested and not
fully reestablished until 1925. Much of present-day Sughd province
was transferred from the Uzbek SSR to the newly formed Tajik SSR in
1929. Ethnic Uzbeks form a substantial minority in Sughd province.
Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the
Soviet Union, and experienced a civil war between regional factions
from 1992-97. There have been no major security incidents in recent
years, although the country remains the poorest in the former Soviet
sphere. Attention by the international community since the beginning
of the NATO intervention in Afghanistan has brought increased
economic development and security assistance, which could create
jobs and strengthen stability in the long term. Tajikistan is in the
early stages of seeking World Trade Organization membership and has
joined NATO's Partnership for Peace.
Geography ::Tajikistan
Location:
Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates:
39 00 N, 71 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 143,100 sq km
country comparison to the world: 95
land: 141,510 sq km
water: 2,590 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries:
total: 3,651 km
border countries: Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870
km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to
polar in Pamir Mountains
Terrain:
Pamir and Alay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valley
in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 m
highest point: Qullai Ismoili Somoni (Pik Imeni Ismail Samani) 7,495
m
Natural resources:
hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead,
zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold
Land use:
arable land: 6.52%
permanent crops: 0.89%
other: 92.59% (2005)
Irrigated land:
7,220 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
99.7 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 11.96 cu km/yr (4%/5%/92%)
per capita: 1,837 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes; floods
Environment - current issues:
inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil
salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; mountainous region dominated by the Trans-Alay Range in
the north and the Pamirs in the southeast; highest point, Qullai
Ismoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak), was the tallest mountain
in the former USSR
People ::Tajikistan
Population:
7,487,489 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.3% (male 1,282,681/female 1,238,607)
15-64 years: 62.1% (male 2,260,552/female 2,303,034)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 112,334/female 151,937) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.2 years
male: 21.7 years
female: 22.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.852% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Birth rate:
26.49 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Death rate:
6.72 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Net migration rate:
-1.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Urbanization:
urban population: 26% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 39.78 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 67
male: 44.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 34.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.68 years
country comparison to the world: 164
male: 62.63 years
female: 68.88 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.94 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
10,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Tajikistani(s)
adjective: Tajikistani
Ethnic groups:
Tajik 79.9%, Uzbek 15.3%, Russian 1.1%, Kyrgyz 1.1%, other 2.6%
(2000 census)
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 85%, Shia Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)
Languages:
Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and business
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.5%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 12 years
female: 10 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.5% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 132
Government ::Tajikistan
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan
conventional short form: Tajikistan
local long form: Jumhurii Tojikiston
local short form: Tojikiston
former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Dushanbe
geographic coordinates: 38 35 N, 68 48 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
2 provinces (viloyatho, singular - viloyat) and 1 autonomous
province* (viloyati mukhtor); Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa),
Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon [Gorno-Badakhshan]*
(Khorugh), Viloyati Sughd (Khujand)
note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses
Independence:
9 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)
Constitution:
6 November 1994
Legal system:
based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Emomali RAHMON (since 6 November 1994;
head of state and Supreme Assembly chairman since 19 November 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Oqil OQILOV (since 20 January
1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved
by the Supreme Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 6 November 2006
(next to be held in November 2013); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of
vote - Emomali RAHMON 79.3%, Olimjon BOBOEV 6.2%, other 14.5%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of the National
Assembly (upper chamber) or Majlisi Milliy (34 seats; 25 members
selected by local deputies, 8 appointed by the president; 1 seat
reserved for the former president; members serve five-year terms)
and the Assembly of Representatives (lower chamber) or Majlisi
Namoyandagon (63 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held on 28 February 2010 (next
to be held in February 2015); Assembly of Representatives - last
held on 28 February 2010 (next to be held in February 2015)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - NA; Assembly of Representatives - percent of vote
by party - PDPT 71%, Islamic Revival Party 8.2%, CPT 7%, APT 5.1%,
PER 5.1%, other 3.6%; seats by party - PDPT 55, Islamic Revival
Party 2, CPT 2, APT 2, PER 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT [Amir QARAQULOV]; Democratic
Party or DPT [Mahmadruzi ISKANDAROV (imprisoned October 2005);
Rahmatullo VALIYEV, deputy]; Islamic Revival Party [Muhiddin
KABIRI]; Party of Economic Reform or PER [Olimjon BOBOEV]; Party of
Economic Reforms [Mahmadsharif NOZIMOV]; People's Democratic Party
of Tajikistan or PDPT [Emomali RAHMON]; Social Democratic Party or
SDPT [Rahmatullo ZOYIROV]; Socialist Party or SPT [Mirhuseyn
NARZIEV]; Tajik Communist Party or CPT [Shodi SHABDOLOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
splinter parties recognized by the government but not by the base of
the party: Democratic Party or DPT [Masud SOBIROV] (splintered from
ISKANDAROV's DPT); Socialist Party or SPT [Abduhalim GHAFFOROV]
(splintered from NARZIEV's SPT)
unregistered political parties: Agrarian Party [Hikmatullo
NASREDDINOV]; Progressive Party [Sulton QUVVATOV]; Unity Party
[Hikmatullo SAIDOV]
International organization participation:
ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, G-77, GCTU, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM
(observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Abdujabbor SHIRINOV
chancery: 1005 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 223-6090
FAX: [1] (202) 223-6091
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth GROSS
embassy: 109-A Ismoili Somoni Avenue, Dushanbe 734019
mailing address: 7090 Dushanbe Place, Dulles, VA 20189
telephone: [992] (37) 229-20-00
FAX: [992] (37) 229-20-50
Flag description:
three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and
green; a gold crown surmounted by seven gold, five-pointed stars is
located in the center of the white stripe; red represents the sun,
victory, and the unity of the nation, white stands for purity,
cotton, and mountain snows, while green is the color of Islam and
the bounty of nature; the crown symbolizes the Tajik people; the
seven stars signify the Tajik magic word "seven" - a symbol of
perfection and the embodiment of happiness
National anthem:
name: "Surudi milli" (National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Gulnazar KELDI/Suleiman YUDAKOV
note: adopted 1991; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan
kept the music of the anthem from its time as a Soviet republic but
adopted new lyrics
Economy ::Tajikistan
Economy - overview:
Tajikistan has one of the lowest per capita GDPs among the 15 former
Soviet republics. Because of a lack of employment opportunities in
Tajikistan, nearly half of the labor force works abroad, primarily
in Russia and Kazakhstan, supporting families in Tajikistan through
remittances. The exact number of labor migrants is unknown, but
estimated at around 1 million. Less than 7% of the land area is
arable. Cotton is the most important crop, but this sector is
burdened with debt and obsolete infrastructure; moreover, government
has encouraged a gradual transition away from cotton and towards
food cultivation due to its concerns about feeding the population.
Mineral resources include silver, gold, uranium, and tungsten.
Industry consists only of a large aluminum plant, hydropower
facilities, and small obsolete factories mostly in light industry
and food processing. The civil war (1992-97) severely damaged the
already weak economic infrastructure and caused a sharp decline in
industrial and agricultural production. Tajikistan's economic
situation remains fragile due to uneven implementation of structural
reforms, corruption, weak governance, seasonal power shortages, and
the external debt burden. A debt restructuring agreement was reached
with Russia in December 2002, including a $250 million write-off of
Tajikistan's $300 million debt. Completion of the Sangtuda I
hydropower dam - finished in 2009 with Russian investment - and the
Sangtuda II and Rogun dams will add substantially to electricity
output. If finished according to Tajik plans, Rogun will be the
world's tallest dam. The World Bank, in 2010, agreed to fund safety
and feasibility studies for the Rogun Dam. Favorable reports from
these studies could increase investor interest in the project, which
has been stalled due to lack of funding. Tajikistan has also
received substantial infrastructure development loans from the
Chinese government to improve roads and an electricity transmission
network. To help increase north-south trade, the US funded a $36
million bridge which opened in August 2007 and links Tajikistan and
Afghanistan. While Tajikistan has experienced steady economic growth
since 1997, more than half of the population continues to live in
poverty. Economic growth reached 10.6% in 2004, but dropped below 8%
in 2005-08, as the effects of higher oil prices and then the
international financial crisis began to register - mainly in the
form of lower prices for key export commodities and lower
remittances from Tajiks working abroad, due to the global economic
downturn. In 2009 GDP growth dropped to 3.4% as a result of the
world recession.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$14.61 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
$13.85 billion (2009 est.)
$13.4 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.578 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
3.4% (2009 est.)
7.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
$1,900 (2009 est.)
$1,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 19.2%
industry: 22.6%
services: 58.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
2.1 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 119
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 49.8%
industry: 12.8%
services: 37.4% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
2.3% (2008 est.)
note: official rates; actual unemployment is higher
Population below poverty line:
60% (2009 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 25.6% (2007 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.6 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 99
34.7 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
6.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
8% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 25
13.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
22.91% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
23.7% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$863 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 141
$712.3 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.095 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
$851.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.209 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
$939.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries:
aluminum, zinc, lead; chemicals and fertilizers, cement, vegetable
oil, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators and freezers
Industrial production growth rate:
7.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Electricity - production:
16.1 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Electricity - consumption:
16.7 billion kWh (2009)
country comparison to the world: 73
Electricity - exports:
1 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
667.8 million kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
221 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Oil - consumption:
38,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Oil - exports:
349 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Oil - imports:
10,100 bbl/day (2008)
country comparison to the world: 139
Oil - proved reserves:
12 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Natural gas - production:
16.1 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Natural gas - consumption:
266.1 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Natural gas - imports:
250 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Natural gas - proved reserves:
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Current account balance:
-$330 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
-$179.9 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.318 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
$1.039 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
aluminum, electricity, cotton, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles
Exports - partners:
Russia 19.16%, China 18.38%, Turkey 12.09%, Iran 11.11%, Uzbekistan
7.92%, Norway 6.17%, Greece 4.32% (2009)
Imports:
$3.301 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
$2.77 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
electricity, petroleum products, aluminum oxide, machinery and
equipment, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Russia 23.92%, China 23.74%, Kazakhstan 8.92%, Turkey 4.96%,
Uzbekistan 4.73% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$303 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
$227 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.997 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
$1.771 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$100.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$93.05 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$18.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$16.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Tajikistani somoni (TJS) per US dollar - 4.3788 (2010), 4.1428
(2009), 3.4563 (2008), 3.4418 (2007), 3.3 (2006)
Communications ::Tajikistan
Telephones - main lines in use:
290,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 115
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.9 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 97
Telephone system:
general assessment: foreign investment in the telephone system has
resulted in major improvements; conversion of the existing fixed
network from analogue to digital more than 90% complete by 2009
domestic: fixed line availability has not changed significantly
since 1998 while mobile cellular subscribership, aided by
competition among multiple operators, has expanded rapidly; coverage
now extends to all major cities and towns
international: country code - 992; linked by cable and microwave
radio relay to other CIS republics and by leased connections to the
Moscow international gateway switch; Dushanbe linked by Intelsat to
international gateway switch in Ankara (Turkey); satellite earth
stations - 3 (2 Intelsat and 1 Orbita) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-run television broadcaster transmits nationally on 4 stations
and regionally on 4 stations; about 10 independent TV stations
broadcast locally and regionally; some households are able to
receive Russian and other foreign stations via cable and satellite;
state-run radio broadcaster operates Radio Tajikistan, Voice of
Dushanbe, and several regional stations; a small number of
independent radio stations also broadcast (2008)
Internet country code:
.tj
Internet hosts:
1,504 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 160
Internet users:
700,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 110
Transportation ::Tajikistan
Airports:
26 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 127
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 9
1,524 to 2,437: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 7 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 549 km; oil 38 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 680 km
country comparison to the world: 107
broad gauge: 680 km 1.520-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 27,767 km (2000)
country comparison to the world: 100
Waterways:
200 km (along Vakhsh River) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 99
Military ::Tajikistan
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Mobile Forces (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year conscript
service obligation (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,980,012
females age 16-49: 1,990,084 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,461,896
females age 16-49: 1,642,240 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 77,585
female: 75,201 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.5% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 99
Transnational Issues ::Tajikistan
Disputes - international:
in 2006, China and Tajikistan pledged to commence demarcation of the
revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of 2002; talks
continue with Uzbekistan to delimit border and remove minefields;
disputes in Isfara Valley delay delimitation with Kyrgyzstan
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Tajikistan is a source country for women
trafficked through Kyrgyzstan and Russia to the UAE, Turkey, and
Russia for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; men are
trafficked to Russia and Kazakhstan for the purpose of forced labor,
primarily in the construction and agricultural industries; boys and
girls are trafficked internally for various purposes, including
forced labor and forced begging
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Tajikistan is on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
combat human trafficking, especially efforts to investigate,
prosecute, convict, and sentence traffickers; despite evidence of
low- and mid-level officials' complicity in trafficking, the
government did not punish any public officials for trafficking
complicity during 2007; lack of capacity and poor coordination
between government institutions remained key obstacles to effective
anti-trafficking efforts (2008)
Illicit drugs:
major transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to
a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit
cultivation of opium poppy for domestic consumption; Tajikistan
seizes roughly 80% of all drugs captured in Central Asia and stands
third worldwide in seizures of opiates (heroin and raw opium);
significant consumer of opiates
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Tanzania (Africa)
Introduction ::Tanzania
Background:
Shortly after achieving independence from Britain in the early
1960s, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the nation of Tanzania
in 1964. One-party rule came to an end in 1995 with the first
democratic elections held in the country since the 1970s. Zanzibar's
semi-autonomous status and popular opposition have led to two
contentious elections since 1995, which the ruling party won despite
international observers' claims of voting irregularities.
Geography ::Tanzania
Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and
Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
6 00 S, 35 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 947,300 sq km
country comparison to the world: 31
land: 885,800 sq km
water: 61,500 sq km
note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 3,861 km
border countries: Burundi 451 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo
459 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217
km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km
Coastline:
1,424 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands
Terrain:
plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m
Natural resources:
hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones,
gold, natural gas, nickel
Land use:
arable land: 4.23%
permanent crops: 1.16%
other: 94.61% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,840 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
91 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 5.18 cu km/yr (10%/0%/89%)
per capita: 135 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought
volcanism: Tanzania experiences limited volcanic activity; Ol Doinyo
Lengai (elev. 2,962 m, 9,718 ft) has emitted lava in recent years;
other historically active volcanoes include Kieyo and Meru
Environment - current issues:
soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of
coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected
marginal agriculture; wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and
trade, especially for ivory
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:
Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa; bordered by three of the
largest lakes on the continent: Lake Victoria (the world's
second-largest freshwater lake) in the north, Lake Tanganyika (the
world's second deepest) in the west, and Lake Nyasa in the southwest
People ::Tanzania
Population:
41,892,895
country comparison to the world: 31
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 8,853,529/female 8,805,810)
15-64 years: 54.1% (male 10,956,133/female 11,255,868)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 513,959/female 663,233) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.3 years
male: 18 years
female: 18.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.032% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Birth rate:
33.44 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Death rate:
12.31 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Net migration rate:
-0.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Urbanization:
urban population: 25% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 68.13 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 21
male: 75 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 61.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.49 years
country comparison to the world: 207
male: 50.99 years
female: 54.03 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.31 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
6.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.4 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
96,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Tanzanian(s)
adjective: Tanzanian
Ethnic groups:
mainland - African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more
than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and
Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, African, mixed Arab and African
Religions:
mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%;
Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim
Languages:
Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in
Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce,
administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in
Zanzibar), many local languages
note: Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of the Bantu people
living in Zanzibar and nearby coastal Tanzania; although Kiswahili
is Bantu in structure and origin, its vocabulary draws on a variety
of sources including Arabic and English; it has become the lingua
franca of central and eastern Africa; the first language of most
people is one of the local languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili),
English, or Arabic
total population: 69.4%
male: 77.5%
female: 62.2% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 5 years
male: 5 years
female: 5 years (1999)
Education expenditures:
6.8% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 25
Government ::Tanzania
Country name:
conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania
conventional short form: Tanzania
local long form: Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania
local short form: Tanzania
former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Dar es Salaam
geographic coordinates: 6 48 S, 39 17 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: legislative offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which is
planned as the new national capital, and the National Assembly now
meets there on a regular basis; the Executive Branch with all
ministries and diplomatic representation remains located in Dar es
Salaam
Administrative divisions:
26 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Kagera, Kigoma,
Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Manyara, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza,
Pemba North, Pemba South, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Singida,
Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzibar North, Zanzibar
Urban/West
Independence:
26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent 9 December 1961 (from
UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became independent 19
December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar 26 April
1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed
United Republic of Tanzania 29 October 1964
National holiday:
Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964)
Constitution:
25 April 1977; major revisions October 1984
Legal system:
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts
limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December 2005);
Vice President Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001); note -
the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December
2005); Vice President Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001)
note: Zanzibar elects a president who is head of government for
matters internal to Zanzibar; Ali Mohamed SHEIN elected to that
office on 31 October 2010, sworn in 3 November 2010
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of the National Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ballot
by popular vote for five-year terms (eligible for a second term);
election last held on 31 October 2010 (next to be held in 2015);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Jakaya KIKWETE elected president; percent of vote
- Jakaya KIKWETE 61.2%, Wilbrod SLAA 26.3%, Ibrahim LIPUMBA 8.1%,
other 4.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (274 seats; 232 members
elected by popular vote, 37 allocated to women nominated by the
president, 5 to members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives;
members serve five-year terms); note - in addition to enacting laws
that apply to the entire United Republic of Tanzania, the Assembly
enacts laws that apply only to the mainland; Zanzibar has its own
House of Representatives to make laws especially for Zanzibar (the
Zanzibar House of Representatives has 50 seats; members elected by
universal suffrage to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 14 December 2005 (next to be held on 31
October 2010)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - CCM 206, CUF 19, CHADEMA 5, other 2, women
appointed by the president 37, Zanzibar representatives 5 Zanzibar
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - CCM 30, CUF 19; 1 seat was nullified with a rerun to take
place soon
Judicial branch:
Permanent Commission of Enquiry (official ombudsman); Court of
Appeal (consists of a chief justice and four judges); High Court
(consists of a Jaji Kiongozi and 29 judges appointed by the
president; holds regular sessions in all regions); District Courts;
Primary Courts (limited jurisdiction and appeals can be made to the
higher courts)
Political parties and leaders:
Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Party of Democracy and
Development) or CHADEMA [Bob MAKANI]; Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM
(Revolutionary Party) [Jakaya Mrisho KIKWETE]; Civic United Front or
CUF [Ibrahim LIPUMBA]; Democratic Party [Christopher MTIKLA]
(unregistered); Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Augustine Lyatonga
MREME]; United Democratic Party or UDP [John CHEYO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Economic and Social Research Foundation or ESRF; Free Zanzibar;
Tanzania Media Women's Association or TAMWA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, EAC, EADB, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mwandaidi Sinare MAAJAR
chancery: 2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6125
FAX: [1] (202) 797-7408
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alfonso E. LENHARDT
embassy: 686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani, Dar es Salaam
mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
telephone: [255] (22) 266-8001
FAX: [255] (22) 266-8238, 266-8373
Flag description:
divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower
hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the
lower triangle is blue; the banner combines colors found on the
flags of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; green represents the natural
vegetation of the country, gold its rich mineral deposits, black the
native Swahili people, and blue the country's many lakes and rivers,
as well as the Indian Ocean
National anthem:
name: "Mungu ibariki Afrika" (God Bless Africa)
lyrics/music: collective/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA
note: adopted 1961; the anthem, which is also a popular song in
Africa, shares the same melody with that of Zambia, but has
different lyrics; the melody is also incorporated into South
Africa's anthem
Economy ::Tanzania
Economy - overview:
Tanzania is one of the world's poorest economies in terms of per
capita income, however, Tanzania average 7% GDP growth per year
between 2000 and 2008 on strong gold production and tourism. The
economy depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts for more than
one-fourth of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs about 60% of
the work force. The World Bank, the IMF, and bilateral donors have
provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's aging economic
infrastructure, including rail and port infrastructure that are
important trade links for inland countries. Recent banking reforms
have helped increase private-sector growth and investment, and the
government has increased spending on agriculture to 7% of its
budget. Continued donor assistance and solid macroeconomic policies
supported a positive growth rate, despite the world recession. In
2008, Tanzania received the world's largest Millennium Challenge
Compact grant, worth $698 million. Dar es Salaam used fiscal
stimulus and loosened monitary policy to ease the impact of the
global recession. GDP growth in 2009-10 was a respectable 6% per
year due to high gold prices and increased production.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$62.22 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
$58.48 billion (2009 est.)
$55.17 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$22.43 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
6% (2009 est.)
7.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
$1,400 (2009 est.)
$1,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 41.6%
industry: 18.1%
services: 38.4% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
21.86 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
36% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 26.9% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34.6 (2000)
country comparison to the world: 89
38.2 (1993)
Investment (gross fixed):
17.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Public debt:
23.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
21.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
12.1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3.7% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 17
15.99% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15.03% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
14.98% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$3.394 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 107
$2.972 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$7.44 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
$6.65 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$4.163 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
$3.878 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 99
$1.293 billion (31 December 2008)
$541.1 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from
chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves, corn, wheat, cassava
(tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries:
agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine);
diamond, gold, and iron mining, salt, soda ash; cement, oil
refining, shoes, apparel, wood products, fertilizer
Industrial production growth rate:
7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Electricity - production:
3.786 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Electricity - consumption:
3.182 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
200 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Oil - consumption:
34,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Oil - imports:
28,070 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Natural gas - production:
560.7 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Natural gas - consumption:
560.7 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Natural gas - proved reserves:
6.513 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Current account balance:
-$1.523 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
-$1.746 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$3.809 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
$3.365 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton
Exports - partners:
India 8.51%, China 7.55%, Japan 7.12%, Netherlands 6.21%, UAE 5.71%,
Germany 5.17% (2009)
Imports:
$6.334 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
$5.834 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, machinery and transportation equipment, industrial
raw materials, crude oil
Imports - partners:
India 13.97%, China 13.71%, South Africa 7.8%, Kenya 6.89%, UAE
4.65%, Japan 4.34% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.687 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$3.206 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
note: excludes gold
Debt - external:
$7.576 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
$6.879 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Tanzanian shillings (TZS) per US dollar - 1,423.3 (2010), 1,320.3
(2009), 1,178.1 (2008), 1,255 (2007), 1,251.9 (2006)
Communications ::Tanzania
Telephones - main lines in use:
173,552 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 130
Telephones - mobile cellular:
17.677 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 42
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications services are marginal; system
operating below capacity and being modernized for better service;
small aperture terminal (VSAT) system under construction
domestic: fixed-line telephone network inadequate with less than 1
connection per 100 persons; mobile-cellular service, aided by
multiple providers, is increasing rapidly; trunk service provided by
open-wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and
fiber-optic cable; some links being made digital
international: country code - 255; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast media:
a state-owned TV station and multiple privately-owned TV stations;
state-owned national radio station supplemented by more than 40
privately-owned radio stations; transmissions of several
international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.tz
Internet hosts:
24,182 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 103
Internet users:
678,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 111
Transportation ::Tanzania
Airports:
124 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 48
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 115
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 63
under 914 m: 33 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 254 km; oil 888 km; refined products 8 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 3,689 km
country comparison to the world: 46
narrow gauge: 969 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,720 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 78,892 km
country comparison to the world: 61
paved: 4,741 km
unpaved: 74,151 km (2007)
Waterways:
Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa are principal avenues
of commerce with neighboring countries; rivers are not navigable
(2009)
Merchant marine:
total: 72
country comparison to the world: 59
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 43, carrier 4, chemical tanker 2,
container 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 15
foreign-owned: 1 (UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 3 (Honduras 1, Panama 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar
Transportation - note:
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and
offshore waters in the Indian Ocean are high risk for piracy and
armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been
attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have
been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen
Military ::Tanzania
Military branches:
Tanzanian People's Defense Force (Jeshi la Wananchi la Tanzania,
JWTZ): Army, Naval Wing (includes Coast Guard), Air Defense Command
(includes Air Wing), National Service (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 9,683,768 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,667,987
females age 16-49: 5,690,331 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 498,815
female: 500,941 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Transnational Issues ::Tanzania
Disputes - international:
Tanzania still hosts more than a half-million refugees, more than
any other African country, mainly from Burundi and the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, despite the international community's efforts
at repatriation; disputes with Malawi over the boundary in Lake
Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 352,640 (Burundi); 127,973 (Democratic
Republic of the Congo) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
targeted by traffickers moving hashish, Afghan heroin, and South
American cocaine transported down the East African coastline,
through airports, or overland through Central Africa; Zanzibar
likely used by traffickers for drug smuggling; traffickers in the
past have recruited Tanzanian couriers to move drugs through Iran
into East Asia.
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Thailand (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Thailand
Background:
A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century.
Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian
country never to have been taken over by a European power. A
bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In
alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US treaty
ally following the conflict. A military coup in September 2006
ousted then Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat. The interim government
held elections in December 2007 that saw the former pro-THAKSIN
People's Power Party (PPP) emerge at the head of a coalition
government. The anti-THAKSIN People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD)
in May 2008 began street demonstrations against the new government,
eventually occupying the prime minister's office in August and
Bangkok's two international airports in November. The PAD ended
their protests in early December 2008 following a court ruling that
dissolved the ruling PPP and two other coalition parties for
election violations. The Democrat Party then formed a new coalition
government and ABHISIT Wetchachiwa became prime minister. In October
2008 THAKSIN went into voluntary exile to avoid imprisonment for a
corruption conviction, and has since agitated his followers from
abroad. THAKSIN supporters re-organized into the United Front for
Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) and rioted in April 2009,
shutting down an ASEAN meeting in Phuket, and in early 2010
protested a court verdict confiscating most of THAKSIN's wealth.
Between March and May 2010, the UDD staged large protests and
occupied several blocks of downtown Bangkok. A government operation
to disperse the protesters after nine weeks led to clashes that
resulted in 89 deaths and an estimated $1.5 billion in arson-related
property losses. These protests exposed major cleavages in the Thai
body politic which continue to hamper the current government. Since
January 2004, thousands have been killed as separatists in
Thailand's southern ethnic Malay-Muslim provinces increased the
violence associated with their cause.
Geography ::Thailand
Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of
Thailand, southeast of Burma
Geographic coordinates:
15 00 N, 100 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 513,120 sq km
country comparison to the world: 50
land: 510,890 sq km
water: 2,230 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries:
total: 4,863 km
border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km,
Malaysia 506 km
Coastline:
3,219 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to
September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March);
southern isthmus always hot and humid
Terrain:
central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m
Natural resources:
tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish,
gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 27.54%
permanent crops: 6.93%
other: 65.53% (2005)
Irrigated land:
49,860 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
409.9 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 82.75 cu km/yr (2%/2%/95%)
per capita: 1,288 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the
water table; droughts
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic
and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife
populations threatened by illegal hunting
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber
83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore
People ::Thailand
Population:
67,089,500
country comparison to the world: 20
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.8% (male 7,013,877/female 6,690,554)
15-64 years: 70.5% (male 23,000,156/female 23,519,298)
65 years and over: 8.7% (male 2,612,269/female 3,162,282) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 34 years
male: 33.2 years
female: 34.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.653% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Birth rate:
13.01 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Death rate:
6.47 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 106
Urbanization:
urban population: 33% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.054 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.71 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 113
male: 17.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.02 years
country comparison to the world: 88
male: 72.94 years
female: 77.21 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.65 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.4% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
610,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
30,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and
malaria
animal contact disease: rabies
water contact disease: leptospirosis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Thai (singular and plural)
adjective: Thai
Ethnic groups:
Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Religions:
Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.6%, Christian 0.7%, other 0.1% (2000 census)
Languages:
Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional
dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 94.9%
female: 90.5% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2009)
Education expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 76
Government ::Thailand
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
conventional short form: Thailand
local long form: Ratcha Anachak Thai
local short form: Prathet Thai
former: Siam
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Bangkok
geographic coordinates: 13 45 N, 100 31 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Amnat Charoen, Ang
Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi,
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng
Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon
(Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha
Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom,
Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan,
Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani,
Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi,
Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket,
Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi
Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut
Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla,
Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon
Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon
Independence:
1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
National holiday:
Birthday of King PHUMIPHON (BHUMIBOL), 5 December (1927)
Constitution:
24 August 2007
Legal system:
based on civil law system with influences of common law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet, also spelled BHUMIBOL
Adulyadej (since 9 June 1946)
head of government: Prime Minister ABHISIT Wetchachiwa, also spelled
ABHISIT Vejjajiva (since 17 December 2008); Deputy Prime Minister
SANAN Kachornprasat, also spelled SANAN Kachornparsart (since 7
February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister SUTHEP Thueaksuban, also
spelled SUTHEP Thaugsuban (since 22 December 2008); Deputy Prime
Minister TRAIRONG Suwannakhiri (since 18 January 2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
note: there is also a Privy Council advising the king
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; according to 2007
constitution, the prime minister elected from among members of House
of Representatives; following national elections for House of
Representatives, the leader of the party positioned to organize a
majority coalition usually becomes prime minister by appointment by
the king; the prime minister limited to two four-year terms
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consisted of the Senate or
Wuthisapha (150 seats; 76 members elected by popular vote
representing 76 provinces, 74 appointed by judges and independent
government bodies; members serve six-year terms) and the House of
Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (480 seats; 400 members
elected from 157 multi-seat constituencies and 80 elected on
proportional party-list basis of 10 per eight zones or groupings of
provinces; members serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 2 March 2008 (next to be held in
March 2014); House of Representatives - last election held on 23
December 2007 (next to be held by December 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NA; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - PPP 233, DP 164, TNP 34, Motherland 24, Middle
Way 11, Unity 9, Royalist People's 5; following the PPP's
dissolution in December 2008, most of the party's seats were assumed
by its successor, the Phuea Thai Party
note: 74 senators were appointed on 19 February 2008 by a
seven-member committee headed by the chief of the Constitutional
Court; 76 senators were elected on 2 March 2008; elections to the
Senate are non-partisan; registered political party members are
disqualified from being senators
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court, Supreme Court of Justice, and Supreme
Administrative Court; all judges are appointed by the king; the
king's appointments to the Constitutional Courtare made upon the
advice of the Senate; the nine Constitutional Court judges are drawn
from the Supreme Court of Justice and Supreme Administrative Court
as well as from among substantive experts in law and social sciences
outside the judiciary
Political parties and leaders:
Chat Thai Phattana Party or CP (Thai Nation Development Party)
[CHUMPON Silpa-archa]; Democrat Party or DP (Prachathipat Party)
[ABHISIT Wetchachiwa, also spelled ABHISIT Vejjajiva]; Motherland
Party (Phuea Phaendin Party) [CHANCHAI Chairungrueng]; Phuea Thai
Party (For Thais Party) or PTP [YONGYUTH Wichaidit]; Phumjai
(Bhumjai) Thai Party or PJT (Thai Pride) [CHAWARAT Chanvirakun];
Royalist People's Party (Pracharaj) [SANOH Thienthong]; Ruam Jai
Thai Party (Thai Unity Party) [WANNARAT Channukun]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
People's Alliance for Democracy or PAD; United Front for Democracy
Against Dictatorship or UDD
International organization participation:
ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, BIS, CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS
(observer), OIC (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner),
PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kittiphong Na RANONG
chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600
FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kristie A. KENNEY
embassy: 120-122 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330
mailing address: APO AP 96546
telephone: [66] (2) 205-4000
FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990, 205-4131
consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai
Flag description:
five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width),
white, and red; the red color symbolizes the nation and the blood of
life; white represents religion and the purity of Buddhism; blue
stands for the monarchy
note: similar to the flag of Costa Rica but with the blue and red
colors reversed
National anthem:
name: "Phleng Chat Thai" (National Anthem of Thailand)
lyrics/music: LUANG Saranuprapan/PHRA Jenduriyang
note: music adopted 1932, lyrics adopted 1939; by law, people are
required to stand for the national anthem at 0800 and 1800 every
day; the anthem is played in schools, offices, theaters, and on
television and radio during this time; "Phleng Sansasoen Phra
Barami" (A Salute to the Monarch) serves as the royal anthem and is
played in the presence of the royal family and during certain state
ceremonies
Economy ::Thailand
Economy - overview:
With a well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy,
generally pro-investment policies, and strong export industries,
Thailand enjoyed solid growth from 2000 to 2008 - averaging more
than 4% per year - as it recovered from the Asian financial crisis
of 1997-98. Thai exports - mostly machinery and electronic
components, agricultural commodities, and jewelry - continue to
drive the economy, accounting for more than half of GDP. The global
financial crisis of 2008-09 severely cut Thailand's exports, with
most sectors experiencing double-digit drops. In 2009, the economy
contracted 2.2%. In 2010, Thailand's economy expanded 7.6%, its
fastest pace since 1995, as exports rebounded from their depressed
2009 level. Antigovernment protests during March-May and the
country's polarized political situation had - at most - a temporary
impact on business and consumer confidence. Although tourism was hit
hard during the protests, its quick recovery helped boost consumer
confidence to new highs. Moreover, business and investor sentiment
remained buoyant as Thailand's stock market grew almost 5% during
the three-month period. The economy probably will continue to
experience high grow well into 2011.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$580.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$539.3 billion (2009 est.)
$551.5 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$312.6 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
-2.2% (2009 est.)
2.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
$8,100 (2009 est.)
$8,300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.4%
industry: 45.6%
services: 44% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
38.7 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 42.4%
industry: 19.7%
services: 37.9% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
1.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
1.5% (2009)
Population below poverty line:
9.6% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 33.7% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
43 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 50
42 (2002)
Investment (gross fixed):
24.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Public debt:
42.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
44.9% of GDP (2009)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
-0.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 134
1.25% (31 December 2009)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
6.1% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 139
5.96% (31 December 2009)
Stock of narrow money:
$38 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 48
$34.26 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$354.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$309.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$336 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$292.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$138.2 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 34
$102.6 billion (31 December 2008)
$196 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans
Industries:
tourism, textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages,
tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such as jewelry and electric
appliances, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture,
plastics, automobiles and automotive parts; world's second-largest
tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer
Industrial production growth rate:
14.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Electricity - production:
148.2 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Electricity - consumption:
134.4 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Electricity - exports:
846 million kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
2.313 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
380,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Oil - consumption:
356,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Oil - exports:
269,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Oil - imports:
1.695 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Oil - proved reserves:
430 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Natural gas - production:
28.76 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Natural gas - consumption:
37.31 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Natural gas - imports:
8.55 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Natural gas - proved reserves:
342 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Current account balance:
$12.29 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$21.86 billion (2009)
Exports:
$191.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
$151.9 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber, jewelry,
automobiles, computers and electrical appliances
Exports - partners:
US 10.9%, China 10.6%, Japan 10.3%, Hong Kong 6.2%, Australia 5.6%,
Malaysia 5%, Singapore 4.97% (2009)
Imports:
$156.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$118 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer goods,
fuels
Imports - partners:
Japan 18.7%, China 12.7%, Malaysia 6.4%, US 6.3%, UAE 5%, Singapore
4.3%, South Korea 4.1% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$176.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$138.4 billion (31 December 2009)
Debt - external:
$82.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
$70.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$117.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$109.6 billion (31 December 2009)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$20.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$18.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
baht per US dollar - 31.663 (2010), 34.286 (2009), 33.37 (2008),
34.52 (2007), 37.882 (2006)
Communications ::Thailand
Telephones - main lines in use:
7.024 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 27
Telephones - mobile cellular:
83.057 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 13
Telephone system:
general assessment: high quality system, especially in urban areas
like Bangkok
domestic: fixed line system provided by both a government owned and
commercial provider; wireless service expanding rapidly
international: country code - 66; connected to major submarine cable
systems providing links throughout Asia, Australia, Middle East,
Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian
Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast media:
6 terrestrial TV stations in Bangkok broadcast nationally via relay
stations - 2 of the networks are owned by the military, the other 4
are government-owned or controlled, leased to private enterprise,
and are all required to broadcast government-produced news programs
twice a day; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription
services are available; radio frequencies have been allotted for
more than 500 government and commercial radio stations; many small
community radio stations operate with low-power transmitters (2008)
Internet country code:
.th
Internet hosts:
1.335 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 37
Internet users:
17.483 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 23
Transportation ::Thailand
Airports:
105 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 55
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 64
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 6 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 41
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 27 (2010)
Heliports:
4 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 1,348 km; refined products 323 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 4,071 km
country comparison to the world: 41
standard gauge: 29 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 4,042 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 180,053 km (includes 450 km of expressways) (2006)
country comparison to the world: 27
Waterways:
4,000 km
country comparison to the world: 27
note: 3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m (2010)
Merchant marine:
total: 382
country comparison to the world: 27
by type: bulk carrier 30, cargo 116, chemical tanker 23, container
19, liquefied gas 36, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum
tanker 120, refrigerated cargo 27
foreign-owned: 15 (China 1, Hong Kong 1, Japan 2, Malaysia 3,
Singapore 1, Taiwan 1, UK 6)
registered in other countries: 41 (Bahamas 4, Panama 6, Singapore
30, Tuvalu 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Map Ta Phut, Prachuap Port, Si Racha
Military ::Thailand
Military branches:
Royal Thai Army (Kongthap Bok Thai, RTA), Royal Thai Navy (Kongthap
Ruea Thai, RTN, includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air
Force (Kongthap Agard Thai, RTAF) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
21 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age for
voluntary military service; males are registered at 18 years of age;
2-year conscript service obligation (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 17,650,648
females age 16-49: 17,762,077 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 13,247,646
females age 16-49: 14,166,227 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 535,884
female: 511,444 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Transnational Issues ::Thailand
Disputes - international:
separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern
provinces prompt border closures and controls with Malaysia to stem
terrorist activities; Southeast Asian states have enhanced border
surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on
completion of demarcation with Laos but disputes remain over several
islands in the Mekong River; despite continuing border committee
talks, Thailand must deal with Karen and other ethnic rebels,
refugees, and illegal cross-border activities, and as of 2006, over
116,000 Karen, Hmong, and other refugees and asylum seekers from
Burma; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of historic boundary
with missing boundary markers; Cambodia claims Thai encroachments
into Cambodian territory and obstructing access to Preah Vihear
temple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962; Thailand
is studying the feasibility of jointly constructing the Hatgyi Dam
on the Salween river near the border with Burma; in 2004,
international environmentalist pressure prompted China to halt
construction of 13 dams on the Salween River that flows through
China, Burma, and Thailand
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 132,241 (Burma) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; transit point for
illicit heroin en route to the international drug market from Burma
and Laos; eradication efforts have reduced the area of cannabis
cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring countries;
opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradication efforts;
also a drug money-laundering center; minor role in methamphetamine
production for regional consumption; major consumer of
methamphetamine since the 1990s despite a series of government
crackdowns
page last updated on January 13, 2011
======================================================================
@Timor-Leste (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Timor-Leste
Background:
The Portuguese began to trade with the island of Timor in the early
16th century and colonized it in mid-century. Skirmishing with the
Dutch in the region eventually resulted in an 1859 treaty in which
Portugal ceded the western portion of the island. Imperial Japan
occupied Portuguese Timor from 1942 to 1945, but Portugal resumed
colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World War II. East
Timor declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975
and was invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces nine days later.
It was incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of
Timor Timur (East Timor). An unsuccessful campaign of pacification
followed over the next two decades, during which an estimated
100,000 to 250,000 individuals lost their lives. On 30 August 1999,
in a UN-supervised popular referendum, an overwhelming majority of
the people of Timor-Leste voted for independence from Indonesia.
Between the referendum and the arrival of a multinational
peacekeeping force in late September 1999, anti-independence
Timorese militias - organized and supported by the Indonesian
military - commenced a large-scale, scorched-earth campaign of
retribution. The militias killed approximately 1,400 Timorese and
forcibly pushed 300,000 people into western Timor as refugees. The
majority of the country's infrastructure, including homes,
irrigation systems, water supply systems, and schools, and nearly
100% of the country's electrical grid were destroyed. On 20
September 1999, the Australian-led peacekeeping troops of the
International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) deployed to the
country and brought the violence to an end. On 20 May 2002,
Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state.
In late April 2006, internal tensions threatened the new nation's
security when a military strike led to violence and a near breakdown
of law and order. At Dili's request, an Australian-led International
Stabilization Force (ISF) deployed to Timor-Leste in late May. In
August, the UN Security Council established the UN Integrated
Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), which included an authorized police
presence of over 1,600 personnel. The ISF and UNMIT restored
stability, allowing for presidential and parliamentary elections in
April and June 2007 in a largely peaceful atmosphere. In February
2008, a rebel group staged an unsuccessful attack against the
president and prime minister. The ringleader was killed in the
attack and the majority of the rebels surrendered in April 2008.
Since the unsuccessful attacks the government has enjoyed one of its
longest periods of post-independence stability.
Geography ::Timor-Leste
Location:
Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda
Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note -
Timor-Leste includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the
Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of
Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco
Geographic coordinates:
8 50 S, 125 55 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 14,874 sq km
country comparison to the world: 159
land: 14,874 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 228 km
border countries: Indonesia 228 km
Coastline:
706 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Terrain:
mountainous
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m
Natural resources:
gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
Land use:
arable land: 8.2%
permanent crops: 4.57%
other: 87.23% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,065 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
floods and landslides are common; earthquakes; tsunamis; tropical
cyclones
Environment - current issues:
widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to
deforestation and soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Timor comes from the Malay word for "East"; the island of Timor is
part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost of
the Lesser Sunda Islands
People ::Timor-Leste
Population:
1,154,625
country comparison to the world: 156
note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.7% (male 199,237/female 192,900)
15-64 years: 61.9% (male 356,772/female 344,103)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 18,403/female 20,197) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.2 years
male: 22.2 years
female: 22.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.999% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Birth rate:
25.93 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Death rate:
5.93 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 105
Urbanization:
urban population: 27% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 39.32 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 68
male: 45.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 33.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.61 years
country comparison to the world: 154
male: 65.23 years
female: 70.11 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.2 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, dengue fever and malaria (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Timorese
adjective: Timorese
Ethnic groups:
Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority
Religions:
Roman Catholic 98%, Muslim 1%, Protestant 1% (2005)
Languages:
Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian, English
note: there are about 16 indigenous languages; Tetum, Galole,
Mambae, and Kemak are spoken by significant numbers of people
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6%
male: NA
female: NA (2002)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years (2002)
Education expenditures:
7.1% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 20
Government ::Timor-Leste
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
(pronounced TEE-mor LESS-tay)
conventional short form: Timor-Leste
local long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum];
Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
local short form: Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
former: East Timor, Portuguese Timor
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Dili
geographic coordinates: 8 35 S, 125 36 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro
(Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera (Gleno), Lautem (Los
Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno),
Viqueque
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence:
28 November 1975 (independence proclaimed from Portugal); note - 20
May 2002 is the official date of international recognition of
Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia
National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
Constitution:
20 May 2002 (effective date)
Legal system:
On 29 March 2009 the president promulgated the Timor-Leste penal
code; UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law remains in
place for civil codes but is to be replaced by civil codes based on
Portuguese law; these have passed but have not been promulgated; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jose RAMOS-HORTA (since 20 May 2007); note
- the president plays a largely symbolic role but is able to veto
legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections
head of government: Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 8
August 2007), note - he formerly used the name Jose Alexandre
GUSMAO; Vice Prime Minister Jose Luis GUTERRES (since 8 August 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 9 April 2007
with run-off on 8 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2012); following
elections, president appoints leader of majority party or majority
coalition as prime minister
election results: Jose RAMOS-HORTA elected president; percent of
vote - Jose RAMOS-HORTA 69.2%, Francisco GUTTERES 30.8%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary from 52 to
65; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 30 June 2007 (next elections due by June
2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 29%, CNRT
24.1%, ASDT-PSD 15.8%, PD 11.3%, PUN 4.5%, KOTA-PPT (Democratic
Alliance) 3.2%, UNDERTIM 3.2%, others 8.9%; seats by party -
FRETILIN 21, CNRT 18, ASDT-PSD 11, PD 8, PUN 3, KOTA-PPT 2, UNDERTIM
2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice - constitution calls for one judge to be
appointed by National Parliament and rest appointed by Superior
Council for Judiciary; note - until Supreme Court is established,
Court of Appeals is highest court
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO]; National Congress for
Timorese Reconstruction or CNRT [Xanana GUSMAO]; National Democratic
Union of Timorese Resistance or UNDERTIM [Cornelio DA Conceicao
GAMA]; National Unity Party or PUN [Fernanda BORGES]; People's Party
of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER]; Revolutionary Front of Independent
Timor-Leste or FRETILIN [Mari ALKATIRI]; Social Democratic
Association of Timor or ASDT [Francisco Xavier do AMARAL]; Social
Democratic Party or PSD [Zacarias Albano da COSTA]; Sons of the
Mountain Warriors or KOTA [Manuel TILMAN] (also known as Association
of Timorese Heroes)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, ARF, ASEAN (observer), CPLP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Constancio da Conceicao PINTO
chancery: 4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504,Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-3202
FAX: [1] (202) 966-3205
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Judith FERGIN
embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Conqueiros, Dili
mailing address: US Department of State, 8250 Dili Place,
Washington, DC 20521-8250
telephone: (670) 332-4684
FAX: (670) 331-3206
Flag description:
red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side)
superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to
the center of the flag; a white star - pointing to the upper
hoist-side corner of the flag - is in the center of the black
triangle; yellow denotes the colonialism in Timor-Leste's past;
black represents the obscurantism that needs to be overcome; red
stands for the national liberation struggle; the white star
symbolizes peace and serves as a guiding light
National anthem:
name: "Patria" (Fatherland)
lyrics/music: Fransisco Borja DA COSTA/Afonso DE ARAUJO
note: adopted 2002; the song was first used as an anthem when
Timor-Leste declared its independence from Portugal in 1975; the
lyricist, Fransisco Borja DA COSTA, was killed in an Indonesian
invasion just days after independence was declared
Economy ::Timor-Leste
Economy - overview:
In late 1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure of
Timor-Leste was laid waste by Indonesian troops and
anti-independence militias. Three hundred thousand people fled
westward. Over the next three years a massive international program,
manned by 5,000 peacekeepers (8,000 at peak) and 1,300 police
officers, led to substantial reconstruction in both urban and rural
areas. By the end of 2005, refugees had returned or had settled in
Indonesia. The country continues to face great challenges in
rebuilding its infrastructure, strengthening the civil
administration, and generating jobs for young people entering the
work force. The development of oil and gas resources in offshore
waters has greatly supplemented government revenues. This
technology-intensive industry, however, has done little to create
jobs for the unemployed because there are no production facilities
in Timor. Gas is piped to Australia. In June 2005, the National
Parliament unanimously approved the creation of a Petroleum Fund to
serve as a repository for all petroleum revenues and to preserve the
value of Timor-Leste's petroleum wealth for future generations. The
Fund held assets of US$5.3 billion as of October 2009. The economy
has been little impacted by the global financial crisis and
continues to recover strongly from the mid-2006 outbreak of violence
and civil unrest, which disrupted both private and public sector
economic activity. The government in 2008 resettled tens of
thousands of an estimated 100,000 internally displaced persons
(IDPs); most IDPs returned home by early 2009. The underlying
economic policy challenge the country faces remains how best to use
oil-and-gas wealth to lift the non-oil economy onto a higher growth
path and to reduce poverty.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.004 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
$2.782 billion (2009 est.)
$2.588 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$616 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
7.5% (2009 est.)
12.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
$2,500 (2009 est.)
$2,300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 32.2%
industry: 12.8%
services: 55% (2005)
Labor force:
414,200 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 157
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 90%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
20% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
note: data are for rural areas, unemployment rises to more than 40%
among urban youth
Population below poverty line:
42% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 31.3% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
38 (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.17% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
13.11% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$102.8 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 180
$74.94 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of broad money:
$268.4 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 179
$192.7 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$127.1 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
$118.1 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coffee, rice, corn, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage,
mangoes, bananas, vanilla
Industries:
printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth
Industrial production growth rate:
8.5% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Electricity - production:
NA kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
96,270 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Oil - consumption:
2,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Oil - exports:
100,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Oil - proved reserves:
553.8 million bbl (1 January 2008)
country comparison to the world: 46
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Natural gas - proved reserves:
200 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Current account balance:
$1.161 billion (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Exports:
$10 million (2005 est.); note - excludes oil
country comparison to the world: 212
Exports - commodities:
coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - potential for oil and vanilla
exports
Imports:
$202 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Imports - commodities:
food, gasoline, kerosene, machinery
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications ::Timor-Leste
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 222
Telephones - mobile cellular:
116,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 183
Telephone system:
general assessment: rudimentary service limited to urban areas
domestic: system suffered significant damage during the violence
associated with independence; extremely limited fixed-line services;
mobile-cellular services and coverage limited primarily to urban
areas
international: country code - 670; international service is
available in major urban centers
Broadcast media:
1 public TV broadcast station broadcasting nationally and 1 public
radio broadcaster with stations in each of the 13 administrative
districts; a few commercial radio stations and roughly a dozen
community radio stations (2009)
Internet country code:
.tl
Internet hosts:
206 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 193
Internet users:
2,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 210
Transportation ::Timor-Leste
Airports:
6 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 172
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Heliports:
8 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 6,040 km
country comparison to the world: 149
paved: 2,600 km
unpaved: 3,440 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 1
country comparison to the world: 152
by type: passenger/cargo 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Dili
Military ::Timor-Leste
Military branches:
Timor-Leste Defense Force (Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este,
Falintil (F-FDTL)): Army, Navy (Armada) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 299,008
females age 16-49: 286,465 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 236,996
females age 16-49: 245,033 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 12,795
female: 12,443 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues ::Timor-Leste
Disputes - international:
Timor-Leste-Indonesia Boundary Committee has resolved all but some
sections of border along Timor-Leste's Oecussi exclave; maritime
boundaries with Indonesia remain unresolved; many refugees who left
Timor-Leste in 2003 still reside in Indonesia and refuse
repatriation; in 2007, Australia and Timor-Leste signed a 50-year
development zone and revenue sharing agreement in lieu of a maritime
boundary
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 100,000 (2007)
Illicit drugs:
NA
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Togo (Africa)
Introduction ::Togo
Background:
French Togoland became Togo in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA,
installed as military ruler in 1967, ruled Togo with a heavy hand
for almost four decades. Despite the facade of multiparty elections
instituted in the early 1990s, the government was largely dominated
by President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party
has maintained power almost continually since 1967 and maintains a
majority of seats in today's legislature. Upon EYADEMA's death in
February 2005, the military installed the president's son, Faure
GNASSINGBE, and then engineered his formal election two months
later. Democratic gains since then allowed Togo to hold its first
relatively free and fair legislative elections in October 2007.
After years of political unrest and condemnation from international
organizations for human rights abuses, Togo is finally being
re-welcomed into the international community.
Geography ::Togo
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 1 10 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 56,785 sq km
country comparison to the world: 125
land: 54,385 sq km
water: 2,400 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,647 km
border countries: Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km
Coastline:
56 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 30 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain:
gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau;
low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Agou 986 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 44.2%
permanent crops: 2.11%
other: 53.69% (2005)
Irrigated land:
70 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
14.7 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.17 cu km/yr (53%/2%/45%)
per capita: 28 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during
winter; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use
of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards and
hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas
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, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct
geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna
People ::Togo
Population:
6,587,239
country comparison to the world: 100
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.4% (male 1,252,389/female 1,244,914)
15-64 years: 55.8% (male 1,645,885/female 1,719,810)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 66,192/female 102,618) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.2 years
male: 18.9 years
female: 19.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.773% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Birth rate:
35.88 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Death rate:
8.15 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 104
Urbanization:
urban population: 42% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 53.23 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 45
male: 60.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 45.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.25 years
country comparison to the world: 178
male: 59.74 years
female: 64.83 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.74 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
130,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
9,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Togolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Togolese
Ethnic groups:
African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and
Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
Religions:
Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%
Languages:
French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the
two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled
Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60.9%
male: 75.4%
female: 46.9% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 7 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
3.7% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 123
Government ::Togo
Country name:
conventional long form: Togolese Republic
conventional short form: Togo
local long form: Republique togolaise
local short form: none
former: French Togoland
Government type:
republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
Capital:
name: Lome
geographic coordinates: 6 08 N, 1 13 E
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
5 regions (regions, singular - region); Centrale, Kara, Maritime,
Plateaux, Savanes
Independence:
27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
Constitution:
adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992
Legal system:
French-based court system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal (adult)
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 4 May 2005);
head of government: Prime Minister Gilbert HOUNGBO (since 7
September 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the
prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held on 4 March 2010 (next to be
held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of
vote - Faure GNASSINGBE 60.9%, Jean-Pierre FABRE 33.9%, Yawovi
AGBOYIBO 3%, other 2.2%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 14 October 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - RPT 39.4%, UFC 37.0%,
CAR 8.2%, independents 2.5%, other 12.9%; seats by party - RPT 50,
UFC 27, CAR 4
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
Action Committee for Renewal or CAR [Yawovi AGBOYIBO]; Democratic
Convention of African Peoples or CDPA; Democratic Party for Renewal
or PDR; Juvento [Monsilia DJATO]; Movement of the Believers of Peace
and Equality or MOCEP; Pan-African Patriotic Convergence or CPP;
Rally for the Support for Development and Democracy or RSDD [Harry
OLYMPIO]; Rally of the Togolese People or RPT [Faure GNASSINGBE];
Socialist Pact for Renewal or PSR; Union for Democracy and Social
Progress or UDPS [Gagou KOKOU]; Union of Forces for Change or UFC
[Gilchrist OLYMPIO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF,
OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO,
UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kadangha Limbiya BARIKI
chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia McMahon HAWKINS
embassy: 4332 Blvd. Gnassingbe Eyadema, Cite OUA, Lome
mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome; 2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC
20512-2300
telephone: [228] 261-5470
FAX: [228] 261-5501
Flag description:
five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating
with yellow; a white five-pointed star on a red square is in the
upper hoist-side corner; the five horizontal stripes stand for the
five different regions of the country; the red square is meant to
express the loyalty and patriotism of the people; green symbolizes
hope, fertility, and agriculture; yellow represents mineral wealth
and faith that hard work and strength will bring prosperity; the
star symbolizes life, purity, peace, dignity, and Togo's independence
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
National anthem:
name: "Salut a toi, pays de nos aieux" (Hail to Thee, Land of Our
Forefathers)
lyrics/music: Alex CASIMIR-DOSSEH
note: adopted 1960, restored 1992; this anthem was replaced by
another during one-party rule between 1979 and 1992
Economy ::Togo
Economy - overview:
This small, sub-Saharan economy suffers from anemic economic growth
and depends heavily on both commercial and subsistence agriculture,
which provides employment for 65% of the labor force. Some basic
foodstuffs must still be imported. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton
generate about 40% of export earnings with cotton being the most
important cash crop. Togo is the world's fourth-largest producer of
phosphate. The government's decade-long effort, supported by the
World Bank and the IMF, to implement economic reform measures,
encourage foreign investment, and bring revenues in line with
expenditures has moved slowly. Progress depends on follow through on
privatization, increased openness in government financial
operations, progress toward legislative elections, and continued
support from foreign donors. Togo is on track with its IMF Extended
Credit Facility and reached a HIPC debt relief completion point in
2010 at which 95% of the country's debt was forgiven. Economic
growth prospects remain marginal due to declining cotton production
and underinvestment in phosphate mining.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.927 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
$5.738 billion (2009 est.)
$5.565 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.074 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
3.1% (2009 est.)
1.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
$900 (2009 est.)
$900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 47.4%
industry: 25.4%
services: 27.2% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
2.595 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 109
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 65%
industry: 5%
services: 30% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
32% (1989 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 27.1% (2006)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
2% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 94
4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$754.5 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 146
$789.7 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.238 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
$1.306 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$817.7 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
$862.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice,
millet, sorghum; livestock; fish
Industries:
phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts,
textiles, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
2.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Electricity - production:
230 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Electricity - consumption:
640 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
514 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by Ghana (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Oil - consumption:
21,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Oil - exports:
1,547 bbl/day (2005)
country comparison to the world: 118
Oil - imports:
15,270 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Current account balance:
-$339 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
-$236 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$859 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
$818 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa
Exports - partners:
Germany 17.57%, Ghana 12.74%, Burkina Faso 11.02%, India 10.22%,
Belgium 7.1%, Benin 6.92%, Netherlands 5.94%, Mali 4.41% (2009)
Imports:
$1.337 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
$1.261 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
China 36.58%, France 8.64%, Netherlands 6.76%, India 5.06%, US 4.4%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$686 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
$703.2 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$NA (31 December 2010)
$1.573 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 507.71
(2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 482.71 (2007), 522.59 (2006)
Communications ::Togo
Telephones - main lines in use:
178,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 128
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.187 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 129
Telephone system:
general assessment: fair system based on a network of microwave
radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and a
mobile-cellular system
domestic: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventional
system; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly
40 telephones per 100 persons with mobile-cellular use predominating
international: country code - 228; satellite earth stations - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Symphonie
Broadcast media:
2 state-owned TV stations with multiple transmission sites; 5
private TV stations broadcast locally; cable TV service is
available; state-owned radio network with multiple stations; several
dozen private radio stations and a few community radio stations;
transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are obtainable
(2007)
Internet country code:
.tg
Internet hosts:
860 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 168
Internet users:
356,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 123
Transportation ::Togo
Airports:
8 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 162
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Railways:
total: 532 km
country comparison to the world: 113
narrow gauge: 532 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 7,520 km
country comparison to the world: 145
paved: 2,376 km
unpaved: 5,144 km (2000)
Waterways:
50 km (seasonally on Mono River depending on rainfall) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 104
Merchant marine:
total: 53
country comparison to the world: 69
by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 40, chemical tanker 2, container 2,
petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 23 (China 2, Greece 1, Lebanon 6, Romania 1, Syria 5,
Turkey 4, UAE 1, UK 3) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Kpeme, Lome
Military ::Togo
Military branches:
Togolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Togolaise, FAT): Ground Forces,
Togolese Navy (Marine du Togo), Togolese Air Force (Force Aerienne
Togolaise, TAF), National Gendarmerie (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military
service; 2-year service obligation (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,462,206
females age 16-49: 1,463,189 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 983,283
females age 16-49: 1,004,887 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 71,081
female: 69,969 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Transnational Issues ::Togo
Disputes - international:
in 2001, Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments - joint
commission continues to resurvey the boundary; in 2006, 14,000
Togolese refugees remain in Benin and Ghana out of the 40,000 who
fled there in 2005
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 5,000 (Ghana)
IDPs: 1,500 (2007)
Illicit drugs:
transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money
laundering not a significant problem
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Tokelau (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Tokelau
Background:
Originally settled by Polynesian emigrants from surrounding island
groups, the Tokelau Islands were made a British protectorate in
1889. They were transferred to New Zealand administration in 1925.
Referenda held in 2006 and 2007 to change the status of the islands
from that of a New Zealand territory to one of free association with
New Zealand did not meet the needed threshold for approval.
Geography ::Tokelau
Location:
Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
9 00 S, 172 00 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 12 sq km
country comparison to the world: 241
land: 12 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
101 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Terrain:
low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile)
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
lies in Pacific typhoon belt
Environment - current issues:
limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to
emigration to New Zealand
Geography - note:
consists of three atolls (Atafu, Fakaofo, Nukunonu), each with a
lagoon surrounded by a number of reef-bound islets of varying length
and rising to over 3 m above sea level
People ::Tokelau
Population:
1,400 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 234
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42%
15-64 years: 53%
65 years and over: 5% (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.011% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Birth rate:
NA
Death rate:
NA
Net migration rate:
NA
Urbanization:
urban population: 0% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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: Tokelauan(s)
adjective: Tokelauan
Ethnic groups:
Polynesian
Religions:
Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%, other 2%
note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; on
Nukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with
the Congregational Christian Church predominant
Languages:
Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
Literacy:
NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 10 years
female: 11 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Tokelau
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tokelau
Dependency status:
self-administering territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelau and New
Zealand have agreed to a draft constitution as Tokelau moves toward
free association with New Zealand; a UN-sponsored referendum on self
governance in October 2007 did not produce the two-thirds majority
vote necessary for changing the political status
Government type:
NA
Capital:
none; each atoll has its own administrative center
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of New Zealand)
Independence:
none (territory of New Zealand)
National holiday:
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty
over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution:
administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948; amended in 1970
Legal system:
New Zealand and local statutes
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND
(since 23 August 2006); New Zealand is represented by Administrator
David PAYTON (since 17 October 2006)
head of government: Foua TOLOA (since 21 February 2009); note -
position rotates annually among the 3 Faipule (village leaders)
cabinet: the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau,
consisting of 3 Faipule (village leaders) and 3 Pulenuku (village
mayors), functions as a cabinet
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by
the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; the head
of government chosen from the Council of Faipule and serves a
one-year term
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Fono (20 seats; members elected by popular vote
to serve three-year terms based upon proportional representation
from the three islands; Atafu has 7 seats, Fakaofo has 7 seats,
Nukunonu has 6 seats); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996
confers limited legislative power to the General Fono
elections: last held on 17-19 January 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: independents 20
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal
jurisdiction in Tokelau
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
PIF (observer), SPC, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of New Zealand)
Flag description:
a yellow stylized Tokelauan canoe on a dark blue field sails toward
the manu - the Southern Cross constellation of four, white,
five-pointed stars at the hoist side; the Southern Cross represents
the role of Christianity in Tokelauan culture and symbolizes the
country's navigating into the future, the color yellow indicates
happiness and peace, and the blue field represents the ocean on
which the community relies
National anthem:
name: "Te Atua" (For the Almighty)
lyrics/music: unknown/Falani KALOLO
note: adopted 2008; in preparation for eventual self governance,
Tokelau held a national contest to choose an anthem; as a territory
of New Zealand, "God Defend New Zealand" and "God Save the Queen"
are official (see New Zealand)
Economy ::Tokelau
Economy - overview:
Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of
resources greatly restrain economic development and confine
agriculture to the subsistence level. The people rely heavily on aid
from New Zealand - about $10 million annually in 2008 and 2009 - to
maintain public services. New Zealand's support amounts to 80% of
Tokelau's recurrent government budget. An international trust fund,
currently worth nearly US$32 million, was established in 2004 to
provide Tokelau an independent source of revenue. The principal
sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postage stamps,
souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to families
from relatives in New Zealand.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.5 million (1993 est.)
country comparison to the world: 228
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,000 (1993 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
440 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 228
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats;
fish
Industries:
small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited
craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Exports:
$0 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 223
Exports - commodities:
stamps, copra, handicrafts
Imports:
$969,200 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 222
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4015 (2010), 1.6002
(2009), 1.4151 (2008), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006)
Communications ::Tokelau
Telephones - main lines in use:
300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 228
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern satellite-based communications system
domestic: radiotelephone service between islands
international: country code - 690; radiotelephone service to Samoa;
government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok); satellite earth
stations - 3
Broadcast media:
no broadcast television stations; each atoll operates a radio
service that provides shipping news and weather reports (2009)
Internet country code:
.tk
Internet hosts:
526 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 178
Internet users:
800 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 215
Transportation ::Tokelau
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military ::Tokelau
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Transnational Issues ::Tokelau
Disputes - international:
Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega) in its
2006 draft constitution
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Tonga (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Tonga
Background:
Tonga - unique among Pacific nations - never completely lost its
indigenous governance. The archipelagos of "The Friendly Islands"
were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. Tonga became a
constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900;
it withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth of
Nations in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.
Geography ::Tonga
Location:
Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of
the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 175 00 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 747 sq km
country comparison to the world: 189
land: 717 sq km
water: 30 sq km
Area - comparative:
four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
419 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; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May),
cool season (May to December)
Terrain:
most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral
formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation on Kao Island 1,033 m
Natural resources:
fish, fertile soil
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 14.67%
other: 65.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on
Fonuafo'ou
volcanism: the Tonga Islands experience volcanic activity; Fonualei
(elev. 180 m, 591 ft) has shown frequent activity in recent years,
while Niuafo'ou (elev. 260 m, 853 ft), which last erupted in 1985,
has forced evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include
Late and Tofua
Environment - current issues:
deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for
agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish
and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens
native sea turtle populations
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)
People ::Tonga
Population:
122,580 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.8% (male 20,270/female 19,428)
15-64 years: 62.9% (male 37,837/female 38,166)
65 years and over: 4.3% (male 2,163/female 3,034) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.7 years
male: 22.3 years
female: 23.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.282% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Birth rate:
17.78 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Death rate:
4.95 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 103
Urbanization:
urban population: 25% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.28 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 147
male: 12.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.03 years
country comparison to the world: 137
male: 68.46 years
female: 73.73 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Tongan(s)
adjective: Tongan
Ethnic groups:
Polynesian, Europeans
Religions:
Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Languages:
Tongan (official), English (official)
Literacy:
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 98.9%
male: 98.8%
female: 99% (1999 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
4.7% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 84
Government ::Tonga
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form: Tonga
local long form: Pule'anga Tonga
local short form: Tonga
former: Friendly Islands
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Nuku'alofa
geographic coordinates: 21 08 S, 175 12 W
time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Independence:
4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
National holiday:
Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
Constitution:
4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King George TUPOU V (since 11 September 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Lord Siale'ataonga TU'IVAKANO
(since 22 December 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet is nominated by the prime minister and appointed by
the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
note: there is also a Privy Council that advises the monarch
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy
prime minister elected by and from the members of parliament and
appointed by the monarch
election results: Lord Siale'ataonga TU'IVAKANO elected by
parliament on 21 December 2010 with 14 of 26 votes
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (26 seats - 9 for
nobles elected from among the country's 29 nobles, 17 members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 25 November 2010 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote -
independents 67.3%, Democratic Party 28.5%; seats - Democratic Party
12, independents 5
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal
(Chief Justice and high court justices from overseas chosen and
approved by Privy Council)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands [Samuela 'Akilisi POHIVA];
People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tesina FUKO]; Sustainable
Nation-Building Party [Sione FONUA]; Tonga Democratic Labor Party
[NA]; Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM [Uliti UATA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. Simote VEA,
chairman]; Public Servant's Association [Finau TUTONE]
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, PIF,
Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sonatane Tu'akinamolahi TAUMOEPEAU-TUPOU
chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022
telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025
FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the US ambassador to Fiji
is accredited to Tonga
Flag description:
red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper
hoist-side corner; the cross reflects the deep-rooted Christianity
in Tonga; red represents the blood of Christ and his sacrifice;
white signifies purity
National anthem:
name: "Ko e fasi `o e tu"i `o e `Otu Tonga" (Song of the King of the
Tonga Islands)
lyrics/music: Uelingatoni Ngu TUPOUMALOHI/Karl Gustavus SCHMITT
note: in use since 1875; the anthem is more commonly known as "Fasi
Fakafonua" (National Song)
Economy ::Tonga
Economy - overview:
Tonga has a small, open, South Pacific island economy. It has a
narrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, vanilla beans, and
yams are the main crops. Agricultural exports, including fish, make
up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a high
proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The country remains
dependent on external aid and remittances from Tongan communities
overseas to offset its trade deficit. Tourism is the second-largest
source of hard currency earnings following remittances. Tonga had
39,000 visitors in 2006. The government is emphasizing the
development of the private sector, especially the encouragement of
investment, and is committing increased funds for health and
education. Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and
well developed social services. High unemployment among the young, a
continuing upturn in inflation, pressures for democratic reform, and
rising civil service expenditures are major issues facing the
government.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$767 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
$770.9 million (2009 est.)
$774.7 million (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$301 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
-0.5% (2009 est.)
1.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
$6,400 (2009 est.)
$6,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 25%
industry: 17%
services: 57% (FY05/06 est.)
Labor force:
39,960 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 195
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 31.8%
industry: 30.6%
services: 2,003% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
13% (FY03/04 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Population below poverty line:
24% (FY03/04)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.47% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
12.46% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$44.64 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 184
$36.16 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$153.8 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 183
$136.9 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$149.2 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
$163.1 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee,
ginger, black pepper; fish
Industries:
tourism, construction, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Electricity - production:
43 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Electricity - consumption:
39.99 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Oil - imports:
1,173 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Current account balance:
-$23 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Exports:
$22 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 205
Exports - commodities:
squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
Exports - partners:
Hong Kong 25.42%, US 22.65%, Japan 12.21%, NZ 7.31%, Fiji 7.2%,
Samoa 6.06%, South Korea 4.48% (2009)
Imports:
$139 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 206
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Fiji 34.37%, NZ 25.03%, US 9.43%, Australia 7.53%, China 5.64% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$40.83 million (FY04/05)
country comparison to the world: 132
Debt - external:
$80.7 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 182
Exchange rates:
pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.0277 (2006), 1.96 (2005),
1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003)
Communications ::Tonga
Telephones - main lines in use:
31,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 179
Telephones - mobile cellular:
53,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 196
Telephone system:
general assessment: competition between Tonga Telecommunications
Corporation (TCC) and Shoreline Communications Tonga (SCT) is
accelerating expansion of telecommunications; SCT granted approval
to introduce high-speed digital service for telephone, Internet, and
television while TCC has exclusive rights to operate the
mobile-phone network; international telecom services are provided by
government-owned Tonga Telecommunications International (TTI)
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about
70 telephones per 100 persons; fully automatic switched network
international: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
2 state-owned television stations and 2 privately-owned stations;
satellite and cable TV services are available; 2 state-owned and 3
privately-owned radio stations; Radio Australia broadcasts
obtainable via a satellite feed (2009)
Internet country code:
.to
Internet hosts:
20,847 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 110
Internet users:
8,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 202
Transportation ::Tonga
Airports:
6 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 174
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 680 km
country comparison to the world: 188
paved: 184 km
unpaved: 496 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 10
country comparison to the world: 115
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 6, carrier 1, liquefied gas 1,
passenger/cargo 1
foreign-owned: 3 (Australia 1, Switzerland 1, UK 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Pangai
Military ::Tonga
Military branches:
Tonga Defense Services (TDS): Land Force (Royal Guard), Maritime
Force (includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for voluntary enlistment (with parental approval);
no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 34,254
females age 16-49: 32,974 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 27,404
females age 16-49: 28,509 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,448
female: 1,392 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Transnational Issues ::Tonga
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 3, 2011
======================================================================
@Trinidad and Tobago (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Trinidad and Tobago
Background:
First colonized by the Spanish, the islands came under British
control in the early 19th century. The islands' sugar industry was
hurt by the emancipation of the slaves in 1834. Manpower was
replaced with the importation of contract laborers from India
between 1845 and 1917, which boosted sugar production as well as the
cocoa industry. The discovery of oil on Trinidad in 1910 added
another important export. Independence was attained in 1962. The
country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thanks
largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing.
Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing.
The government is coping with a rise in violent crime.
Geography ::Trinidad and Tobago
Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:
11 00 N, 61 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 5,128 sq km
country comparison to the world: 173
land: 5,128 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
362 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental
margin
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Terrain:
mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Land use:
arable land: 14.62%
permanent crops: 9.16%
other: 76.22% (2005)
Irrigated land:
40 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
3.8 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.31 cu km/yr (68%/26%/6%)
per capita: 237 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms
Environment - current issues:
water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and
raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world's largest
natural reservoir of asphalt
People ::Trinidad and Tobago
Population:
1,228,691 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.6% (male 123,214/female 117,584)
15-64 years: 72.6% (male 457,868/female 434,486)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 41,467/female 55,334) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.6 years
male: 32.1 years
female: 33.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.094% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Birth rate:
14.37 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Death rate:
8.21 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Net migration rate:
-7.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Urbanization:
urban population: 13% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.028 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 28.9 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 75
male: 30.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 27.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.09 years
country comparison to the world: 134
male: 68.23 years
female: 74.02 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.72 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
14,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,900 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Nationality:
noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian
Ethnic groups:
Indian (South Asian) 40%, African 37.5%, mixed 20.5%, other 1.2%,
unspecified 0.8% (2000 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 26%, Hindu 22.5%, Anglican 7.8%, Baptist 7.2%,
Pentecostal 6.8%, Muslim 5.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 4%, other
Christian 5.8%, other 10.8%, unspecified 1.4%, none 1.9% (2000
census)
Languages:
English (official), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi),
French, Spanish, Chinese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.1%
female: 98% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
4.2% of GDP (2002)
country comparison to the world: 102
People - note:
in 2007, the government of Trinidad and Tobago estimated the
population to be 1.3 million
Government ::Trinidad and Tobago
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Port-of-Spain
geographic coordinates: 10 39 N, 61 31 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 regional corporations, 2 city corporations, 3 borough
corporations, 1 ward
regional corporations: Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Diego Martin,
Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande, San
Juan/Laventille, Siparia, Tunapuna/Piarco
city corporations: Port-of-Spain, San Fernando
borough corporations: Arima, Chaguanas, Point Fortin
ward: Tobago
Independence:
31 August 1962 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
Constitution:
1 August 1976
Legal system:
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in
the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President George Maxwell RICHARDS (since 17 March
2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Kamla PERSAD-BISSESSAR (since 26
May 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by an electoral college, which consists
of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on
11 February 2008 (next to be held by February 2013); the president
usually appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party
in the House of Representatives
election results: George Maxwell RICHARDS reelected president;
percent of electoral college vote - NA
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (31 seats; 16 members
appointed by the ruling party, 9 by the President, 6 by the
opposition party to serve a maximum term of five years) and the
House of Representatives (41 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held on 24 May 2010 (next
to be held in 2015)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - NA;
seats by party - UNC 21, PNM 12, COP 6, TOP 2
note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly with 12 members
serving four-year terms; last election held in January 2005; seats
by party - PNM 11, DAC 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Judicature (comprised of the High Court of Justice
and the Court of Appeals; the chief justice is appointed by the
president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader
of the opposition; other justices are appointed by the president on
the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission); the
highest court of appeal is the Privy Council in London; member of
the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)
Political parties and leaders:
Congress of the People or COP [Winston DOOKERAN]; Democratic Action
Congress or DAC [Hochoy CHARLES] (only active in Tobago); Democratic
National Alliance or DNA [Gerald YETMING] (coalition of NAR, DDPT,
MND); Movement for National Development or MND [Garvin NICHOLAS];
National Alliance for Reconstruction or NAR [Dr. Carson CHARLES];
People's National Movement or PNM [Patrick MANNING]; Tobago
Organization of the People or TOP [Ashworth JACK]; United National
Congress or UNC [Kamla PERSAD-BISSESSAR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Jamaat-al Muslimeen [Yasin ABU BAKR]
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
Paris Club (associate), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador vacant; Charge d'Affaires Donna HENRY
chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490
FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Beatrice W. WELTERS
embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain
mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain
telephone: [1] (868) 622-6371 through 6376
FAX: [1] (868) 822-5905
Flag description:
red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side
to the lower fly side; the colors represent the elements of earth,
water, and fire; black stands for the wealth of the land and the
dedication of the people; white symbolizes the sea surrounding the
islands, the purity of the country's aspirations, and equality; red
symbolizes the warmth and energy of the sun, the vitality of the
land, and the courage and friendliness of its people
National anthem:
name: "Forged From the Love of Liberty"
lyrics/music: Patrick Stanislaus CASTAGNE
note: adopted 1962; the song was originally created to serve as an
anthem for the West Indies Federation; it was adopted by Trinidad
and Tobago following the Federation's dissolution in 1962
Economy ::Trinidad and Tobago
Economy - overview:
Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as an excellent
investment site for international businesses and has one of the
highest growth rates and per capita incomes in Latin America.
Economic growth between 2000 and 2007 averaged slightly over 8%,
significantly above the regional average of about 3.7% for that same
period; however, GDP has slowed down since then and contracted about
3.5% in 2009, before rising more than 2% in 2010. Growth has been
fueled by investments in liquefied natural gas (LNG),
petrochemicals, and steel. Additional petrochemical, aluminum, and
plastics projects are in various stages of planning. Trinidad and
Tobago is the leading Caribbean producer of oil and gas, and its
economy is heavily dependent upon these resources but it also
supplies manufactured goods, notably food products and beverages, as
well as cement to the Caribbean region. Oil and gas account for
about 40% of GDP and 80% of exports, but only 5% of employment. The
country is also a regional financial center, and tourism is a
growing sector, although it is not as important domestically as it
is to many other Caribbean islands. The economy benefits from a
growing trade surplus. The previous MANNING administration benefited
from fiscal surpluses fueled by the dynamic export sector; however,
declines in oil and gas prices have reduced government revenues
which will challenge the new government's commitment to maintaining
high levels of public investment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$27.1 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
$26.54 billion (2009 est.)
$27.42 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$21.2 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
-3.2% (2009 est.)
3.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$22,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$21,600 (2009 est.)
$22,300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.5%
industry: 59.4%
services: 40.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
631,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3.8%
manufacturing, mining, and quarrying: 12.8%
construction and utilities: 20.4%
services: 62.9% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
5.8% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
17% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
11.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Public debt:
26.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
29% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
7% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
7.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 41
10.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.94% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
12.44% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$3.734 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 102
$3.407 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$12.47 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
$11.35 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.924 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
$2.823 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$11.15 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 65
$12.16 billion (31 December 2008)
$15.61 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
cocoa, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry
Industries:
petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas (LNG),
methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, food processing,
cement, cotton textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
2.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Electricity - production:
7.202 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Electricity - consumption:
7.034 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
151,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Oil - consumption:
43,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Oil - exports:
248,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Oil - imports:
92,480 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Oil - proved reserves:
728.3 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Natural gas - production:
39.3 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Natural gas - consumption:
21.94 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Natural gas - exports:
17.36 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - proved reserves:
436.1 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Current account balance:
$3.363 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$1.702 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$12.06 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$9.312 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas (LNG),
methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, cereal and
cereal products, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus fruit, vegetables,
flowers
Exports - partners:
US 38.53%, Jamaica 8.86%, Spain 6.88%, Mexico 6.23% (2009)
Imports:
$8.234 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
$7.161 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral fuels, lubricants, machinery, transportation equipment,
manufactured goods, food, chemicals, live animals
Imports - partners:
US 30.87%, Colombia 7.1%, Venezuela 7.01%, Russia 6.64%, Brazil
5.53%, China 4.19% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$9.659 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$9.246 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.303 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
$3.895 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$102 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$12.44 billion (2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$3.829 billion (2007)
country comparison to the world: 62
Exchange rates:
Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar - 6.3337 (2010),
6.3099 (2009), 6.2896 (2008), 6.3275 (2007), 6.3107 (2006)
Communications ::Trinidad and Tobago
Telephones - main lines in use:
314,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 111
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.97 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 133
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent international service; good local
service
domestic: mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 185 telephones per 100
persons
international: country code - 1-868; submarine cable systems provide
connectivity to US and parts of the Caribbean and South America;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric
scatter to Barbados and Guyana
Broadcast media:
5 TV networks each broadcasting on multiple stations; one of the
networks is state-owned; multiple cable TV subscription service
providers; multiple radio networks, one state-owned, broadcast over
about 35 stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.tt
Internet hosts:
168,876 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 68
Internet users:
593,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 115
Transportation ::Trinidad and Tobago
Airports:
6 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 176
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 659 km; oil 336 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 8,320 km
country comparison to the world: 140
paved: 4,252 km
unpaved: 4,068 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 6
country comparison to the world: 127
by type: passenger 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries: 2 (Bahamas 1, unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port-of-Spain, Scarborough
Military ::Trinidad and Tobago
Military branches:
Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF): Trinidad and Tobago Army,
Coast Guard, Air Guard, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (16 years of age with
parental consent); no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 347,044
females age 16-49: 323,847 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 273,361
females age 16-49: 266,535 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 8,572
female: 7,966 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 170
Transnational Issues ::Trinidad and Tobago
Disputes - international:
in April 2006, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a decision
that delimited a maritime boundary with Trinidad and Tobago and
compelled Barbados to enter a fishing agreement that limited
Barbadian fishermen's catches of flying fish in Trinidad and
Tobago's exclusive economic zone; in 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and
Tobago agreed to compulsory international arbitration under UNCLOS
challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's and
Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters; Guyana
has also expressed its intention to include itself in the
arbitration as the Trinidad and Tobago-Venezuela maritime boundary
may extend into its waters as well
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and
Europe; producer of cannabis
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Tunisia (Africa)
Introduction ::Tunisia
Background:
Rivalry between French and Italian interests in Tunisia culminated
in a French invasion in 1881 and the creation of a protectorate.
Agitation for independence in the decades following World War I was
finally successful in getting the French to recognize Tunisia as an
independent state in 1956. The country's first president, Habib
BOURGUIBA, established a strict one-party state. He dominated the
country for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism and
establishing rights for women unmatched by any other Arab nation. In
November 1987, BOURGUIBA was removed from office and replaced by
Zine el Abidine BEN ALI in a bloodless coup. BEN ALI is currently
serving his fifth consecutive five-year term as president. Tunisia
has long taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in its foreign
relations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse rising pressure for
a more open political society.
Geography ::Tunisia
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria
and Libya
Geographic coordinates:
34 00 N, 9 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 163,610 sq km
country comparison to the world: 92
land: 155,360 sq km
water: 8,250 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,424 km
border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
Coastline:
1,148 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
Climate:
temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers;
desert in south
Terrain:
mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges
into the Sahara
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Land use:
arable land: 17.05%
permanent crops: 13.08%
other: 69.87% (2005)
Irrigated land:
3,940 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
4.6 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.64 cu km/yr (14%/4%/82%)
per capita: 261 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health
risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water
resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia are
discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf
between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
People ::Tunisia
Population:
10,589,025 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.7% (male 1,227,238/female 1,149,796)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 3,701,661/female 3,652,322)
65 years and over: 7.2% (male 352,003/female 403,319) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.7 years
male: 29.1 years
female: 30.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.969% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Birth rate:
15.31 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Death rate:
5.24 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Net migration rate:
-0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Urbanization:
urban population: 67% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.073 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 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 (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 21.75 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 94
male: 23.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.99 years
country comparison to the world: 73
male: 74.17 years
female: 77.94 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.71 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,700 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Nationality:
noun: Tunisian(s)
adjective: Tunisian
Ethnic groups:
Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Religions:
Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Languages:
Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French
(commerce)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.3%
male: 83.4%
female: 65.3% (2004 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
7.2% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 18
Government ::Tunisia
Country name:
conventional long form: Tunisian Republic
conventional short form: Tunisia
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
local short form: Tunis
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Tunis
geographic coordinates: 36 48 N, 10 11 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
24 governorates; Ariana (Aryanah), Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin
'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba
(Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili
(Qibili), Kef (Al Kaf), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah),
Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax
(Safaqis), Sidi Bou Zid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse
(Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan
(Zaghwan)
Independence:
20 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 20 March (1956); also the anniversary of BEN ALI's
assumption of the presidency, 7 November (1987)
Constitution:
1 June 1959; amended 1988, 2002
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial
review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal except for active government security
forces (including the police and the military), people with mental
disabilities, people who have served more than three months in
prison (criminal cases only), and people given a suspended sentence
of more than six months
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November
1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI (since 17
November 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held on 25 October 2009 (next to be
held in October 2014); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected for a
fifth term; percent of vote - Zine El Abidine BEN ALI 89.6%, Mohamed
BOUCHIHA 5%, Ahmed INOUBLI 3.8%, Ahmed BRAHIM 1.6%; voter turnout
89.4%
Legislative branch:
bicameral system consists of the Chamber of Advisors (126 seats; 85
members elected by municipal counselors, deputies, mayors, and
professional associations and trade unions; 41 members are
presidential appointees; members serve six-year terms); and the
Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (214 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Advisors - last held on 3 July 2005 (next to
be held in July 2011); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 25 October
2009 (next to be held in October 2014);
election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party -
RCD 84.6%, MDS 4.6%, PUP 3.4%, UDU 2.6%, PSL 2.2%, PVP 1.7%,
Al-Tajdid 0.5%; seats by party - RCD 161, MDS 16, PUP 12, UDU 9, PSL
8, PVP 6, Al-Tajdid 2; voter turnout 89.4%
Judicial branch:
Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation
Political parties and leaders:
Al-Tajdid Movement [Ahmed IBRAHIM]; Constitutional Democratic Rally
Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD;
Democratic Forum for Labor and Liberties or FDTL [Mustapha Ben
JAFAAR]; Green Party for Progress or PVP [Mongi KHAMASSI]; Liberal
Social Party or PSL [Mondher THABET]; Movement of Socialist
Democrats or MDS [Ismail BOULAHYA]; Popular Unity Party or PUP
[Mohamed BOUCHIHA]; Progressive Democratic Party [Maya JERIBI];
Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Ahmed INOUBLI]; note - the
Islamist party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is outlawed
Political pressure groups and leaders:
18 October Group [collective leadership]; Tunisian League for Human
Rights or LTDH [Mokhtar TRIFI]
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), FAO, G-11, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS,
MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE
(partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Salah TEKAYA
chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850
FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gordon GRAY
embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis 1053
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [216] 71 107-000
FAX: [216] 71 963-263
Flag description:
red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly
encircling a red five-pointed star; resembles the Ottoman flag (red
banner with white crescent and star) and recalls Tunisia's history
as part of the Ottoman Empire; red represents the blood shed by
martyrs in the struggle against oppression, white stands for peace;
the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam
note: the flag is based on that of Turkey, itself a successor state
to the Ottoman Empire
National anthem:
name: "Humat Al Hima" (Defenders of the Homeland)
lyrics/music: Mustafa Sadik AL-RAFII and Aboul-Qacem ECHEBBI/Mohamad
Abdel WAHAB
note: adopted 1957, replaced 1958, restored 1987; Mohamad Abdel
WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of the United Arab
Emirates
Economy ::Tunisia
Economy - overview:
Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining,
tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control of economic
affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened over the past
decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the tax
structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Progressive social
policies also have helped raise living conditions in Tunisia
relative to the region. Real growth, which averaged almost 5% over
the past decade, declined to 4.6% in 2008 and to 3-4% in 2009-10
because of economic contraction and slowing of import demand in
Europe - Tunisia's largest export market. However, development of
non-textile manufacturing, a recovery in agricultural production,
and strong growth in the services sector somewhat mitigated the
economic effect of slowing exports. Tunisia will need to reach even
higher growth levels to create sufficient employment opportunities
for an already large number of unemployed as well as the growing
population of university graduates. The challenges ahead include:
privatizing industry, liberalizing the investment code to increase
foreign investment, improving government efficiency, reducing the
trade deficit, and reducing socioeconomic disparities in the
impoverished south and west.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$100.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$97.03 billion (2009 est.)
$94.22 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$43.86 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
3% (2009 est.)
4.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
$9,300 (2009 est.)
$9,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.6%
industry: 34.6%
services: 54.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
3.83 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 18.3%
industry: 31.9%
services: 49.8% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
13.3% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
3.8% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 31.5% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
41.7 (1995 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
26.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Public debt:
49.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
47.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
3.5% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
NA% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA%
Stock of narrow money:
$11.49 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 70
$11.02 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$29.39 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$26.88 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$31.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$28.45 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$9.12 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 76
$6.374 billion (31 December 2008)
$5.355 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
olives, olive oil, grain, tomatoes, citrus fruit, sugar beets,
dates, almonds; beef, dairy products
Industries:
petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism,
textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
1.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Electricity - production:
11.08 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Electricity - consumption:
11.8 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Electricity - exports:
130 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
145 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
91,380 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Oil - consumption:
89,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Oil - exports:
77,130 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Oil - imports:
87,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Oil - proved reserves:
425 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Natural gas - production:
2.97 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Natural gas - consumption:
4.22 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Natural gas - imports:
1.25 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Natural gas - proved reserves:
65.13 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Current account balance:
-$1.389 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
-$1.234 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$16.11 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$14.42 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products,
mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons, electrical
equipment
Exports - partners:
France 29.6%, Italy 21%, Germany 8.8%, Libya 5.8%, Spain 5%, UK 4.8%
(2009)
Imports:
$20.02 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$18.12 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals,
foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
France 20.1%, Italy 16.4%, Germany 8.8%, China 5%, Spain 4.5%, US 4%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$11.23 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$11.06 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$18.76 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$19.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$33.56 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$31.86 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$251 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$233 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar - 1.4367 (2010), 1.3503 (2009),
1.211 (2008), 1.2776 (2007), 1.331 (2006)
Communications ::Tunisia
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.279 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 69
Telephones - mobile cellular:
9.754 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 65
Telephone system:
general assessment: above the African average and continuing to be
upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis;
telephone network is completely digitized; Internet access available
throughout the country
domestic: in an effort to jumpstart expansion of the fixed-line
network, the government has awarded a concession to build and
operate a VSAT network with international connectivity; rural areas
are served by wireless local loops; competition between the two
mobile-cellular service providers has resulted in lower activation
and usage charges and a strong surge in subscribership; a third
mobile, fixed, and ISP operator was licensed in 2009 and will begin
offering services in 2010; expansion of mobile-cellular services to
include multimedia messaging and e-mail and Internet to mobile phone
services also leading to a surge in subscribership; overall
fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 100 telephones
per 100 persons
international: country code - 216; a landing point for the
SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable system that provides links to Europe,
Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radio
relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel; 2
international gateway digital switches
Broadcast media:
broadcast media is mainly government-controlled; the state-run
Tunisian Radio and Television Establishment (ERTT) operates 2
national television networks, several national radio networks, and a
number of regional radio stations; 1 TV and 3 radio stations are
privately-owned and report domestic news stories directly from the
official Tunisian news agency; the state retains control of
broadcast facilities and transmitters through L'Office National de
la Telediffusion; Tunisians also have access to Egyptian, pan-Arab,
and European satellite TV channels (2007)
Internet country code:
.tn
Internet hosts:
490 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 181
Internet users:
3.5 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 60
Transportation ::Tunisia
Airports:
32 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 113
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 7 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 2,179 km; oil 1,285 km; refined products 372 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,167 km
country comparison to the world: 70
standard gauge: 471 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,688 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)
dual gauge: 8 km (2008)
Roadways:
total: 19,232 km
country comparison to the world: 111
paved: 12,655 km (includes 262 km of expressways)
unpaved: 6,577 km (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 11
country comparison to the world: 111
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 2, chemical tanker 2, passenger/cargo
4, roll on/roll off 2
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Bizerte, Gabes, Rades, Sfax, Skhira
Military ::Tunisia
Military branches:
Tunisian Armed Forces (Forces Armees Tunisiens, FAT): Army, Navy,
Republic of Tunisia Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah
At'tunisia) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
20 years of age for compulsory military service, 18 years of age for
voluntary military service; 1-year conscript service obligation
(2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,065,431
females age 16-49: 2,974,060 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,594,602
females age 16-49: 2,510,159 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 96,697
female: 90,599 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.4% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 109
Transnational Issues ::Tunisia
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 24, 2011
======================================================================
@Turkey (Middle East)
Introduction ::Turkey
Background:
Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants of the
defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who was
later honored with the title Ataturk or "Father of the Turks." Under
his authoritarian leadership, the country adopted wide-ranging
social, legal, and political reforms. After a period of one-party
rule, an experiment with multi-party politics led to the 1950
election victory of the opposition Democratic Party and the peaceful
transfer of power. Since then, Turkish political parties have
multiplied, but democracy has been fractured by periods of
instability and intermittent military coups (1960, 1971, 1980),
which in each case eventually resulted in a return of political
power to civilians. In 1997, the military again helped engineer the
ouster - popularly dubbed a "post-modern coup" - of the then
Islamic-oriented government. Turkey intervened militarily on Cyprus
in 1974 to prevent a Greek takeover of the island and has since
acted as patron state to the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,"
which only Turkey recognizes. A separatist insurgency begun in 1984
by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - now known as the People's
Congress of Kurdistan or Kongra-Gel (KGK) - has dominated the
Turkish military's attention and claimed more than 30,000 lives.
After the capture of the group's leader in 1999, the insurgents
largely withdrew from Turkey mainly to northern Iraq. In 2004, KGK
announced an end to its ceasefire and attacks attributed to the KGK
increased. Turkey joined the UN in 1945 and in 1952 it became a
member of NATO. In 1964, Turkey became an associate member of the
European Community. Over the past decade, it has undertaken many
reforms to strengthen its democracy and economy; it began accession
membership talks with the European Union in 2005.
Geography ::Turkey
Location:
Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia (that portion of Turkey
west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering
the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the
Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria
Geographic coordinates:
39 00 N, 35 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 783,562 sq km
country comparison to the world: 37
land: 769,632 sq km
water: 13,930 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 2,648 km
border countries: Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km,
Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 352 km, Syria 822 km
Coastline:
7,200 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 6 nm in the Aegean Sea; 12 nm in Black Sea and in
Mediterranean Sea
exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only: to the maritime boundary
agreed upon with the former USSR
Climate:
temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in
interior
Terrain:
high central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; several
mountain ranges
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Ararat 5,166 m
Natural resources:
coal, iron ore, copper, chromium, antimony, mercury, gold, barite,
borate, celestite (strontium), emery, feldspar, limestone,
magnesite, marble, perlite, pumice, pyrites (sulfur), clay, arable
land, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 29.81%
permanent crops: 3.39%
other: 66.8% (2005)
Irrigated land:
52,150 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
234 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 39.78 cu km/yr (15%/11%/74%)
per capita: 544 cu m/yr (2001)
Natural hazards:
severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an arc
extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van
volcanism: Turkey experiences little volcanic activity; its three
historically active volcanoes; Ararat, Nemrut Dagi, and Tendurek
Dagi have not erupted since the 19th century or earlier
Environment - current issues:
water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air
pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for
oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Sea of
Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas; Mount Ararat,
the legendary landing place of Noah's ark, is in the far eastern
portion of the country
People ::Turkey
Population:
77,804,122 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.2% (male 10,701,631/female 10,223,260)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 25,896,326/female 25,327,403)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 2,130,360/female 2,526,544) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.1 years
male: 27.7 years
female: 28.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.272% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Birth rate:
18.28 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Death rate:
6.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Net migration rate:
0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Urbanization:
urban population: 69% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 24.84 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 85
male: 25.89 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.23 years
country comparison to the world: 125
male: 70.37 years
female: 74.19 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.18 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1%; note - no country specific models provided (2001
est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Turk(s)
adjective: Turkish
Ethnic groups:
Turkish 70-75%, Kurdish 18%, other minorities 7-12% (2008 est.)
Religions:
Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)
Languages:
Turkish (official), Kurdish, other minority languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.4%
male: 95.3%
female: 79.6% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
2.9% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 155
Government ::Turkey
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Turkey
conventional short form: Turkey
local long form: Turkiye Cumhuriyeti
local short form: Turkiye
Government type:
republican parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Ankara
geographic coordinates: 39 56 N, 32 52 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:
81 provinces (iller, singular - ili); Adana, Adiyaman,
Afyonkarahisar, Agri, Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya, Ardahan,
Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir, Bartin, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik, Bingol,
Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur, Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum, Denizli,
Diyarbakir, Duzce, Edirne, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir,
Gaziantep, Giresun, Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Igdir, Isparta,
Istanbul, Izmir (Smyrna), Kahramanmaras, Karabuk, Karaman, Kars,
Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kilis, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kocaeli,
Konya, Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mersin, Mugla, Mus,
Nevsehir, Nigde, Ordu, Osmaniye, Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanliurfa,
Siirt, Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon (Trebizond),
Tunceli, Usak, Van, Yalova, Yozgat, Zonguldak
Independence:
29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 29 October (1923)
Constitution:
7 November 1982; amended 17 May 1987, 1995, 2001, 2007 and 2010;
note - amendment passed by referendum concerning presidential
elections on 21 October 2007
Legal system:
civil law system derived from various European continental legal
systems; note - member of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR),
although Turkey claims limited derogations on the ratified European
Convention on Human Rights; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Abdullah GUL (since 28 August 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (since 14
March)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
nomination of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected directly for a five-year term (eligible
for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president from
among members of parliament
election results: on 28 August 2007 the National Assembly elected
Abdullah GUL president on the third ballot; National Assembly vote -
339
note: in October 2007 Turkish voters approved a referendum package
of constitutional amendments including a provision for direct
presidential elections
Legislative branch:
unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey or Turkiye Buyuk Millet
Meclisi (550 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held on 22 July 2007 (next to be held by July 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - AKP 46.7%, CHP 20.8%,
MHP 14.3%, independents 5.2%, other 13.0%; seats by party - AKP 341,
CHP 112, MHP 71, independents 26; note - seats by party as of 15
November 2010 - AKP 335, CHP 101, MHP 70, BDP 20, DSP 6, DP 1, TP 1,
independents 7, vacant 9 (BDP entered parliament as independents;
DSP entered parliament on CHP's party list; DP and TP switched to
their respective parties after having been elected to parliament as
an independent or on the list of another party); only parties
surpassing the 10% threshold are entitled to parliamentary seats
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; High Court of Appeals (Yargitay); Council of
State (Danistay); Court of Accounts (Sayistay); Military High Court
of Appeals; Military High Administrative Court
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Left Party or DSP [Masum TURKER]; Democratic Party or DP
[Husamettin CINDORUK]; Equality and Democracy Party or EDP [Ziva
HALIS]; Felicity Party or SP [Necmettin ERBAKAN] (sometimes
translated as Contentment Party); Freedom and Solidarity Party or
ODP [Alper TAS]; Grand Unity Party or BBP [Yalcin TOPCU]; Justice
and Development Party or AKP [Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN]; Nationalist
Movement Party or MHP [Devlet BAHCELI]; Peace and Democracy Party or
BDP [Selahattin DEMIRTAS]; People's Rise Party or HSP [Numan
KURTULMUS]; Republican People's Party or CHP [Kemal KILICDAROGLU];
Turkey Party [Abdullatif SENER]
note: the parties listed above are some of the more significant of
the 61 parties that Turkey had according to the Ministry of Interior
statistics current as of May 2009
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey or TUSKON
[Rizanur MERAL}; Confederation of Public Sector Unions or KESK [Sami
EVREN]; Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Unions or DISK
[Suleyman CELEBI]; Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's
Association or MUSIAD [Omer Cihad VARDAN]; Moral Rights Workers
Union or Hak-Is [Salim USLU]; Turkish Confederation of Employers'
Unions or TISK [Tugrul KUDATGOBILIK]; Turkish Confederation of Labor
or Turk-Is [Mustafa KUMLU]; Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen and
Craftsmen or TESK [Bendevi PALANDOKEN]; Turkish Industrialists' and
Businessmen's Association or TUSIAD [Umit BOYNER]; Turkish Union of
Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges or TOBB [M. Rifat
HISARCIKLIOGLU]
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN
(observer), CICA, D-8, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EU (applicant), FAO, FATF,
G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIC, OPCW, OSCE,
Paris Club (associate), PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Namik TAN
chancery: 2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 612-6700
FAX: [1] (202) 612-6744
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Douglas A.
SILLIMAN
embassy: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Kavaklidere, 06100 Ankara
mailing address: PSC 93, Box 5000, APO AE 09823
telephone: [90] (312) 455-5555
FAX: [90] (312) 467-0019
consulate(s) general: Istanbul
consulate(s): Adana; note - there is a Consular Agent in Izmir
Flag description:
red with a vertical white crescent moon (the closed portion is
toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just
outside the crescent opening; the flag colors and designs closely
resemble those on the banner of Ottoman Empire, which preceded
modern-day Turkey; the crescent moon and star serve as insignia for
the Turks, as well as being traditional symbols of Islam; according
to legend, the flag represents the reflection of the moon and a star
in a pool of blood of Turkish warriors
National anthem:
name: "Istiklal Marsi" (Independence March)
lyrics/music: Mehmet Akif ERSOY/Zeki UNGOR
note: lyrics adopted 1921, music adopted 1932; the anthem's original
music was adopted in 1924; a new composition was agreed upon in 1932
Economy ::Turkey
Economy - overview:
Turkey's economy is increasingly driven by its industry and service
sectors, although its traditional agriculture sector still accounts
for about 30% of employment. An aggressive privatization program has
reduced state involvement in basic industry, banking, transport, and
communication, and an emerging cadre of middle-class entrepreneurs
is adding a dynamism to the economy. Turkey's traditional textiles
and clothing clothing sectors still account for one-third of
industrial employment, despite stiff competition in international
markets that resulted from the end of the global quota system. Other
sectors, notably the automotive, construction, and electronics
industries, are rising in importance and have surpassed textiles
within Turkey's export mix. Oil began to flow through the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in May 2006, marking a major milestone
that will bring up to 1 million barrels per day from the Caspian to
market. Several gas pipelines also are being planned to help move
Central Asian gas to Europe via Turkey, which will help address
Turkey's dependence on energy imports over the long term. After
Turkey experienced a severe financial crisis in 2001, Ankara adopted
financial and fiscal reforms as part of an IMF program. The reforms
strengthened the country's economic fundamentals and ushered in an
era of strong growth - averaging more than 6% annually until 2009,
when global economic conditions and tighter fiscal policy slowed
growth to 4.7%, reduced inflation to 6.5% - a 34-year low - and cut
the public sector debt-to-GPD ratio below 50%. Turkey's
well-regulated financial markets and banking system weathered the
global financial crisis and GDP rebounded strongly to 7.3% in 2010,
as exports returned to normal levels following the recession. The
economy, however, continues to be burdened by a high current account
deficit and remains dependent on often volatile, short-term
investment to finance its trade deficit. The stock value of FDI
stood at $174 billion at year-end 2010, but inflows have slowed
considerably in light of continuing economic turmoil in Europe, the
source of much of Turkey's FDI. Further economic and judicial
reforms and prospective EU membership are expected to boost Turkey's
attractiveness to foreign investors. However, Turkey's relatively
high current account deficit, uncertainty related to policy-making,
and fiscal imbalances leave the economy vulnerable to destabilizing
shifts in investor confidence.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$958.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
$893.1 billion (2009 est.)
$937.1 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$729.1 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
-4.7% (2009 est.)
0.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
$11,600 (2009 est.)
$12,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.8%
industry: 25.7%
services: 65.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
24.73 million
country comparison to the world: 24
note: about 1.2 million Turks work abroad (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 29.5%
industry: 24.7%
services: 45.8% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
12.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
14.1% (2009 est.)
note: underemployment amounted to 4% in 2008
Population below poverty line:
17.11% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 33.2% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
41 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 56
43.6 (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):
18% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Public debt:
48.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
46.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
6.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
15% (22 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 6
25% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA%
Stock of narrow money:
$57.02 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 44
$44.94 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$255.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$202.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$401.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$373.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$225.7 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 32
$117.9 billion (31 December 2008)
$286.6 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar beets, hazelnuts, pulse,
citrus; livestock
Industries:
textiles, food processing, autos, electronics, mining (coal,
chromate, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber,
paper
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Electricity - production:
198.4 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Electricity - consumption:
198.1 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Electricity - exports:
1.12 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
790 million kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
52,980 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Oil - consumption:
579,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Oil - exports:
133,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Oil - imports:
734,600 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Oil - proved reserves:
262.2 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Natural gas - production:
1.014 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Natural gas - consumption:
35.07 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Natural gas - exports:
708 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Natural gas - imports:
35.77 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Natural gas - proved reserves:
6.088 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Current account balance:
-$38.82 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
-$13.94 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$117.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$109.6 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
apparel, foodstuffs, textiles, metal manufactures, transport
equipment
Exports - partners:
Germany 9.6%, France 6.1%, UK 5.8%, Italy 5.8%, Iraq 5% (2009)
Imports:
$166.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$134.5 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, semi-finished goods, fuels, transport equipment
Imports - partners:
Russia 14%, Germany 10%, China 9%, US 6.1%, Italy 5.4%, France 5%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$78 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
$75 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$270.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
$268.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$84.45 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$174 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$16.42 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$15.42 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Turkish liras (TRY) per US dollar - 1.5181 (2010), 1.55 (2009),
1.3179 (2008), 1.319 (2007), 1.4286 (2006)
Communications ::Turkey
Telephones - main lines in use:
16.534 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 18
Telephones - mobile cellular:
62.78 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 17
Telephone system:
general assessment: comprehensive telecommunications network
undergoing rapid modernization and expansion especially in
mobile-cellular services
domestic: additional digital exchanges are permitting a rapid
increase in subscribers; the construction of a network of
technologically advanced intercity trunk lines, using both
fiber-optic cable and digital microwave radio relay, is facilitating
communication between urban centers; remote areas are reached by a
domestic satellite system; the number of subscribers to
mobile-cellular telephone service is growing rapidly
international: country code - 90; international service is provided
by the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable and by submarine fiber-optic
cables in the Mediterranean and Black Seas that link Turkey with
Italy, Greece, Israel, Bulgaria, Romania, and Russia; satellite
earth stations - 12 Intelsat; mobile satellite terminals - 328 in
the Inmarsat and Eutelsat systems (2002)
Broadcast media:
national public broadcaster Turkish Radio and Television Corporation
(TRT) operates multiple TV and radio networks and stations; multiple
privately-owned national television stations and up to 300 private
regional and local television stations; multi-channel cable TV
subcriptions are obtainable; more than 1,000 private radio broadcast
stations (2009)
Internet country code:
.tr
Internet hosts:
3.433 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 26
Internet users:
27.233 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 15
Transportation ::Turkey
Airports:
99 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 60
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 88
over 3,047 m: 16
2,438 to 3,047 m: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 4 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 4 (2010)
Heliports:
20 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 10,630 km; oil 3,636 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 8,697 km
country comparison to the world: 23
standard gauge: 8,697 km 1.435-m gauge (1,920 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 352,046 km
country comparison to the world: 19
paved: 313,151 km (includes 2,010 km of expressways)
unpaved: 38,895 km (2008)
Waterways:
1,200 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 61
Merchant marine:
total: 645
country comparison to the world: 18
by type: bulk carrier 95, cargo 290, chemical tanker 85, combination
ore/oil 1, container 40, liquefied gas 6, passenger 1,
passenger/cargo 59, petroleum tanker 31, refrigerated cargo 1, roll
on/roll off 34, specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned: 3 (Germany 1, Italy 2)
registered in other countries: 686 (Albania 1, Antigua and Barbuda
7, Azerbaijan 1, Bahamas 3, Barbados 1, Belize 18, Cambodia 26,
Comoros 16, Cook Islands 4, Dominica 1, Georgia 22, Italy 3,
Kiribati 3, Liberia 15, Malta 211, Marshall Islands 72, Moldova 18,
Mongolia 1, former Netherlands Antilles 8, Panama 79, Russia 104,
Saint Kitts and Nevis 22, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 18,
Sierra Leone 14, Slovakia 2, Tanzania 7, Togo 4, Turkmenistan 1,
Tuvalu 1, UK 1, unknown 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Aliaga, Diliskelesi, Eregli, Izmir, Kocaeli (Izmit), Mercin Limani,
Yarimca
Military ::Turkey
Military branches:
Turkish Armed Forces (TSK): Turkish Land Forces (Turk Kara
Kuvvetleri), Turkish Naval Forces (Turk Deniz Kuvvetleri; includes
naval air and naval infantry), Turkish Air Force (Turk Hava
Kuvvetleri) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
20 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 20,832,658
females age 16-49: 20,337,037 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 17,447,579
females age 16-49: 17,173,063 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 695,326
female: 666,026 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
5.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Military - note:
a "National Security Policy Document" adopted in October 2005
increases the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) role in internal security,
augmenting the General Directorate of Security and Gendarmerie
General Command (Jandarma); the TSK leadership continues to play a
key role in politics and considers itself guardian of Turkey's
secular state; in April 2007, it warned the ruling party about any
pro-Islamic appointments; despite on-going negotiations on EU
accession since October 2005, progress has been limited in
establishing required civilian supremacy over the military; primary
domestic threats are listed as fundamentalism (with the definition
in some dispute with the civilian government), separatism (the
Kurdish problem), and the extreme left wing; Ankara strongly opposed
establishment of an autonomous Kurdish region; an overhaul of the
Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC) taking place under the "Force
2014" program is to produce 20-30% smaller, more highly trained
forces characterized by greater mobility and firepower and capable
of joint and combined operations; the TLFC has taken on increasing
international peacekeeping responsibilities, and took charge of a
NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) command in
Afghanistan in April 2007; the Turkish Navy is a regional naval
power that wants to develop the capability to project power beyond
Turkey's coastal waters; the Navy is heavily involved in NATO,
multinational, and UN operations; its roles include control of
territorial waters and security for sea lines of communications; the
Turkish Air Force adopted an "Aerospace and Missile Defense Concept"
in 2002 and has initiated project work on an integrated missile
defense system; Air Force priorities include attaining a modern
deployable, survivable, and sustainable force structure, and
establishing a sustainable command and control system (2008)
Transnational Issues ::Turkey
Disputes - international:
complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Greece in the
Aegean Sea; status of north Cyprus question remains; Syria and Iraq
protest Turkish hydrological projects to control upper Euphrates
waters; Turkey has expressed concern over the status of Kurds in
Iraq; border with Armenia remains closed over Nagorno-Karabakh
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 1-1.2 million (fighting 1984-99 between Kurdish PKK and
Turkish military; most IDPs in southeastern provinces) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
key transit route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe and,
to a lesser extent, the US - via air, land, and sea routes; major
Turkish and other international trafficking organizations operate
out of Istanbul; laboratories to convert imported morphine base into
heroin exist in remote regions of Turkey and near Istanbul;
government maintains strict controls over areas of legal opium poppy
cultivation and over output of poppy straw concentrate; lax
enforcement of money-laundering controls
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Turkmenistan (Central Asia)
Introduction ::Turkmenistan
Background:
Eastern Turkmenistan for centuries formed part of the Persian
province of Khurasan; in medieval times Merv (today known as Mary)
was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important
stop on the Silk Road. Annexed by Russia between 1865 and 1885,
Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic in 1924. It achieved
independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. Extensive
hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves could prove a boon to this
underdeveloped country once extraction and delivery projects are
expanded. The Turkmen Government is actively working to diversify
its gas export routes beyond the still dominant Russian pipeline
network. In 2010, new gas export pipelines that carry Turkmen gas to
China and to northern Iran began operating, effectively ending the
Russian monopoly on Turkmen gas exports. President for Life
Saparmurat NYYAZOW died in December 2006, and Turkmenistan held its
first multi-candidate presidential election in February 2007.
Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW, a deputy cabinet chairman under NYYAZOW,
emerged as the country's new president.
Geography ::Turkmenistan
Location:
Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakhstan
Geographic coordinates:
40 00 N, 60 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 488,100 sq km
country comparison to the world: 52
land: 469,930 sq km
water: 18,170 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 3,736 km
border countries: Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakhstan 379
km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km
Coastline:
0 km; note - Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea (1,768 km)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
subtropical desert
Terrain:
flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the
south; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian Sea in
west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Vpadina Akchanaya -81 m
note: Sarygamysh Koli is a lake in northern Turkmenistan with a
water level that fluctuates above and below the elevation of Vpadina
Akchanaya (the lake has dropped as low as -110 m)
highest point: Gora Ayribaba 3,139 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, sulfur, salt
Land use:
arable land: 4.51%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 95.35% (2005)
Irrigated land:
18,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
60.9 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 24.65 cu km/yr (2%/1%/98%)
per capita: 5,104 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals,
pesticides; salination, water logging of soil due to poor irrigation
methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large share of the
flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to that river's
inability to replenish the Aral Sea; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; the western and central low-lying desolate portions of
the country make up the great Garagum (Kara-Kum) desert, which
occupies over 80% of the country; eastern part is plateau
People ::Turkmenistan
Population:
4,940,916 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.9% (male 713,698/female 697,222)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 1,618,678/female 1,646,992)
65 years and over: 4.3% (male 90,352/female 117,945) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.8 years
male: 24.4 years
female: 25.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.14% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Birth rate:
19.62 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Death rate:
6.27 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Net migration rate:
-1.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Urbanization:
urban population: 49% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 43.84 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 60
male: 52.13 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 35.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.2 years
country comparison to the world: 151
male: 65.25 years
female: 71.29 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.19 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Nationality:
noun: Turkmen(s)
adjective: Turkmen
Ethnic groups:
Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6% (2003)
Religions:
Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%
Languages:
Turkmen (official) 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.3%
female: 98.3% (1999 est.)
Education expenditures:
3.9% of GDP (1991)
country comparison to the world: 110
Government ::Turkmenistan
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turkmenistan
local long form: none
local short form: Turkmenistan
former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
defines itself as a secular democracy and a presidential republic;
in actuality displays authoritarian presidential rule, with power
concentrated within the presidential administration
Capital:
name: Ashgabat (Ashkhabad)
geographic coordinates: 37 57 N, 58 23 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
5 provinces (welayatlar, singular - welayat) and 1 independent
city*: Ahal Welayaty (Anew), Ashgabat*, Balkan Welayaty
(Balkanabat), Dashoguz Welayaty, Lebap Welayaty (Turkmenabat), Mary
Welayaty
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence:
27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 October (1991)
Constitution:
adopted 26 September 2008
Legal system:
transitioning to civil law system and influenced by Islamic law
tradition; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 14
February 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 14
February 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held on 11 February 2007 (next to be held in February
2012)
election results: Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW elected president;
percent of vote - Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW 89.2%, Amanyaz ATAJYKOW
3.2%, other candidates 7.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral parliament known as the National Assembly (Mejlis) (125
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 14 December 2008 (next to be held in
December 2013)
election results: 100% of elected officials are members of either
the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or its pseudo-civil society
parent organization, the Revival Movement, and are preapproved by
the president
note: in 26 September 2008, a new constitution of Turkmenistan
abolished a second, 2,507-member legislative body known as the
People's Council and expanded the number of deputies in the National
Assembly from 65 to 125; the powers formerly held by the People's
Council were divided up between the president and the National
Assembly
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or DPT [Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW
is chairman; Kasymguly BABAYEW is DPT Political Council First
Secretary]
note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small
opposition movements exist abroad; the three most prominent
opposition groups-in-exile are the National Democratic Movement of
Turkmenistan (NDMT), the Republican Party of Turkmenistan, and the
Watan (Fatherland) Party; the NDMT was led by former Foreign
Minister Boris SHIKHMURADOV until his arrest and imprisonment in the
wake of the 25 November 2002 attack on President NYYAZOW's motorcade
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ADB, CIS (associate member, has not ratified the 1993 CIS charter
although it participates in meetings), EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW,
OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Meret Bairamovich ORAZOW
chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 588-1500
FAX: [1] (202) 588-0697
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Eileen A. MALLOY
embassy: No. 9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street), Ashgabat,
Turkmenistan 744000
mailing address: 7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, DC 20521-7070
telephone: [993] (12) 35-00-45
FAX: [993] (12) 39-26-14
Flag description:
green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side,
containing five tribal guls (designs used in producing carpets)
stacked above two crossed olive branches; five white stars and a
white crescent moon appear in the upper corner of the field just to
the fly side of the red stripe; the green color and crescent moon
represent Islam; the five stars symbolize the regions or welayats of
Turkmenistan; the guls reflect the national identity of Turkmenistan
where carpet-making has long been a part of traditional nomadic life
note: the flag of Turkmenistan is the most intricate of all national
flags
National anthem:
name: "Garassyz, Bitarap Turkmenistanyn" (Independent, Neutral,
Turkmenistan State Anthem)
lyrics/music: collective/Veli MUKHATOV
note: adopted 1997, lyrics revised 2008; following the death of the
President Saparmurat NYYAZOW, the lyrics were altered to eliminate
references to the former president
Economy ::Turkmenistan
Economy - overview:
Turkmenistan is largely a desert country with intensive agriculture
in irrigated oases and sizeable gas and oil resources. The two
largest crops are cotton, most of which is produced for export, and
wheat, which is domestically consumed. Although agriculture accounts
for roughly 10% of GDP, it continues to employ nearly half of the
country's workforce. With an authoritarian ex-Communist regime in
power and a tribally based social structure, Turkmenistan has taken
a cautious approach to economic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton
export revenues to sustain its inefficient economy. Privatization
goals remain limited. From 1998-2005, Turkmenistan suffered from the
continued lack of adequate export routes for natural gas and from
obligations on extensive short-term external debt. At the same time,
however, total exports rose by an average of roughly 15% per year
from 2003-08, largely because of higher international oil and gas
prices. New pipelines to China and Iran, that began operation in
late 2009 and early 2010, have given Turkmenistan additional export
routes for its gas, although these new routes have not offset the
sharp drop in export revenue since early 2009 from decreased gas
exports to Russia. Overall prospects in the near future are
discouraging because of widespread internal poverty, endemic
corruption, a poor educational system, government misuse of oil and
gas revenues, and Ashgabat's reluctance to adopt market-oriented
reforms. In the past, Turkmenistan's economic statistics were state
secrets. The new government has established a State Agency for
Statistics, but GDP numbers and other figures are subject to wide
margins of error. In particular, the rate of GDP growth is
uncertain. Since his election, President BERDIMUHAMEDOW unified the
country's dual currency exchange rate, ordered the redenomination of
the manat, reduced state subsidies for gasoline, and initiated
development of a special tourism zone on the Caspian Sea. Although
foreign investment is encouraged, numerous bureaucratic obstacles
impede international business activity.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$36.64 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
$33.01 billion (2009 est.)
$31.11 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$27.96 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
11% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
6.1% (2009 est.)
10.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
$6,800 (2009 est.)
$6,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.2%
industry: 30%
services: 59.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
2.3 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 48.2%
industry: 14%
services: 37.8% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
60% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Population below poverty line:
30% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 31.7% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40.8 (1998)
country comparison to the world: 60
Investment (gross fixed):
12.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
10% (2009 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$573 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 157
$469.5 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.053 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
$912.3 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.089 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
$1.811 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
cotton, grain; livestock
Industries:
natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing
Industrial production growth rate:
7.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Electricity - production:
15.5 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Electricity - consumption:
13 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Electricity - exports:
2.5 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
197,700 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Oil - consumption:
120,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Oil - exports:
38,360 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Oil - proved reserves:
600 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Natural gas - production:
34 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Natural gas - consumption:
20 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Natural gas - exports:
14 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Natural gas - proved reserves:
7.504 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Current account balance:
$3.081 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$1.065 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$9.672 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
$6.737 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
gas, crude oil, petrochemicals, textiles, cotton fiber
Exports - partners:
Ukraine 22.3%, Turkey 10.27%, Hungary 6.75%, UAE 6.25%, Poland
6.16%, Afghanistan 5.79%, Iran 5.17% (2009)
Imports:
$4.888 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
$4.109 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
China 18.03%, Turkey 16.49%, Russia 16.45%, Germany 5.91%, UAE
5.81%, Ukraine 5.67%, US 5.41%, France 4.32% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$10.81 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$9.551 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$5 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
$1.4 billion (2004 est.)
Exchange rates:
Turkmen manat (TMM) per US dollar - 2.85 (2010), 2.85 (2009), 14,250
(2008)
Communications ::Turkmenistan
Telephones - main lines in use:
478,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 99
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.5 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 139
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications network remains
underdeveloped and progress toward improvement is slow; strict
government control and censorship inhibits liberalization and
modernization
domestic: Turkmentelekom, in cooperation with foreign partners, has
installed high speed fiber-optic lines and has upgraded most of the
country's telephone exchanges and switching centers with new digital
technology; mobile telephone usage is expanding with Russia's Mobile
Telesystems (MTS) the primary service provider; combined fixed-line
and mobile teledensity is about 40 per 100 persons
international: country code - 993; linked by fiber-optic cable and
microwave radio relay to other CIS republics and to other countries
by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; an
exchange in Ashgabat switches international traffic through Turkey
via Intelsat; satellite earth stations - 1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat
(2008)
Broadcast media:
broadcast media is government controlled and censored; 4 state-owned
TV and 4 state-owned radio networks; satellite dishes and
programming provide an alternative to the state-run media; officials
sometimes limit access to satellite TV by seizing satellite dishes
(2007)
Internet country code:
.tm
Internet hosts:
794 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 172
Internet users:
80,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 165
Transportation ::Turkmenistan
Airports:
27 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 122
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 6,417 km; oil 1,457 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,980 km
country comparison to the world: 56
broad gauge: 2,980 km 1.520-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 58,592 km
country comparison to the world: 77
paved: 47,577 km
unpaved: 11,015 km (2002)
Waterways:
1,300 km (Amu Darya and Kara Kum canal are important inland
waterways) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 56
Merchant marine:
total: 9
country comparison to the world: 119
by type: cargo 4, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Turkmenbasy
Military ::Turkmenistan
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year conscript
service obligation (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,360,898
females age 16-49: 1,368,265 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,046,907
females age 16-49: 1,168,960 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 55,805
female: 54,908 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Transnational Issues ::Turkmenistan
Disputes - international:
cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan creates
water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; field
demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2005, but
Caspian seabed delimitation remains stalled with Azerbaijan, Iran,
and Kazakhstan due to Turkmenistan's indecision over how to allocate
the sea's waters and seabed
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 11,173 (Tajikistan); less than 1,000
(Afghanistan) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and Western
European markets; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals bound
for Afghanistan
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Turks and Caicos Islands (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Turks and Caicos Islands
Background:
The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when
they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's
independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965
to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate
governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982,
the policy was reversed and the islands remain a British overseas
territory.
Geography ::Turks and Caicos Islands
Location:
Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast
of The Bahamas, north of Haiti
Geographic coordinates:
21 45 N, 71 35 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 948 sq km
country comparison to the world: 185
land: 948 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
389 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Terrain:
low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Flamingo Hill 48 m
Natural resources:
spiny lobster, conch
Land use:
arable land: 2.33%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.67% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
frequent hurricanes
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect
rainwater
Geography - note:
about 40 islands (eight inhabited)
People ::Turks and Caicos Islands
Population:
23,528 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.2% (male 3,528/female 3,401)
15-64 years: 65.6% (male 7,875/female 7,164)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 475/female 499) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 28 years
male: 28.8 years
female: 27.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.491% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Birth rate:
20.44 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Death rate:
4.17 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Net migration rate:
8.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Urbanization:
urban population: 92% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.047 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.43 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 130
male: 15.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.64 years
country comparison to the world: 78
male: 73.32 years
female: 78.07 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.92 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: none
adjective: none
Ethnic groups:
black 90%, mixed, European, or North American 10%
Religions:
Baptist 40%, Anglican 18%, Methodist 16%, Church of God 12%, other
14% (1990)
Languages:
English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
NA
People - note:
destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound
for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, and the US
Government ::Turks and Caicos Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
abbreviation: TCI
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
geographic coordinates: 21 28 N, 71 08 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
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Constitution:
Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution (Interim Amendment) Order
2009, S.I. 2009/701 - effective 14 August 2009 - suspended
Ministerial government, the House of Assembly, and the
constitutional right to trial by jury, and imposed direct British
rule
Legal system:
based on laws of England and Wales with a few adopted from Jamaica
and The Bahamas
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor Gordon WETHERELL (since 5 August 2008)
head of government: Governor Gordon WETHERELL (since 14 August
2009); note - the office of premier is suspended by the Order in
Council, effective 14 August 2009
cabinet: under provisions of the Order in Council, the cabinet is
suspended effective 14 August 2009 and replaced by an Advisory
Council appointed by the governor
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch
note: following an investigation into allegations of widespread
corruption and misconduct within the Turks and Caicos Government,
the UK foreign minister directed the governor to bring into effect
on 14 August 2009 an Order in Council suspending Ministerial
government and the House of Assembly, and imposing direct rule for a
period of up to two years
Legislative branch:
under provisions of the Order in Council, the unicameral House of
Assembly is dissolved and all seats vacated for a period of up to
two years; in the interim, a Consultative Forum, appointed by the
governor, will be established
elections: last held on 9 February 2007 (next to be held by July
2011)
election results: under provisions of the Order in Council, all
seats in the House of Assembly are vacated
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Floyd SEYMOUR]; Progressive
National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene MISICK]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), 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 colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the
shield is yellow and displays a conch shell, a spiny lobster, and
Turks Head cactus - three common elements of the islands' biota
National anthem:
name: "This Land of Ours"
lyrics/music: Conrad HOWELL
note: serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United
Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is the official anthem (see United
Kingdom)
Economy ::Turks and Caicos Islands
Economy - overview:
The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, offshore financial
services, and fishing. Most capital goods and food for domestic
consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of tourists,
accounting for more than three-quarters of the 175,000 visitors that
arrived in 2004. Major sources of government revenue also include
fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$216 million (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
4.9% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$11,500 (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
4,848 (1990 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
Labor force - by occupation:
note: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing;
significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services
Unemployment rate:
10% (1997 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (1995)
country comparison to the world: 115
Agriculture - products:
corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
Industries:
tourism, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
12 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Electricity - consumption:
11.16 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Oil - consumption:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Oil - imports:
80 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Exports:
$169.2 million (2000)
country comparison to the world: 183
Exports - commodities:
lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
Imports:
$175.6 million (2000)
country comparison to the world: 202
Imports - commodities:
food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction
materials
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications ::Turks and Caicos Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
3,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 217
Telephones - mobile cellular:
25,100 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 205
Telephone system:
general assessment: fully digital system with international direct
dialing
domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service
available
international: country code - 1-649; the Americas Region Caribbean
Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic telecommunications submarine cable
provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the
Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast media:
while there are no local terrestrial TV stations, broadcasts from
the Bahamas can be received; multi-channel cable and satellite TV
services are available; government-run radio network operates
alongside private broadcasters with a total of about 15 stations
broadcasting (2007)
Internet country code:
.tc
Internet hosts:
8,969 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 127
Transportation ::Turks and Caicos Islands
Airports:
8 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 163
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 121 km
country comparison to the world: 211
paved: 24 km
unpaved: 97 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 151
Ports and terminals:
Cockburn Harbour, Grand Turk, Providenciales
Military ::Turks and Caicos Islands
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,062
females age 16-49: 4,772 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 229
female: 223 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Turks and Caicos Islands
Disputes - international:
have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US
and Europe
page last updated on December 28, 2010
======================================================================
@Tuvalu (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Tuvalu
Background:
In 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of the Gilbert
and Ellice Islands caused the Polynesians of the Ellice Islands to
vote for separation from the Micronesians of the Gilbert Islands.
The following year, the Ellice Islands became the separate British
colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. In 2000, Tuvalu
negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name ".tv" for $50
million in royalties over a 12-year period.
Geography ::Tuvalu
Location:
Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South
Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates:
8 00 S, 178 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 26 sq km
country comparison to the world: 237
land: 26 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
24 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November);
westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
Terrain:
low-lying and narrow coral atolls
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 66.67%
other: 33.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
severe tropical storms are usually rare, but in 1997 there were
three cyclones; low level of islands make them sensitive to changes
in sea level
Environment - current issues:
since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable,
most water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage
facilities (the Japanese Government has built one desalination plant
and plans to build one other); beachhead erosion because of the use
of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest
undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the spread
of the Crown of Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is concerned about global
increases in greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on rising sea
levels, which threaten the country's underground water table; in
2000, the government appealed to Australia and New Zealand to take
in Tuvaluans if rising sea levels should make evacuation necessary
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
one of the smallest and most remote countries on Earth; six of the
nine coral atolls - Nanumea, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti, and
Nukulaelae - have lagoons open to the ocean; Nanumaya and Niutao
have landlocked lagoons; Niulakita does not have a lagoon
People ::Tuvalu
Population:
10,472 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.2% (male 1,841/female 1,770)
15-64 years: 65.6% (male 3,973/female 4,141)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 240/female 408) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.9 years
male: 22.4 years
female: 26 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.659% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Birth rate:
23.01 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Death rate:
9.36 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Net migration rate:
-7.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 207
Urbanization:
urban population: 49% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.051 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 35.52 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 71
male: 38.66 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 32.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.39 years
country comparison to the world: 168
male: 62.36 years
female: 66.51 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.14 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Tuvaluan(s)
adjective: Tuvaluan
Ethnic groups:
Polynesian 96%, Micronesian 4%
Religions:
Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist
1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%
Languages:
Tuvaluan (official), English (official), Samoan, Kiribati (on the
island of Nui)
Literacy:
NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2001)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Tuvalu
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tuvalu
local long form: none
local short form: Tuvalu
former: Ellice Islands
note: "Tuvalu" means "group of eight" referring to the country's
eight traditionally inhabited islands
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Funafuti
geographic coordinates: 8 30 S, 179 12 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: administrative offices are in Vaiaku Village on Fongafale Islet
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
1 October 1978 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
Constitution:
1 October 1978
Legal system:
English common law supplemented by local customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Iakoba TAEIA Italeli (since May 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Willie TELAVI (since 24 December
2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the
recommendation of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; prime
minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from the members
of parliament following parliamentary elections
election results: Willie TELAVI elected prime minister in a
parliamentary election on 24 December 2010 following a no-confidence
vote on 21 December 2010 that ousted Maatia TOAFA
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also called House of Assembly
(15 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 16 September 2010 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 15; 10
members reelected
Judicial branch:
High Court (a chief justice visits twice a year to preside over its
sessions; its rulings can be appealed to the Court of Appeal in
Fiji); eight Island Courts (with limited jurisdiction)
Political parties and leaders:
there are no political parties but members of parliament usually
align themselves in informal groupings
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, IBRD, IDA, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO,
IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Tuvalu does not have an embassy in the US - the country's only
diplomatic post is in Fiji - Tuvalu does, however, have a UN office
located at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017,
telephone: [1] (212) 490-0534, fax: [1] (212) 937-0692
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US ambassador to Fiji
is accredited to Tuvalu
Flag description:
light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant;
the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine
yellow, five-pointed stars on a blue field symbolizing the nine
atolls in the ocean
National anthem:
name: "Tuvalu mo te Atua" (Tuvalu for the Almighty)
lyrics/music: Afaese MANOA
note: adopted 1978; the anthem's name is also the nation's motto
Economy ::Tuvalu
Economy - overview:
Tuvalu consists of a densely populated, scattered group of nine
coral atolls with poor soil. The country has no known mineral
resources and few exports and is almost entirely dependent upon
imported food and fuel. Subsistence farming and fishing are the
primary economic activities. Fewer than 1,000 tourists, on average,
visit Tuvalu annually. Job opportunities are scarce and public
sector workers make up most of those employed. About 15% of the
adult male population work as seamen on merchant ships abroad, and
remittances are a vital source of income contributing around $2
million in 2007. Substantial income is received annually from the
Tuvalu Trust Fund (TTF) an international trust fund established in
1987 by Australia, NZ, and the UK and supported also by Japan and
South Korea. Thanks to wise investments and conservative
withdrawals, this fund grew from an initial $17 million to an
estimated value of $77 million in 2006. The TTF contributed nearly
$9 million towards the government budget in 2006 and is an important
cushion for meeting shortfalls in the government's budget. The US
Government is also a major revenue source for Tuvalu because of
payments from a 1988 treaty on fisheries. In an effort to ensure
financial stability and sustainability, the government is pursuing
public sector reforms, including privatization of some government
functions and personnel cuts. Tuvalu also derives royalties from the
lease of its ".tv" Internet domain name with revenue of more than $2
million in 2006. A minor source of government revenue comes from the
sale of stamps and coins. With merchandise exports only a fraction
of merchandise imports, continued reliance must be placed on fishing
and telecommunications license fees, remittances from overseas
workers, official transfers, and income from overseas investments.
Growing income disparities and the vulnerability of the country to
climatic change are among leading concerns for the nation.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$14.94 million (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 226
GDP (official exchange rate):
$14.94 million (2002)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,600 (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 16.6%
industry: 27.2%
services: 56.2% (2002)
Labor force:
3,615 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
Labor force - by occupation:
note: people make a living mainly through exploitation of the sea,
reefs, and atolls and from wages sent home by those abroad (mostly
workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)
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):
3.8% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Agriculture - products:
coconuts; fish
Industries:
fishing, tourism, copra
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Current account balance:
-$11.68 million (2003)
country comparison to the world: 62
Exports:
$1 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
Exports - commodities:
copra, fish
Imports:
$12.91 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 220
Imports - commodities:
food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.1151
(2009), 1.2059 (2008), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006)
Communications ::Tuvalu
Telephones - main lines in use:
1,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 226
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 215
Telephone system:
general assessment: serves particular needs for internal
communications
domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands
international: country code - 688; international calls can be made
by satellite
Broadcast media:
no television broadcast stations; many households use satellite
dishes to watch foreign TV stations; 1 government-owned radio
station, Radio Tuvalu, includes relays of programming from
international broadcasters (2009)
Internet country code:
.tv
Internet hosts:
109,478 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 77
Internet users:
4,200 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 205
Transportation ::Tuvalu
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 213
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 8 km
country comparison to the world: 221
paved: 8 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
total: 66
country comparison to the world: 64
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 20, chemical tanker 16, container 3,
passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 15, refrigerated
cargo 1, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 49 (Thailand 1, Vietnam 6, Turkey 1, Switzerland 1,
South Korea 1, Singapore 25, Maldives 1, Malaysia 1, Kenya 1, Hong
Kong 1, China 9, Ukraine 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Funafuti
Military ::Tuvalu
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Tuvalu Police Force (2009)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,981
females age 16-49: 2,005 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 120
female: 110 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues ::Tuvalu
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Uganda (Africa)
Introduction ::Uganda
Background:
The colonial boundaries created by Britain to delimit Uganda grouped
together a wide range of ethnic groups with different political
systems and cultures. These differences prevented the establishment
of a working political community after independence was achieved in
1962. The dictatorial regime of Idi AMIN (1971-79) was responsible
for the deaths of some 300,000 opponents; guerrilla war and human
rights abuses under Milton OBOTE (1980-85) claimed at least another
100,000 lives. The rule of Yoweri MUSEVENI since 1986 has brought
relative stability and economic growth to Uganda. During the 1990s,
the government promulgated non-party presidential and legislative
elections.
Geography ::Uganda
Location:
Eastern Africa, west of Kenya
Geographic coordinates:
1 00 N, 32 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 241,038 sq km
country comparison to the world: 80
land: 197,100 sq km
water: 43,938 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 2,698 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 765 km, Kenya 933
km, Rwanda 169 km, Sudan 435 km, Tanzania 396 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to
February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
Terrain:
mostly plateau with rim of mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m
highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m
Natural resources:
copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land, gold
Land use:
arable land: 21.57%
permanent crops: 8.92%
other: 69.51% (2005)
Irrigated land:
90 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
66 cu km (1970)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.3 cu km/yr (43%/17%/40%)
per capita: 10 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake
Victoria; widespread poaching
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers
People ::Uganda
Population:
33,398,682
country comparison to the world: 37
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 50% (male 8,152,830/female 8,034,366)
15-64 years: 47.9% (male 7,789,209/female 7,703,143)
65 years and over: 2.1% (male 286,693/female 403,317) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 15 years
male: 14.9 years
female: 15.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.563% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Birth rate:
47.55 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Death rate:
11.9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Net migration rate:
-0.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Urbanization:
urban population: 13% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 63.7 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 28
male: 67.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 59.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.98 years
country comparison to the world: 205
male: 51.92 years
female: 54.07 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.73 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
5.4% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
940,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
77,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, plague, and African trypanosomiasis
(sleeping sickness)
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Ugandan(s)
adjective: Ugandan
Ethnic groups:
Baganda 16.9%, Banyakole 9.5%, Basoga 8.4%, Bakiga 6.9%, Iteso 6.4%,
Langi 6.1%, Acholi 4.7%, Bagisu 4.6%, Lugbara 4.2%, Bunyoro 2.7%,
other 29.6% (2002 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 41.9%, Protestant 42% (Anglican 35.9%, Pentecostal
4.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.5%), Muslim 12.1%, other 3.1%, none
0.9% (2002 census)
Languages:
English (official national language, taught in grade schools, used
in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts),
Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages,
preferred for native language publications in the capital and may be
taught in school), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan
languages, Swahili, Arabic
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.8%
male: 76.8%
female: 57.7% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 139
Government ::Uganda
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Uganda
conventional short form: Uganda
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Kampala
geographic coordinates: 0 19 N, 32 25 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
80 districts; Abim, Adjumani, Amolatar, Amuria, Amuru, Apac, Arua,
Budaka, Bududa, Bugiri, Bukedea, Bukwa, Bulisa, Bundibugyo,
Bushenyi, Busia, Butaleja, Dokolo, Gulu, Hoima, Ibanda, Iganga,
Isingiro, Jinja, Kaabong, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido, Kalangala,
Kaliro, Kampala, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kasese,
Katakwi, Kayunga, Kibale, Kiboga, Kiruhara, Kisoro, Kitgum, Koboko,
Kotido, Kumi, Kyenjojo, Lira, Luwero, Lyantonde, Manafwa, Maracha,
Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara, Mityana, Moroto, Moyo,
Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nakapiripirit, Nakaseke, Nakasongola,
Namutumba, Nebbi, Ntungamo, Oyam, Pader, Pallisa, Rakai, Rukungiri,
Sembabule, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe
Independence:
9 October 1962 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
Constitution:
8 October 1995; amended in 2005
note: the amendments in 2005 removed presidential term limits and
legalized a multiparty political system
Legal system:
based on English common law and customary law; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since
seizing power on 26 January 1986); note - the president is both
chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since
seizing power on 26 January 1986); Prime Minister Apolo NSIBAMBI
(since 5 April 1999); note - the prime minister assists the
president in the supervision of the cabinet
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected
legislators
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held on 23 February 2006 (next to be held on 18
February 2011)
election results: Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI elected president;
percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 59.3%, Kizza
BESIGYE 37.4%, other 3.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (332 seats; 215 members elected by
popular vote, 104 nominated by legally established special interest
groups [women 79, army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5], 13
ex-officio members; members to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 23 February 2006 (next to be held on 18
February 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NRM 205, FDC 37, UPC 9, DP 8, CP 1, JEEMA 1, independents 37, other
34
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the president and approved
by the legislature); High Court (judges are appointed by the
president)
Political parties and leaders:
Conservative Party or CP [Ken LUKYAMUZI]; Democratic Party or DP
[Kizito SSEBAANA]; Forum for Democratic Change or FDC [Kizza
BESIGYE]; Inter-Party Co-operation or IPC (a coalition of opposition
groups); Justice Forum or JEEMA [Muhammad Kibirige MAYANJA];
National Resistance Movement or NRM [Yoweri MUSEVENI]; Peoples
Progressive Party or PPP [Bidandi SSALI]; Ugandan People's Congress
or UPC [Miria OBOTE]
note: a national referendum in July 2005 opened the way for Uganda's
transition to a multi-party political system
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Lord's Resistance Army or LRA [Joseph KONY]; Young Parliamentary
Association [Henry BANYENZAKI]; Parliamentary Advocacy Forum or
PAFO; National Association of Women Organizations in Uganda or NAWOU
[Florence NEKYON]; The Ugandan Coalition for Political
Accountability to Women or COPAW
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC,
OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNOCI,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Perezi Karukubiro KAMUNANWIRE
chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100 through 7102, 0416
FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jerry P. LANIER
embassy: 1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala
mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala
telephone: [256] (414) 259 791 through 93, 95
FAX: [256] (414) 258-794
Flag description:
six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black,
yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and
depicts a red-crested crane (the national symbol) facing the hoist
side; black symbolizes the African people, yellow sunshine and
vitality, red African brotherhood; the crane was the military badge
of Ugandan soldiers under the UK
National anthem:
name: "Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty!"
lyrics/music: George Wilberforce KAKOMOA
note: adopted 1962
Economy ::Uganda
Economy - overview:
Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils,
regular rainfall, small deposits of copper, gold, and other
minerals, and recently discovered oil. Uganda has never conducted a
national minerals survey. Agriculture is the most important sector
of the economy, employing over 80% of the work force. Coffee
accounts for the bulk of export revenues. Since 1986, the government
- with the support of foreign countries and international agencies -
has acted to rehabilitate and stabilize the economy by undertaking
currency reform, raising producer prices on export crops, increasing
prices of petroleum products, and improving civil service wages. The
policy changes are especially aimed at dampening inflation and
boosting production and export earnings. Since 1990 economic reforms
ushered in an era of solid economic growth based on continued
investment in infrastructure, improved incentives for production and
exports, lower inflation, better domestic security, and the return
of exiled Indian-Ugandan entrepreneurs. Uganda has received about $2
billion in multilateral and bilateral debt relief. In 2007 Uganda
received $10 million for a Millennium Challenge Account Threshold
Program. The global economic downturn has hurt Uganda's exports;
however, Uganda's GDP growth is still relatively strong due to past
reforms and sound management of the downturn. Oil revenues and taxes
will become a larger source of government funding as oil comes on
line in the next few years. Instability in southern Sudan is the
biggest risk for the Ugandan economy in 2011 because Uganda's main
export partner is Sudan and Uganda is a key destination for Sudanese
refugees.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$41.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
$39.41 billion (2009 est.)
$36.76 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$17.12 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
7.2% (2009 est.)
8.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
$1,200 (2009 est.)
$1,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 23.6%
industry: 24.5%
services: 51.9% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
15.51 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 82%
industry: 5%
services: 13% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
35% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 34.1% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
45.7 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 39
37.4 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Public debt:
20.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
20.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
14.2% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
9.65% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 13
19.42% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
20.96% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
20.45% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.997 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 119
$1.603 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$3.905 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
$3.322 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.882 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
$1.716 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2009)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$116.3 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), potatoes, corn,
millet, pulses, cut flowers; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry
Industries:
sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Electricity - production:
2.256 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Electricity - consumption:
2.068 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Electricity - exports:
30 million kWh (2007)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
NA bbl/day (2009 est.)
Oil - consumption:
13,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Oil - imports:
13,090 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Current account balance:
-$784 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
-$451 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$2.941 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
$2.7 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, fish and fish products, tea, cotton, flowers, horticultural
products; gold
Exports - partners:
Sudan 13.47%, Kenya 8.98%, UAE 7.52%, Rwanda 7.5%, Switzerland
7.42%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 6.85%, Netherlands 5.67%,
Belgium 5.66%, Germany 5.18%, Italy 4.33% (2009)
Imports:
$4.474 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
$3.844 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals
Imports - partners:
Kenya 13.9%, India 12.79%, UAE 11.16%, China 8.91%, South Africa
5.08%, France 4.6%, Japan 4.37%, US 4.07% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.743 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$2.995 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
note: excludes gold
Debt - external:
$2.888 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
$2.554 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar - 2,166 (2010), 2,038.9
(2009), 1,658.1 (2008), 1,685.8 (2007), 1,834.9 (2006)
Communications ::Uganda
Telephones - main lines in use:
233,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 124
Telephones - mobile cellular:
9.384 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 68
Telephone system:
general assessment: mobile cellular service is increasing rapidly,
but the number of main lines is still deficient; work underway on a
national backbone information and communications technology
infrastructure; international phone networks and Internet
connectivity provided through satellite and VSAT applications
domestic: intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and
radiotelephone communication stations, fixed and mobile-cellular
systems for short-range traffic; mobile-cellular teledensity about
30 per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 256; satellite earth stations - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; analog links to Kenya and
Tanzania
Broadcast media:
public broadcaster, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), operates
radio and television networks; Uganda first began licensing
privately-owned stations in the 1990s; by 2007 there were nearly 150
radio and 35 TV stations, mostly based in and around Kampala;
transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available
in Kampala (2007)
Internet country code:
.ug
Internet hosts:
19,927 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 111
Internet users:
3.2 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 66
Transportation ::Uganda
Airports:
46 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 95
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 41
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 8 (2010)
Railways:
total: 1,244 km
country comparison to the world: 84
narrow gauge: 1,244 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 70,746 km
country comparison to the world: 68
paved: 16,272 km
unpaved: 54,474 km (2003)
Waterways:
there are no long navigable stretches of river in Uganda; parts of
the Albert Nile that flow out of Lake Albert in the northwestern
part of the country are navigable; several lakes including Lake
Victoria and Lake Kyoga have substantial traffic; Lake Albert is
navigable along a 200 km stretch from its northern tip to its
southern shores (2009)
Ports and terminals:
Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell
Military ::Uganda
Military branches:
Uganda Peoples Defense Force (UPDF): Army (includes Marine Unit),
Uganda Air Force (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-26 years of age for voluntary military duty; 18-30 years of age
for professionals; no conscription; 9-year service obligation; the
government has stated that recruitment below 18 years of age could
occur with proper consent and that "no person under the apparent age
of 13 years shall be enrolled in the armed forces"; Ugandan
citizenship and secondary education required (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,972,134
females age 16-49: 6,752,005 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,138,180
females age 16-49: 4,028,125 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 412,640
female: 408,521 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.2% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 67
Transnational Issues ::Uganda
Disputes - international:
Uganda is subject to armed fighting among hostile ethnic groups,
rebels, armed gangs, militias, and various government forces that
extend across its borders; Uganda hosts 209,860 Sudanese, 27,560
Congolese, and 19,710 Rwandan refugees, while Ugandan refugees as
well as members of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) seek shelter in
southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Garamba
National Park; LRA forces have also attacked Kenyan villages across
the border
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 215,700 (Sudan); 28,880 (Democratic
Republic of Congo); 24,900 (Rwanda)
IDPs: 1.27 million (350,000 IDPs returned in 2006 following ongoing
peace talks between the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the
Government of Uganda) (2007)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Ukraine (Europe)
Introduction ::Ukraine
Background:
Ukraine was the center of the first eastern Slavic state, Kyivan
Rus, which during the 10th and 11th centuries was the largest and
most powerful state in Europe. Weakened by internecine quarrels and
Mongol invasions, Kyivan Rus was incorporated into the Grand Duchy
of Lithuania and eventually into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
The cultural and religious legacy of Kyivan Rus laid the foundation
for Ukrainian nationalism through subsequent centuries. A new
Ukrainian state, the Cossack Hetmanate, was established during the
mid-17th century after an uprising against the Poles. Despite
continuous Muscovite pressure, the Hetmanate managed to remain
autonomous for well over 100 years. During the latter part of the
18th century, most Ukrainian ethnographic territory was absorbed by
the Russian Empire. Following the collapse of czarist Russia in
1917, Ukraine was able to achieve a short-lived period of
independence (1917-20), but was reconquered and forced to endure a
brutal Soviet rule that engineered two forced famines (1921-22 and
1932-33) in which over 8 million died. In World War II, German and
Soviet armies were responsible for some 7 to 8 million more deaths.
Although final independence for Ukraine was achieved in 1991 with
the dissolution of the USSR, democracy and prosperity remained
elusive as the legacy of state control and endemic corruption
stalled efforts at economic reform, privatization, and civil
liberties. A peaceful mass protest "Orange Revolution" in the
closing months of 2004 forced the authorities to overturn a rigged
presidential election and to allow a new internationally monitored
vote that swept into power a reformist slate under Viktor
YUSHCHENKO. Subsequent internal squabbles in the YUSHCHENKO camp
allowed his rival Viktor YANUKOVYCH to stage a comeback in
parliamentary elections and become prime minister in August of 2006.
An early legislative election, brought on by a political crisis in
the spring of 2007, saw Yuliya TYMOSHENKO, as head of an "Orange"
coalition, installed as a new prime minister in December 2007.
Viktor YANUKOVUYCH was elected president in a February 2010 run-off
election that observers assessed as meeting most international
standards. The following month, the Rada approved a vote of
no-confidence prompting Yuliya TYMOSHENKO to resign from her post as
prime minister.
Geography ::Ukraine
Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland, Romania,
and Moldova in the west and Russia in the east
Geographic coordinates:
49 00 N, 32 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 603,550 sq km
country comparison to the world: 45
land: 579,330 sq km
water: 24,220 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 4,566 km
border countries: Belarus 891 km, Hungary 103 km, Moldova 940 km,
Poland 428 km, Romania (south) 176 km, Romania (southwest) 362 km,
Russia 1,576 km, Slovakia 90 km
Coastline:
2,782 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean
coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west
and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool
along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; summers are warm across
the greater part of the country, hot in the south
Terrain:
most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus,
mountains being found only in the west (the Carpathians), and in the
Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Hora Hoverla 2,061 m
Natural resources:
iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite,
titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 53.8%
permanent crops: 1.5%
other: 44.7% (2005)
Irrigated land:
22,080 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
139.5 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 37.53 cu km/yr (12%/35%/52%)
per capita: 807 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water pollution;
deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986
accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 85, 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, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds
Geography - note:
strategic position at the crossroads between Europe and Asia;
second-largest country in Europe
People ::Ukraine
Population:
45,415,596 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.8% (male 3,238,280/female 3,066,594)
15-64 years: 70.3% (male 15,399,488/female 16,742,612)
65 years and over: 15.9% (male 2,422,311/female 4,831,110) (2010
est.)
Median age:
total: 39.7 years
male: 36.5 years
female: 42.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.619% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 226
Birth rate:
9.62 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Death rate:
15.7 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Net migration rate:
-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Urbanization:
urban population: 68% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.065 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female
total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.73 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 160
male: 10.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.46 years
country comparison to the world: 149
male: 62.56 years
female: 74.74 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.27 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
440,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
19,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Nationality:
noun: Ukrainian(s)
adjective: Ukrainian
Ethnic groups:
Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%,
Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%,
Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001 census)
Religions:
Ukrainian Orthodox - Kyiv Patriarchate 50.4%, Ukrainian Orthodox -
Moscow Patriarchate 26.1%, Ukrainian Greek Catholic 8%, Ukrainian
Autocephalous Orthodox 7.2%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, Protestant 2.2%,
Jewish 0.6%, other 3.2% (2006 est.)
Languages:
Ukrainian (official) 67%, Russian 24%, other 9% (includes small
Romanian-, Polish-, and Hungarian-speaking minorities)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.3% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 54
Government ::Ukraine
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ukraine
local long form: none
local short form: Ukrayina
former: Ukrainian National Republic, Ukrainian State, Ukrainian
Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Kyiv (Kiev)
note: pronounced KAY-yiv
geographic coordinates: 50 26 N, 30 31 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:
24 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast'), 1 autonomous republic*
(avtonomna respublika), and 2 municipalities (mista, singular -
misto) with oblast status**; Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Crimea
or Avtonomna Respublika Krym* (Simferopol'), Dnipropetrovs'k,
Donets'k, Ivano-Frankivs'k, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmel'nyts'kyy,
Kirovohrad, Kyiv**, Kyiv, Luhans'k, L'viv, Mykolayiv, Odesa,
Poltava, Rivne, Sevastopol'**, Sumy, Ternopil', Vinnytsya, Volyn'
(Luts'k), Zakarpattya (Uzhhorod), Zaporizhzhya, Zhytomyr
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence:
24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 24 August (1991); note - 22 January 1918, the day
Ukraine first declared its independence (from Soviet Russia) and the
day the short-lived Western and Greater (Eastern) Ukrainian
republics united (1919), is now celebrated as Unity Day
Constitution:
adopted 28 June 1996
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Viktor YANUKOVYCH (since 25 February 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Mykola AZAROV (since 11 March
2010); First Deputy Prime Minister Andriy KLYUYEV (since 11 March
2010); Deputy Prime Ministers Borys KOLESNIKOV, Serhiy TIHIPKO,
Viktor TYKHONOV (all since 11 March 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the president and
approved by the Rada
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
note: there is also a National Security and Defense Council or NSDC
originally created in 1992 as the National Security Council; the
NSDC staff is tasked with developing national security policy on
domestic and international matters and advising the president; a
Presidential Administration helps draft presidential edicts and
provides policy support to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 January 2010
with runoff on 7 February 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: Viktor YANUKOVYCH elected president; percent of
vote - Viktor YANUKOVYCH 48.95%, Yuliya TYMOSHENKO 45.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada (450 seats; members
allocated on a proportional basis to those parties that gain 3% or
more of the national electoral vote; members to serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held on 30 September 2007 (next must be held in 2012
or sooner if a ruling coalition cannot be formed in the Rada)
election results: percent of vote by party/bloc - Party of Regions
34.4%, Block of Yuliya Tymoshenko 30.7%, Our Ukraine-People's Self
Defense 14.2%, CPU 5.4%, Lytvyn Bloc 4%, other parties 11.3%; seats
by party/bloc - Party of Regions 175, Block of Yuliya Tymoshenko
156, Our Ukraine-People's Self Defense 72, CPU 27, Lytvyn Bloc 20
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders:
Block of Yuliya Tymoshenko-Batkivshchyna (BYuT-Batkivshchyna)
[Yuliya TYMOSHENKO]; Communist Party of Ukraine or CPU [Petro
SYMONENKO]; European Party of Ukraine [Mykola KATERYNCHUK]; Forward
Ukraine! [Viktor MUSIYAKA]; Front of Change [Arseniy YATSENYUK];
Lytvyn Bloc (composed of People's Party and Labor Party of Ukraine)
[Volodymyr LYTVYN]; Our Ukraine [Viktor YUSHCHENKO]; Party of
Industrialists and Entrepreneurs [Anatoliy KINAKH]; Party of Regions
[Viktor YANUKOVYCH]; Party of the Defenders of the Fatherland [Yuriy
KARMAZIN]; People's Movement of Ukraine (Rukh) [Borys TARASYUK];
People's Party [Volodymyr LYTVYN]; Peoples' Self-Defense [Yuriy
LUTSENKO]; PORA! (It's Time!) party [Vladyslav KASKIV]; Progressive
Socialist Party [Natalya VITRENKO]; Reforms and Order Party [Viktor
PYNZENYK]; Sobor [Anatoliy MATVIYENKO]; Social Democratic Party
[Yevhen KORNICHUK]; Social Democratic Party (United) or SDPU(o)
[Yuriy ZAHORODNIY]; Socialist Party of Ukraine or SPU [Oleksandr
MOROZ]; Strong Ukraine [SERHIY TIHIPKO]; Ukrainian People's Party
[Yuriy KOSTENKO]; United Center [Viktor BALOHA]; Viche [Inna
BOHOSLOVSKA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Committee of Voters of Ukraine [Aleksandr CHERNENKO]; OPORA [Olha
AIVAZOVSKA]
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CE, CEI, CICA (observer),
CIS (participating member, has not signed the 1993 CIS charter
although it participates in meetings), EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD,
FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA
(observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIF
(observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Oleksandr MOTSYK
chancery: 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 333-0606
FAX: [1] (202) 333-0817
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John F. TEFFT
embassy: 10 Yurii Kotsiubynsky Street, 01901 Kyiv
mailing address: 5850 Kyiv Place, Washington, DC 20521-5850
telephone: [380] (44) 490-4000
FAX: [380] (44) 490-4085
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow
represent grain fields under a blue sky
National anthem:
name: "Sche ne vmerla Ukraina" (Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished)
lyrics/music: Paul CHUBYNSKYI/Mikhail VERBYTSKYI
note: music adopted 1991, lyrics adopted 2003; the song was first
performed in 1864 at the Ukraine Theatre in Lviv; the lyrics,
originally written in 1862, were revised in 2003
Economy ::Ukraine
Economy - overview:
After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far and away the most
important economic component of the former Soviet Union, producing
about four times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its
fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of Soviet
agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities
of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise,
its diversified heavy industry supplied the unique equipment (for
example, large diameter pipes) and raw materials to industrial and
mining sites (vertical drilling apparatus) in other regions of the
former USSR. Shortly after independence in August 1991, the
Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal
framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to reform
within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform
efforts and led to some backtracking. Output by 1999 had fallen to
less than 40% of the 1991 level. Ukraine's dependence on Russia for
energy supplies and the lack of significant structural reform have
made the Ukrainian economy vulnerable to external shocks. Ukraine
depends on imports to meet about three-fourths of its annual oil and
natural gas requirements and 100% of its nuclear fuel needs. After a
two-week dispute that saw gas supplies cutoff to Europe, Ukraine
agreed to ten-year gas supply and transit contracts with Russia in
January 2009 that brought gas prices to "world" levels. The strict
terms of the contracts have further hobbled Ukraine's cash-strapped
state gas company, Naftohaz. Outside institutions - particularly the
IMF - have encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace and scope of
reforms. Ukrainian Government officials eliminated most tax and
customs privileges in a March 2005 budget law, bringing more
economic activity out of Ukraine's large shadow economy, but more
improvements are needed, including fighting corruption, developing
capital markets, and improving the legislative framework. Ukraine's
economy was buoyant despite political turmoil between the prime
minister and president until mid-2008. Real GDP growth exceeded 7%
in 2006-07, fueled by high global prices for steel - Ukraine's top
export - and by strong domestic consumption, spurred by rising
pensions and wages. Ukraine reached an agreement with the IMF for a
$16.4 billion Stand-By Arrangement in November 2008 to deal with the
economic crisis, but the Ukrainian Government's lack of progress in
implementing reforms has twice delayed the release of IMF assistance
funds. The drop in steel prices and Ukraine's exposure to the global
financial crisis due to aggressive foreign borrowing lowered growth
in 2008 and the economy contracted more than 15% in 2009, among the
worst economic performances in the world; growth resumed in 2010,
buoyed by exports. External conditions are likely to hamper efforts
for economic recovery in 2011.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$306.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$293.7 billion (2009 est.)
$345.9 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$136.6 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
-15.1% (2009 est.)
2.1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
$6,400 (2009 est.)
$7,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.8%
industry: 32.3%
services: 57.9% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
22.06 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 15.8%
industry: 18.5%
services: 65.7% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
8.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
8.8% (2009 est.)
note: officially registered; large number of unregistered or
underemployed workers
Population below poverty line:
35% (2009)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 25.7% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 105
29 (1999)
Investment (gross fixed):
16.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Public debt:
38.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
30% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
15.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
10.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 32
12% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
20.86% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
17.49% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$34.97 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 51
$30 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$73.91 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
$62.22 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$110.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$103.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$16.79 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 56
$24.36 billion (31 December 2008)
$111.8 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables; beef, milk
Industries:
coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and
transport equipment, chemicals, food processing
Industrial production growth rate:
8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Electricity - production:
172.9 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Electricity - consumption:
134.6 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Electricity - exports:
4 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
99,930 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Oil - consumption:
348,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Oil - exports:
154,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Oil - imports:
147,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Oil - proved reserves:
395 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Natural gas - production:
21.2 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Natural gas - consumption:
52 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Natural gas - exports:
5 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Natural gas - imports:
26.83 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.104 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Current account balance:
$603 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
-$1.732 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$49.71 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$40.39 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
ferrous and nonferrous metals, fuel and petroleum products,
chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, food products
Exports - partners:
Russia 21.1%, Turkey 5.3%, China 3.8% (2009)
Imports:
$53.54 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$45.05 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
energy, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Russia 28%, Germany 8.6%, China 6.1%, Kazakhstan 4.9%, Poland 4.9%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$32.91 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$26.51 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$97.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$94.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$52.31 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$46.81 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$2.327 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$2.067 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
hryvnia (UAH) per US dollar - 7.9111 (2010), 7.7912 (2009), 4.9523
(2008), 5.05 (2007), 5.05 (2006)
Communications ::Ukraine
Telephones - main lines in use:
13.026 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 20
Telephones - mobile cellular:
55.333 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 20
Telephone system:
general assessment: Ukraine's telecommunication development plan
emphasizes improving domestic trunk lines, international
connections, and the mobile-cellular system
domestic: at independence in December 1991, Ukraine inherited a
telephone system that was antiquated, inefficient, and in disrepair;
more than 3.5 million applications for telephones could not be
satisfied; telephone density is rising and the domestic trunk system
is being improved; about one-third of Ukraine's networks are digital
and a majority of regional centers now have digital switching
stations; improvements in local networks and local exchanges
continue to lag; the mobile-cellular telephone system's expansion
has slowed, largely due to saturation of the market which has
reached 120 mobile phones per 100 people
international: country code - 380; 2 new domestic trunk lines are a
part of the fiber-optic Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) system and 3
Ukrainian links have been installed in the fiber-optic
Trans-European Lines (TEL) project that connects 18 countries;
additional international service is provided by the
Italy-Turkey-Ukraine-Russia (ITUR) fiber-optic submarine cable and
by an unknown number of earth stations in the Intelsat, Inmarsat,
and Intersputnik satellite systems
Broadcast media:
TV coverage is provided by Ukraine's state-controlled nationwide
broadcast channel (UT1) and a number of privately-owned television
broadcast networks; Russian television broadcasts have a small
audience nationwide, but larger audiences in the eastern and
southern regions; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are
available; Ukraine's radio broadcast market, a mix of independent
and state-owned networks, is comprised of some 300 stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.ua
Internet hosts:
1.098 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 42
Internet users:
7.77 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 38
Transportation ::Ukraine
Airports:
425 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 19
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 189
over 3,047 m: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 97 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 236
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 214 (2010)
Heliports:
7 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 33,327 km; oil 4,514 km; refined products 4,211 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 21,658 km
country comparison to the world: 13
broad gauge: 21,658 km 1.524-m gauge (9,729 km electrified) (2009)
Roadways:
total: 169,495 km
country comparison to the world: 30
paved: 165,820 km (includes 15 km of expressways)
unpaved: 3,675 km (2009)
Waterways:
2,150 km (most on Dnieper River) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 42
Merchant marine:
total: 160
country comparison to the world: 41
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 123, chemical tanker 1, passenger 5,
passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 11,
specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Iran 1)
registered in other countries: 197 (Belize 6, Cambodia 37, Comoros
10, Cyprus 2, Dominica 2, Georgia 15, Liberia 16, Malta 30, Marshall
Islands 1, Moldova 12, Mongolia 1, Panama 11, Russia 12, Saint Kitts
and Nevis 10, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 12, Sierra Leone 5,
Slovakia 7, Tuvalu 1, Vanuatu 3, unknown 4) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Feodosiya (Theodosia), Illichivsk, Mariupol', Mykolayiv, Odesa,
Yuzhnyy
Military ::Ukraine
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces
(Viyskovo-Povitryani Syly, VPS) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army and Air Force, 18
months for Navy (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 11,149,646
females age 16-49: 11,437,891 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,970,035
females age 16-49: 9,015,224 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 256,196
female: 244,473 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Transnational Issues ::Ukraine
Disputes - international:
1997 boundary delimitation treaty with Belarus remains un-ratified
due to unresolved financial claims, stalling demarcation and
reducing border security; delimitation of land boundary with Russia
is complete with preparations for demarcation underway; the dispute
over the boundary between Russia and Ukraine through the Kerch
Strait and Sea of Azov remains unresolved despite a December 2003
framework agreement and ongoing expert-level discussions; Moldova
and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor transit of people
and commodities through Moldova's break-away Transnistria Region,
which remains under OSCE supervision; the ICJ gave Ukraine until
December 2006 to reply, and Romania until June 2007 to rejoin, in
their dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered
Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary;
Romania opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the
Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea
Illicit drugs:
limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS
consumption; some synthetic drug production for export to the West;
limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point
for opiates and other illicit drugs from Africa, Latin America, and
Turkey to Europe and Russia; Ukraine has improved
anti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from the
Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries and
Territories List in February 2004; Ukraine's anti-money-laundering
regime continues to be monitored by FATF
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@United Arab Emirates (Middle East)
Introduction ::United Arab Emirates
Background:
The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control
of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th century treaties. In
1971, six of these states - Abu Zaby, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash
Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged to form the United
Arab Emirates (UAE). They were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah.
The UAE's per capita GDP is on par with those of leading West
European nations. Its generosity with oil revenues and its moderate
foreign policy stance have allowed the UAE to play a vital role in
the affairs of the region. For more than three decades, oil and
global finance drove the UAE's economy, however, in 2008-09, the
confluence of falling oil prices, collapsing real estate prices, and
the international banking crisis hit the UAE especially hard.
Geography ::United Arab Emirates
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf,
between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
24 00 N, 54 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 83,600 sq km
country comparison to the world: 114
land: 83,600 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:
total: 867 km
border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
Coastline:
1,318 km
Maritime claims:
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:
desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Terrain:
flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast
desert wasteland; mountains in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 0.77%
permanent crops: 2.27%
other: 96.96% (2005)
Irrigated land:
760 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
0.2 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.3 cu km/yr (23%/9%/68%)
per capita: 511 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
frequent sand and dust storms
Environment - current issues:
lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination
plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a
vital transit point for world crude oil
People ::United Arab Emirates
Population:
4,975,593
country comparison to the world: 114
note: estimate is based on the results of the 2005 census that
included a significantly higher estimate of net immigration of
non-citizens than previous estimates (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.4% (male 500,928/female 478,388)
15-64 years: 78.7% (male 2,768,030/female 1,008,404)
65 years and over: 0.9% (male 27,601/female 15,140)
note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.2 years
male: 32.1 years
female: 24.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.561% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Birth rate:
15.98 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Death rate:
2.08 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225
Net migration rate:
21.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Urbanization:
urban population: 78% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.75 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.8 male(s)/female
total population: 2.2 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 136
male: 14.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.32 years
country comparison to the world: 70
male: 73.75 years
female: 79.01 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.41 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Emirati(s)
adjective: Emirati
Ethnic groups:
Emirati 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other
expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982)
note: less than 20% are UAE citizens (1982)
Religions:
Muslim 96% (Shia 16%), other (includes Christian, Hindu) 4%
Languages:
Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 77.9%
male: 76.1%
female: 81.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2003)
Education expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 184
Government ::United Arab Emirates
Country name:
conventional long form: United Arab Emirates
conventional short form: none
local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
local short form: none
former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States
abbreviation: UAE
Government type:
federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal
government and other powers reserved to member emirates
Capital:
name: Abu Dhabi
geographic coordinates: 24 28 N, 54 22 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi),
'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al
Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn (Quwain)
Independence:
2 December 1971 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 2 December (1971)
Constitution:
2 December 1971; made permanent in 1996
Legal system:
based on a dual system of sharia and civil courts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
none
Executive branch:
chief of state: President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 3
November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 4 November
2004); Vice President and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID
Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister and Vice President MUHAMMAD bin
Rashid Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers SAIF
bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 11 May 2009) and MANSUR bin Zayid
Al-Nuhayyan (since 11 May 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the
seven emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional
authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions
federal legislation; meets four times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi)
and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power
elections: president and vice president elected by the FSC for
five-year terms (no term limits) from among the seven FSC members;
election last held 3 November 2009 upon the death of the UAE's
Founding Father and first President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan
(next election NA); prime minister and deputy prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan elected president by
a unanimous vote of the FSC; MUHAMMAD bin Rashid Al-Maktum
unanimously affirmed vice president after the 2006 death of his
brother Sheikh Maktum bin Rashid Al-Maktum
Legislative branch:
unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis al-Ittihad
al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members appointed by the rulers of the
constituent states, 20 members elected to serve four-year terms)
elections: elections for one half of the FNC (the other half remains
appointed) held on 18-20 December 2006; the new electoral college -
a body of 6,689 Emiratis (including 1,189 women) appointed by the
rulers of the seven emirates - were the only eligible voters and
candidates; 456 candidates including 65 women ran for 20 contested
FNC seats; one female from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi won a seat and 8
women were among the 20 appointed members
note: the FNC reviews legislation but cannot change or veto
Judicial branch:
Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
none; political parties are not allowed
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC,
OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Yusif bin Mani bin Said al-UTAYBA
chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC
20008
telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400
FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard G. OLSON, Jr.
embassy: Embassies District, Plot 38 Sector W59-02, Street No. 4,
Abu Dhabi
mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi
telephone: [971] (2) 414-2200
FAX: [971] (2) 414-2603
consulate(s) general: Dubai
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a
wider vertical red band on the hoist side; the flag incorporates all
four Pan-Arab colors, which in this case represent fertility
(green), neutrality (white), petroleum resources (black), and unity
(red); red was the traditional color incorporated into all flags of
the emirates before their unification
National anthem:
name: "Nashid al-watani al-imarati" (National Anthem of the UAE)
lyrics/music: AREF Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB
note: music adopted 1971, lyrics adopted 1996; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB
also composed the music for the anthem of Tunisia
Economy ::United Arab Emirates
Economy - overview:
The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a
sizable annual trade surplus. Successful efforts at economic
diversification have reduced the portion of GDP based on oil and gas
output to 25%. Since the discovery of oil in the UAE more than 30
years ago, the UAE has undergone a profound transformation from an
impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state
with a high standard of living. The government has increased
spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening
up utilities to greater private sector involvement. In April 2004,
the UAE signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with
Washington and in November 2004 agreed to undertake negotiations
toward a Free Trade Agreement with the US, however, those talks have
not moved forward. The country's Free Trade Zones - offering 100%
foreign ownership and zero taxes - are helping to attract foreign
investors. The global financial crisis, tight international credit,
and deflated asset prices slowed GDP growth in 2010. UAE authorities
tried to blunt the crisis by increasing spending and boosting
liquidity in the banking sector. The crisis hit Dubai hardest, as it
was heavily exposed to depressed real estate prices. Dubai lacked
sufficient cash to meet its debt obligations, prompting global
concern about its solvency. The UAE Central Bank and Abu Dhabi-based
banks bought the largest shares. In December 2009 Dubai received an
additional $10 billion loan from the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The
economy is expected to continue a slow rebound. Dependence on oil, a
large expatriate workforce, and growing inflation pressures are
significant long-term challenges. The UAE's strategic plan for the
next few years focuses on diversification and creating more
opportunities for nationals through improved education and increased
private sector employment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$199.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$194.7 billion (2009 est.)
$200.1 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$239.7 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
-2.7% (2009 est.)
7.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$40,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$40,600 (2009 est.)
$43,300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 51.5%
services: 47.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
3.908 million
country comparison to the world: 88
note: expatriates account for about 85% of the work force (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 15%
services: 78% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2.4% (2001)
country comparison to the world: 20
Population below poverty line:
19.5% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
26.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Public debt:
44.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
48.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
1.6% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA%
Stock of narrow money:
$68.76 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 39
$60.85 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$228.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$201.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$290 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
$263.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$109.6 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 36
$97.85 billion (31 December 2008)
$224.7 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish
Industries:
petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement,
fertilizers, commercial ship repair, construction materials, some
boat building, handicrafts, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
3.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Electricity - production:
71.54 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Electricity - consumption:
65.98 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
2.798 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Oil - consumption:
435,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Oil - exports:
2.7 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Oil - imports:
192,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Oil - proved reserves:
97.8 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Natural gas - production:
50.24 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Natural gas - consumption:
59.42 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Natural gas - exports:
7.567 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Natural gas - imports:
16.75 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Natural gas - proved reserves:
6.071 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Current account balance:
$3.409 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$7.871 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$195.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$192.2 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
Exports - partners:
Japan 17.27%, South Korea 10.49%, India 9.96%, Iran 6.82%, Thailand
5.11% (2009)
Imports:
$159 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$150 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
Imports - partners:
China 15.03%, India 14.27%, US 8.44%, Germany 5.81%, Japan 4.52%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$39.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$36.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$122.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$122.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$76.38 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$70.18 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$54.91 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$51.41 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar - 3.673 (2010), 3.673 (2009),
3.6725 (2008), 3.6725 (2007), 3.6725 (2006)
Communications ::United Arab Emirates
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.561 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 62
Telephones - mobile cellular:
10.672 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 61
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital
network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones; key
centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai
domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber optic and coaxial cable
international: country code - 971; linked to the international
submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); landing
point for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable
networks; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain;
microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia
Broadcast media:
except for the many organizations now operating in Dubai's Media
Free Zone, most television and radio stations remain
government-owned; widespread use of satellite dishes provides access
to pan-Arab and other international broadcasts (2007)
Internet country code:
.ae
Internet hosts:
379,309 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 54
Internet users:
3.449 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 61
Transportation ::United Arab Emirates
Airports:
41 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 103
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 5 (2010)
Heliports:
5 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 458 km; gas 2,152 km; liquid petroleum gas 220 km; oil
1,310 km; refined products 212 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 4,080 km
country comparison to the world: 156
paved: 4,080 km (includes 253 km of expressways) (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 57
country comparison to the world: 68
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 9, chemical tanker 7, container 7,
liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 24, roll
on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 13 (Greece 3, Kuwait 10)
registered in other countries: 278 (Bahamas 27, Belize 5, Cambodia
2, Comoros 11, Cyprus 5, Georgia 1, Gibraltar 5, Hong Kong 2, India
4, Iran 1, Jordan 7, Liberia 27, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 17,
Mexico 1, Netherlands 4, North Korea 6, Panama 83, Papua New Guinea
6, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 17, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 4, Saudi Arabia 6, Sierra Leone 6, Singapore 10, Tanzania
1, Togo 1, UK 9, Vanuatu 1, unknown 7) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Al Fujayrah, Mina' Jabal 'Ali (Dubai), Khawr Fakkan (Khor Fakkan),
Mubarraz Island, Mina' Rashid (Dubai), Mina' Saqr (Ra's al Khaymah),
Military ::United Arab Emirates
Military branches:
United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes Marines),
Air Force and Air Defense, Border and Coast Guard Directorate (BCGD)
(2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service; 18 years of
age for officers and women; no conscription (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,589,714 (includes non-nationals)
females age 16-49: 950,460 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,157,211
females age 16-49: 816,363 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 27,256
female: 24,305 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Transnational Issues ::United Arab Emirates
Disputes - international:
boundary agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for
entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah
enclaves, but contents of the agreement and detailed maps showing
the alignment have not been published; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb
Islands and Abu Musa Island, which Iran occupies
Illicit drugs:
the UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its
proximity to Southwest Asian drug-producing countries; the UAE's
position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money
laundering; anti-money-laundering controls improving, but informal
banking remains unregulated
page last updated on January 13, 2011
======================================================================
@United Kingdom (Europe)
Introduction ::United Kingdom
Background:
The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in
developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and
science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire
stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of
the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two
World Wars and the Irish republic withdraw from the union. The
second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK
rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As
one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council, a founding
member of NATO, and of the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global
approach to foreign policy. The UK is also an active member of the
EU, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary
Union. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and
the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999. The latter
was suspended until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace
process, but devolution was fully completed in March 2010.
Geography ::United Kingdom
Location:
Western Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of the
island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North
Sea, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates:
54 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 243,610 sq km
country comparison to the world: 79
land: 241,930 sq km
water: 1,680 sq km
note: includes Rockall and Shetland Islands
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 360 km
border countries: Ireland 360 km
Coastline:
12,429 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf orders or in
accordance with agreed upon boundaries
Climate:
temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North
Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast
Terrain:
mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in
east and southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: The Fens -4 m
highest point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m
Natural resources:
coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin,
limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate,
arable land
Land use:
arable land: 23.23%
permanent crops: 0.2%
other: 76.57% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,700 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
160.6 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 11.75 cu km/yr (22%/75%/3%)
per capita: 197 cu m/yr (1994)
Natural hazards:
winter windstorms; floods
Environment - current issues:
continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has met Kyoto Protocol
target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990 levels and intends to meet the
legally binding target and move toward a domestic goal of a 20% cut
in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the government reduced the amount of
industrial and commercial waste disposed of in landfill sites to 85%
of 1998 levels and recycled or composted at least 25% of household
waste, increasing to 33% by 2015
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, 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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France and
linked by tunnel under the English Channel; because of heavily
indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal waters
People ::United Kingdom
Population:
62,348,447 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.7% (male 5,233,756/female 4,986,131)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 20,774,192/female 20,246,519)
65 years and over: 16.2% (male 4,259,654/female 5,612,953) (2010
est.)
Median age:
total: 39.8 years
male: 38.6 years
female: 40.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.563% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Birth rate:
12.34 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Death rate:
9.33 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Net migration rate:
2.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Urbanization:
urban population: 90% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.052 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.69 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 191
male: 5.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.92 years
country comparison to the world: 28
male: 77.84 years
female: 82.11 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.92 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
77,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Nationality:
noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural)
adjective: British
Ethnic groups:
white (of which English 83.6%, Scottish 8.6%, Welsh 4.9%, Northern
Irish 2.9%) 92.1%, black 2%, Indian 1.8%, Pakistani 1.3%, mixed
1.2%, other 1.6% (2001 census)
Religions:
Christian (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 71.6%,
Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified or none 23.1% (2001
census)
Languages:
English
note: the following are recognized regional languages: Scots (about
30% of the population of Scotland), Scottish Gaelic (about 60,000 in
Scotland), Welsh (about 20% of the population of Wales), Irish
(about 10% of the population of Northern Ireland), Cornish (some
2,000 to 3,000 in Cornwall)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of
schooling
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.6% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 43
Government ::United Kingdom
Country name:
conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland; note - Great Britain includes England, Scotland, and Wales
conventional short form: United Kingdom
abbreviation: UK
Government type:
constitutional monarchy and Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: London
geographic coordinates: 51 30 N, 0 10 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: applies to the United Kingdom proper, not to its overseas
dependencies or territories
Administrative divisions:
England: 27 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of
London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 56 unitary
authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*)
two-tier counties: Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cumbria,
Derbyshire, Devon, Dorset, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire,
Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire,
Lincolnshire, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire,
Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk,
Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex, Worcestershire
London boroughs and City of London or Greater London: Barking and
Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing,
Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey,
Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and
Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, City of London,
Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton,
Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster
metropolitan districts: Barnsley, Birmingham, Bolton, Bradford,
Bury, Calderdale, Coventry, Doncaster, Dudley, Gateshead, Kirklees,
Knowlsey, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, North
Tyneside, Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham, Salford, Sandwell, Sefton,
Sheffield, Solihull, South Tyneside, St. Helens, Stockport,
Sunderland, Tameside, Trafford, Wakefield, Walsall, Wigan, Wirral,
Wolverhampton
unitary authorities: Bath and North East Somerset, Blackburn with
Darwen, Bedford, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Bracknell Forest, Brighton
and Hove, City of Bristol, Central Bedfordshire, Cheshire East,
Cheshire West and Chester, Cornwall, Darlington, Derby, Durham
County*, East Riding of Yorkshire, Halton, Hartlepool,
Herefordshire*, Isle of Wight*, Isles of Scilly*, City of Kingston
upon Hull, Leicester, Luton, Medway, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes,
North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, North Somerset,
Northumberland*, Nottingham, Peterborough, Plymouth, Poole,
Portsmouth, Reading, Redcar and Cleveland, Rutland, Shropshire,
Slough, South Gloucestershire, Southampton, Southend-on-Sea,
Stockton-on-Tees, Stoke-on-Trent, Swindon, Telford and Wrekin,
Thurrock, Torbay, Warrington, West Berkshire, Wiltshire, Windsor and
Maidenhead, Wokingham, York
Northern Ireland: 26 district council areas
district council areas: Antrim, Ards, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney,
Banbridge, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Coleraine,
Cookstown, Craigavon, Derry, Down, Dungannon, Fermanagh, Larne,
Limavady, Lisburn, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newry and Mourne,
Newtownabbey, North Down, Omagh, Strabane
Scotland: 32 council areas
council areas: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute,
Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee City, East Ayrshire,
East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, City of
Edinburgh, Eilean Siar (Western Isles), Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow City,
Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North
Lanarkshire, Orkney Islands, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire,
Shetland Islands, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, The
Scottish Borders, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian
Wales: 22 unitary authorities
unitary authorities: Blaenau Gwent; Bridgend; Caerphilly; Cardiff;
Carmarthenshire; Ceredigion; Conwy; Denbighshire; Flintshire;
Gwynedd; Isle of Anglesey; Merthyr Tydfil; Monmouthshire; Neath Port
Talbot; Newport; Pembrokeshire; Powys; Rhondda, Cynon, Taff;
Swansea; The Vale of Glamorgan; Torfaen; Wrexham
Dependent areas:
Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin
Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat,
Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and the South Sandwich
Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
Independence:
12 April 1927 (Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act establishes
current name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland); notable earlier dates: 927 (minor English kingdoms
united); 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting
England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union formally incorporates England
and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union formally unite England and
Scotland as Great Britain); 1 January 1801 (Acts of Union formally
unite Great Britain and Ireland as the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland); 6 December 1921 (Anglo-Irish Treaty formalizes
partition of Ireland; six counties remain part of the United Kingdom
as Northern Ireland)
National holiday:
the UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday
Constitution:
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system:
based on common law tradition with early Roman and modern
continental influences; has nonbinding judicial review of Acts of
Parliament under the Human Rights Act of 1998; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Heir
Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the queen, born 14 November 1948)
head of government: Prime Minister David CAMERON (since 11 May 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually the prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of House of Lords (741 seats;
consisting of approximately 625 life peers, 91 hereditary peers, and
25 clergy - as of 15 December 2010) and House of Commons (650 seats
since 2010 elections; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms unless the House is dissolved earlier)
elections: House of Lords - no elections (note - in 1999, as
provided by the House of Lords Act, elections were held in the House
of Lords to determine the 92 hereditary peers who would remain
there; elections are held only as vacancies in the hereditary
peerage arise); House of Commons - last held on 6 May 2010 (next to
be held by June 2015)
election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party -
Conservative 36.1%, Labor 29%, Liberal Democrats 23%, other 11.9%;
seats by party - Conservative 305, Labor 258, Liberal Democrat 57,
other 30
note: in 1998 elections were held for a Northern Ireland Assembly
(because of unresolved disputes among existing parties, the transfer
of power from London to Northern Ireland came only at the end of
1999 and has been suspended four times, the latest occurring in
October 2002 and lasting until 8 May 2007); in 1999, the UK held the
first elections for a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly, the
most recent of which were held in May 2007
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of the UK (established in October 2009 taking over
appellate jurisdiction formerly vested in the House of Lords);
Senior Courts of England and Wales (comprising the Court of Appeal,
the High Court of Justice, and the Crown Courts); Court of
Judicature (Northern Ireland); Scotland's Court of Session and High
Court of the Justiciary
Political parties and leaders:
Conservative [David CAMERON]; Democratic Unionist Party or DUP
(Northern Ireland) [Peter ROBINSON]; Labor Party [Ed MILIBAND];
Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems) [Nick CLEGG]; Party of Wales (Plaid
Cymru) [Ieuan Wyn JONES]; Scottish National Party or SNP [Alex
SALMOND]; Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) [Gerry ADAMS]; Social
Democratic and Labor Party or SDLP (Northern Ireland) [Margaret
RICHIE]; Ulster Unionist Party (Northern Ireland) [Tom ELLIOTT]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; Confederation of British Industry;
National Farmers' Union; Trades Union Congress
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council
(observer), Australia Group, BIS, C, CBSS (observer), CDB, CE, CERN,
EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SECI (observer), UN, UN
Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS,
UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sir Nigel E. SHEINWALD
chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 588-6500
FAX: [1] (202) 588-7870
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
consulate(s): Dallas, Denver, Orlando
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Louis B. SUSMAN
embassy: 24 Grosvenor Square, London, W1A 1AE
mailing address: PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040
telephone: [44] (0) 20 7499-9000
FAX: [44] (0) 20 7629-9124
consulate(s) general: Belfast, Edinburgh
Flag description:
blue field with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of
England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of
Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is superimposed on
the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland);
properly known as the Union Flag, but commonly called the Union
Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been
the basis for a number of other flags including other Commonwealth
countries and their constituent states or provinces, and British
overseas territories
National anthem:
name: "God Save the Queen"
lyrics/music: unknown
note: in use since 1745; by tradition, the song serves as both the
national and royal anthem of the United Kingdom; it is known as
either "God Save the Queen" or "God Save the King," depending on the
gender of the reigning monarch; it also serves as the royal anthem
of many Commonwealth nations
Economy ::United Kingdom
Economy - overview:
The UK, a leading trading power and financial center, is the third
largest economy in Europe after Germany and France. Over the past
two decades, the government has greatly reduced public ownership and
contained the growth of social welfare programs. Agriculture is
intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards,
producing about 60% of food needs with less than 2% of the labor
force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil resources, but
its oil and natural gas reserves are declining and the UK became a
net importer of energy in 2005. Services, particularly banking,
insurance, and business services, account by far for the largest
proportion of GDP while industry continues to decline in importance.
After emerging from recession in 1992, Britain's economy enjoyed the
longest period of expansion on record during which time growth
outpaced most of Western Europe. In 2008, however, the global
financial crisis hit the economy particularly hard, due to the
importance of its financial sector. Sharply declining home prices,
high consumer debt, and the global economic slowdown compounded
Britain's economic problems, pushing the economy into recession in
the latter half of 2008 and prompting the then BROWN government to
implement a number of measures to stimulate the economy and
stabilize the financial markets; these include nationalizing parts
of the banking system, cutting taxes, suspending public sector
borrowing rules, and moving forward public spending on capital
projects. Facing burgeoning public deficits and debt levels, the
CAMERON government in 2010 initiiated a five-year austerity program,
which aims to lower London's budget deficit from over 11% of GDP in
2010 to nearly 1% by 2015. The Bank of England periodically
coordinates interest rate moves with the European Central Bank, but
Britain remains outside the European Economic and Monetary Union
(EMU).
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.189 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$2.154 trillion (2009 est.)
$2.268 trillion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.259 trillion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
-5% (2009 est.)
-0.1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$35,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$34,800 (2009 est.)
$36,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 22.1%
services: 77.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
31.45 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 18.2%
services: 80.4% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
7.6% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
14% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 28.5% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 92
36.8 (1999)
Investment (gross fixed):
14.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Public debt:
76.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
68.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
2.2% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 136
0.86% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
0.63% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
4.63% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$88.62 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 33
$84.92 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$3.344 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$3.199 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$5.151 trillion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 6
$4.436 trillion (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$2.796 trillion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 5
$1.852 trillion (31 December 2008)
$3.859 trillion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, poultry; fish
Industries:
machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment,
railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and
parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals,
coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing,
textiles, clothing, other consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate:
1.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Electricity - production:
368.6 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Electricity - consumption:
345.8 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Electricity - exports:
1.272 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
12.29 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
1.502 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Oil - consumption:
1.669 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Oil - exports:
1.393 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Oil - imports:
1.491 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Oil - proved reserves:
3.084 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Natural gas - production:
58.56 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Natural gas - consumption:
87.45 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Natural gas - exports:
12.17 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Natural gas - imports:
41.06 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Natural gas - proved reserves:
292 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Current account balance:
-$40.34 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
-$23.65 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$405.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$356.2 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food, beverages, tobacco
Exports - partners:
US 14.71%, Germany 11.06%, France 8%, Netherlands 7.79%, Ireland
6.89%, Belgium 4.65%, Spain 4% (2009)
Imports:
$546.5 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$483.9 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery, fuels; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Germany 12.87%, US 9.74%, China 8.88%, Netherlands 6.94%, France
6.64%, Belgium 4.86%, Norway 4.84%, Ireland 4.01%, Italy 3.99% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$66.72 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$8.981 trillion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 3
$9.041 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$1.169 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
$1.125 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.705 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
$1.652 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
British pounds (GBP) per US dollar - 0.6504 (2010), 0.6389 (2009),
0.5302 (2008), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006)
Communications ::United Kingdom
Telephones - main lines in use:
32.117 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 10
Telephones - mobile cellular:
80.375 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 14
Telephone system:
general assessment: technologically advanced domestic and
international system
domestic: equal mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, and
fiber-optic systems
international: country code - 44; numerous submarine cables provide
links throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and US;
satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3
Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Eutelsat;
at least 8 large international switching centers
Broadcast media:
public service broadcaster BBC is the largest broadcasting
corporation in the world; BBC operates multiple TV networks with
regional and local TV service; a mixed system of public and
commercial TV broadcasters along with satellite and cable systems
provide access to hundreds of TV stations throughout the world; BBC
operates multiple national, regional, and local radio networks with
multiple transmission sites; a large number of commercial radio
stations as well as satellite radio services are available (2008)
Internet country code:
.uk
Internet hosts:
7.03 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 14
Internet users:
51.444 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 7
Transportation ::United Kingdom
Airports:
505 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 14
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 306
over 3,047 m: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 32
1,524 to 2,437 m: 124
914 to 1,523 m: 77
under 914 m: 64 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 199
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 173 (2010)
Heliports:
11 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 43 km; gas 7,992 km; liquid petroleum gas 59 km; oil 699
km; refined products 4,417 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 16,454 km
country comparison to the world: 17
broad gauge: 303 km 1.600-m gauge (in Northern Ireland)
standard gauge: 16,151 km 1.435-m gauge (5,248 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 394,428 km
country comparison to the world: 16
paved: 394,428 km (includes 3,519 km of expressways) (2009)
Waterways:
3,200 km (620 km used for commerce) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 32
Merchant marine:
total: 527
country comparison to the world: 22
by type: bulk carrier 30, cargo 70, carrier 3, chemical tanker 71,
container 190, liquefied gas 10, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 67,
petroleum tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 29,
vehicle carrier 24
foreign-owned: 292 (US 11)
registered in other countries: 275 (Algeria 12, Antigua and Barbuda
2, Argentina 2, Australia 5, Bahamas 24, Barbados 7, Belgium 2,
Belize 4, Bermuda 11, Cambodia 3, Cape Verde 2, Cayman Islands 2,
Comoros 1, Cook Islands 2, Cyprus 7, Georgia 4, Gibraltar 4, Greece
27, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 27, Italy 2, Liberia 44, Libya 1,
Luxembourg 5, Malta 16, Marshall Islands 9, Moldova 6, Nigeria 2,
Panama 44, Saint Kitts and Nevis 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
7, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 6, Thailand 6, Togo 3, Tonga 1, US 4,
unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Dover, Felixstowe, Immingham, Liverpool, London, Southampton,
Teesport (England); Forth Ports, Hound Point (Scotland); Milford
Haven (Wales)
Military ::United Kingdom
Military branches:
Army, Royal Navy (includes Royal Marines), Royal Air Force (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
16-33 years of age (officers 17-28) for voluntary military service
(with parental consent under 18); women serve in military services,
but are excluded from ground combat positions and some naval
postings; as of October 2009, women comprised 12.1% of officers and
9% of enlisted personnel in the regular forces; must be citizen of
the UK, Commonwealth, or Republic of Ireland; reservists serve a
minimum of 3 years, to age 45 or 55; 16 years of age for voluntary
military service by Nepalese citizens in the Brigade of Gurkhas;
16-34 years of age for voluntary military service by Papua New
Guinean citizens (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 14,732,445
females age 16-49: 14,118,320 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 12,113,310
females age 16-49: 11,604,784 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 386,492
female: 369,185 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Transnational Issues ::United Kingdom
Disputes - international:
in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to
reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement between the UK and
Spain; the Government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation in
talks between the two countries; Spain disapproves of UK plans to
grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; Mauritius and Seychelles claim the
Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory), and its former
inhabitants since their eviction in 1965; most Chagossians reside in
Mauritius, and in 2001 were granted UK citizenship, where some have
since resettled; in May 2006, the High Court of London reversed the
UK Government's 2004 orders of council that banned habitation on the
islands; UK rejects sovereignty talks requested by Argentina, which
still claims the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia
and the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica
(British Antarctic Territory) overlaps Argentine claim and partially
overlaps Chilean claim; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute
Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends
beyond 200 nm
Illicit drugs:
producer of limited amounts of synthetic drugs and synthetic
precursor chemicals; major consumer of Southwest Asian heroin, Latin
American cocaine, and synthetic drugs; money-laundering center
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@United States (North America)
Introduction ::United States
Background:
Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776
and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of
America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and
20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the
nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a
number of overseas possessions. The two most traumatic experiences
in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65), in which a
northern Union of states defeated a secessionist Confederacy of 11
southern slave states, and the Great Depression of the 1930s, an
economic downturn during which about a quarter of the labor force
lost its jobs. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the
end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's most
powerful nation state. Over a span of more than five decades, the
economy has achieved steady growth, low unemployment and inflation,
and rapid advances in technology.
Geography ::United States
Location:
North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North
Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico
Geographic coordinates:
38 00 N, 97 00 W
Map references:
North America
Area:
total: 9,826,675 sq km
country comparison to the world: 3
land: 9,161,966 sq km
water: 664,709 sq km
note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia
Area - comparative:
about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of
Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightly larger
than Brazil); slightly larger than China; more than twice the size
of the European Union
Land boundaries:
total: 12,034 km
border countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska),
Mexico 3,141 km
note: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is leased by the US and
is part of Cuba; the base boundary is 28 km
Coastline:
19,924 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: not specified
Climate:
mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in
Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River,
and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter
temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in
January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes
of the Rocky Mountains
Terrain:
vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in
east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged,
volcanic topography in Hawaii
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Death Valley -86 m
highest point: Mount McKinley 6,194 m
note: the peak of Mauna Kea (4,207 m above sea level) on the island
of Hawaii rises about 10,200 m above the Pacific Ocean floor; by
this measurement, it is the world's tallest mountain - higher than
Mount Everest, which is recognized as the tallest mountain above sea
level
Natural resources:
coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, rare earth elements,
uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver,
tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber
note: the US has the world's largest coal reserves with 491 billion
short tons accounting for 27% of the world's total
Land use:
arable land: 18.01%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 81.78% (2005)
Irrigated land:
223,850 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
3,069 cu km (1985)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 477 cu km/yr (13%/46%/41%)
per capita: 1,600 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
tsunamis; volcanoes; earthquake activity around Pacific Basin;
hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts; tornadoes
in the Midwest and Southeast; mud slides in California; forest fires
in the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska, a major
impediment to development
volcanism: the United States experiences volcanic activity in the
Hawaiian Islands, Western Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and in the
Northern Mariana Islands; both Mauna Loa (elev. 4,170 m, 13,678 ft)
in Hawaii and Mount Rainier (elev. 4,392 m, 14,409 ft) in Washington
have been deemed "Decade Volcanoes" by the International Association
of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of
study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human
populations; Pavlof (elev. 2,519 m, 8,264 ft) is the most active
volcano in Alaska's Aleutian Arc and poses a significant threat to
air travel since the area constitutes a major flight path between
North America and East Asia; St. Helens (elev. 2,549 m, 8,363 ft),
famous for the devastating 1980 eruption, remains active today;
numerous other historically active volcanoes exist, mostly
concentrated in the Aleutian arc and Hawaii; they include: in
Alaska: Aniakchak, Augustine, Chiginagak, Fourpeaked, Iliamna,
Katmai, Kupreanof, Martin, Novarupta, Redoubt, Spurr, Wrangell; in
Hawaii: Trident, Ugashik-Peulik, Ukinrek Maars, Veniaminof; in the
Northern Mariana Islands: Anatahan; and in the Pacific Northwest:
Mount Baker, Mount Hood
Environment - current issues:
air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada; the
US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning
of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and
fertilizers; limited natural fresh water resources in much of the
western part of the country require careful management;
desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes
Geography - note:
world's third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) and
by population (after China and India); Mt. McKinley is highest point
in North America and Death Valley the lowest point on the continent
People ::United States
Population:
310,232,863 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.2% (male 31,639,127/female 30,305,704)
15-64 years: 67% (male 102,665,043/female 103,129,321)
65 years and over: 12.8% (male 16,901,232/female 22,571,696) (2010
est.)
Median age:
total: 36.8 years
male: 35.5 years
female: 38.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.97% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Birth rate:
13.83 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Death rate:
8.38 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Net migration rate:
4.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Urbanization:
urban population: 82% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.047 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.14 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 177
male: 6.81 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.24 years
country comparison to the world: 49
male: 75.78 years
female: 80.81 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.06 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.2 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
22,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Nationality:
noun: American(s)
adjective: American
Ethnic groups:
white 79.96%, black 12.85%, Asian 4.43%, Amerindian and Alaska
native 0.97%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.18%, two
or more races 1.61% (July 2007 estimate)
note: a separate listing for Hispanic is not included because the US
Census Bureau considers Hispanic to mean persons of
Spanish/Hispanic/Latino origin including those of Mexican, Cuban,
Puerto Rican, Dominican Republic, Spanish, and Central or South
American origin living in the US who may be of any race or ethnic
group (white, black, Asian, etc.); about 15.1% of the total US
population is Hispanic
Religions:
Protestant 51.3%, Roman Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%, other Christian
1.6%, Jewish 1.7%, Buddhist 0.7%, Muslim 0.6%, other or unspecified
2.5%, unaffiliated 12.1%, none 4% (2007 est.)
Languages:
English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and
Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census)
note: Hawaiian is an official language in the state of Hawaii
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 17 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.5% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 46
Government ::United States
Country name:
conventional long form: United States of America
conventional short form: United States
abbreviation: US or USA
Government type:
Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition
Capital:
name: Washington, DC
geographic coordinates: 38 53 N, 77 02 W
time difference: UTC-5 (during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November
note: the 50 United States cover six time zones
Administrative divisions:
50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas,
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*,
Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North
Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South
Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia,
Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Dependent areas:
American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island,
Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island,
Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin
Islands, Wake Island
note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered
the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; it entered into a
political relationship with all four political units: the Northern
Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with the US
(effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the Marshall Islands
signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 21
October 1986); the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact
of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau
concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 1
October 1994)
Independence:
4 July 1776 (from Great Britain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Constitution:
17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789
Legal system:
federal court system based on English common law; each state has its
own unique legal system of which all but one (Louisiana, which is
still influenced by the Napoleonic Code) is based on English common
law; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009);
Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January
2009); Vice President Joseph BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by a college of representatives who are elected directly from each
state; president and vice president serve four-year terms (eligible
for a second term); election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be
held on 6 November 2012)
election results: Barack H. OBAMA elected president; percent of
popular vote - Barack H. OBAMA 52.4%, John MCCAIN 46.3%, other 1.3%;
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100 seats, 2 members
elected from each state by popular vote to serve six-year terms;
one-third elected every two years) and the House of Representatives
(435 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve
two-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 2 November 2010 (next to be held in
November 2012); House of Representatives - last held on 2 November
2010 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Democratic Party 51, Republican Party 47, independent 2;
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Democratic Party 192, Republican Party 243
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (nine justices; nominated by the president and
confirmed with the advice and consent of the Senate; appointed to
serve for life); United States Courts of Appeal; United States
District Courts; State and County Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [Timothy KAINE]; Green Party; Libertarian Party
[William (Bill) REDPATH]; Republican Party [Reince PRIEBUS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
environmentalists; business groups; labor unions; churches; ethnic
groups; political action committees or PAC; health groups; education
groups; civic groups; youth groups; transportation groups;
agricultural groups; veterans groups; women's groups; reform lobbies
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), ANZUS, APEC,
Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS,
BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CERN (observer), CICA
(observer), CP, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE,
Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SECI (observer),
SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNMIL,
UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Flag description:
13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with
white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset
horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows
of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes
represent the 13 original colonies; the blue stands for loyalty,
devotion, truth, justice, and friendship; red symbolizes courage,
zeal, and fervency, while white denotes purity and rectitude of
conduct; commonly referred to by its nickname of Old Glory
note: the design and colors have been the basis for a number of
other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
National anthem:
name: "The Star-Spangled Banner"
lyrics/music: Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH
note: adopted 1931; during the War of 1812, after witnessing the
successful American defense of Fort McHenry in Baltimore following
British naval bombardment, Francis Scott KEY wrote the lyrics to
what would become the national anthem; the lyrics were set to the
tune of "The Anacreontic Song;" only the first verse is sung
Economy ::United States
Economy - overview:
The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in
the world, with a per capita GDP of $47,400. In this market-oriented
economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the
decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goods
and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business
firms enjoy greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western
Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, to lay off
surplus workers, and to develop new products. At the same time, they
face higher barriers to enter their rivals' home markets than
foreign firms face entering US markets. US firms are at or near the
forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in
medical, aerospace, and military equipment; their advantage has
narrowed since the end of World War II. The onrush of technology
largely explains the gradual development of a "two-tier labor
market" in which those at the bottom lack the education and the
professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and
more, fail to get comparable pay raises, health insurance coverage,
and other benefits. Since 1975, practically all the gains in
household income have gone to the top 20% of households. The war in
March-April 2003 between a US-led coalition and Iraq, and the
subsequent occupation of Iraq, required major shifts in national
resources to the military. Soaring oil prices between 2005 and the
first half of 2008 threatened inflation and unemployment, as higher
gasoline prices ate into consumers' budgets. Imported oil accounts
for about 60% of US consumption. Long-term problems include
inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising
medical and pension costs of an aging population, sizable trade and
budget deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower
economic groups. The merchandise trade deficit reached a record $840
billion in 2008 before shrinking to $506 billion in 2009, and
ramping back up to $630 billion in 2010. The global economic
downturn, the sub-prime mortgage crisis, investment bank failures,
falling home prices, and tight credit pushed the United States into
a recession by mid-2008. GDP contracted until the third quarter of
2009, making this the deepest and longest downturn since the Great
Depression. To help stabilize financial markets, the US Congress
established a $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) in
October 2008. The government used some of these funds to purchase
equity in US banks and other industrial corporations, much of which
had been returned to the government by early 2011. In January 2009
the US Congress passed and President Barack OBAMA signed a bill
providing an additional $787 billion fiscal stimulus to be used over
10 years - two-thirds on additional spending and one-third on tax
cuts - to create jobs and to help the economy recover. Approximately
two-thirds of these funds were injected into the economy by the end
of 2010. In March 2010, President OBAMA signed a health insurance
reform bill into law that will extend coverage to an additional 32
million American citizens by 2016, through private health insurance
for the general population and Medicaid for the impoverished. In
July 2010, the president signed the DODD-FRANK Wall Street Reform
and Consumer Protection Act, a bill designed to promote financial
stability by protecting consumers from financial abuses, ending
taxpayer bailouts of financial firms, dealing with troubled banks
that are "too big to fail," and improving accountability and
transparency in the financial system - in particular, by requiring
certain financial derivatives to be traded in markets that are
subject to government regulation and oversight. In late 2010, the US
Federal Reserve Bank (The Fed) announced that it would purchase $600
billion worth of US Government bonds by June 2011, in an attempt to
keep interest rates from rising and snuffing out the nascent
recovery.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$14.72 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
$14.33 trillion (2009 est.)
$14.72 trillion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$14.62 trillion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
-2.6% (2009 est.)
0% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$47,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$46,700 (2009 est.)
$48,300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.2%
industry: 22.2%
services: 76.7% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
153.9 million
country comparison to the world: 4
note: includes unemployed (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
farming, forestry, and fishing: 0.7%
manufacturing, extraction, transportation, and crafts: 20.3%
managerial, professional, and technical: 37.2%
sales and office: 24%
other services: 17.7%
note: figures exclude the unemployed (2009)
Unemployment rate:
9.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
9.3% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
12% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 30% (2007 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
45 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 42
40.8 (1997)
Investment (gross fixed):
12.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Public debt:
58.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
53.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
note: data cover only what the United States Treasury denotes as
"Debt Held by the Public," which includes all debt instruments
issued by the Treasury that are owned by non-US Government entities;
the data include Treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data
exclude debt issued by individual US states, as well as
intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of
Treasury borrowings from surpluses in the trusts for Federal Social
Security, Federal Employees, Hospital Insurance (Medicare and
Medicaid), Disability and Unemployment, and several other smaller
trusts; if data for intra-government debt were added, "Gross Debt"
would increase by about 30% of GDP
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
-0.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
0.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 137
0.86% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
3.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
5.09% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.74 trillion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 5
$1.722 trillion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$12.39 trillion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 3
$12.46 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$32.61 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
$31.53 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$15.08 trillion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 1
$11.74 trillion (31 December 2008)
$19.95 trillion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork,
poultry, dairy products; fish; forest products
Industries:
highly diversified, world leading, high-technology innovator, second
largest industrial output in world; petroleum, steel, motor
vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics,
food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining
Industrial production growth rate:
3.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Electricity - production:
4.11 trillion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Electricity - consumption:
3.873 trillion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Electricity - exports:
24.08 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
57.02 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
9.056 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Oil - consumption:
18.69 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Oil - exports:
1.704 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Oil - imports:
11.31 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Oil - proved reserves:
19.12 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Natural gas - production:
593.4 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Natural gas - consumption:
646.6 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Natural gas - exports:
30.35 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Natural gas - imports:
106.1 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Natural gas - proved reserves:
6.928 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Current account balance:
-$561 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
-$378.4 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.27 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
$1.069 trillion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
agricultural products (soybeans, fruit, corn) 9.2%, industrial
supplies (organic chemicals) 26.8%, capital goods (transistors,
aircraft, motor vehicle parts, computers, telecommunications
equipment) 49.0%, consumer goods (automobiles, medicines) 15.0%
Exports - partners:
Canada 19.37%, Mexico 12.21%, China 6.58%, Japan 4.84%, UK 4.33%,
Germany 4.1% (2009)
Imports:
$1.903 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
$1.575 trillion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
agricultural products 4.9%, industrial supplies 32.9% (crude oil
8.2%), capital goods 30.4% (computers, telecommunications equipment,
motor vehicle parts, office machines, electric power machinery),
consumer goods 31.8% (automobiles, clothing, medicines, furniture,
toys)
Imports - partners:
China 19.3%, Canada 14.24%, Mexico 11.12%, Japan 6.14%, Germany
4.53% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$130.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$13.98 trillion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 1
$13.75 trillion (31 December 2008)
note: approximately 4/5ths of US external debt is denominated in US
dollars; foreign lenders have been willing to hold US dollar
denominated debt instruments because they view the dollar as the
world's reserve currency
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$2.581 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
$2.41 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$3.597 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
$3.367 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
British pounds per US dollar: 1 (2010), 0.6504 (2010), 0.6494
(2009), 0.5302 (2008), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006)
Canadian dollars per US dollar: 1.0346 (2010), 1.1548 (2009), 1.0364
(2008), 1.0724 (2007), 1.1334 (2006)
Chinese yuan per US dollar: 6.7852 (2010), 6.8249 (2009), 6.9385
(2008), 7.61 (2007), 7.97 (2006)
euros per US dollar: 0.7715 (2010), 0.7338 (2009), 0.6827 (2008),
0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Japanese yen per US dollar: 88.67 (2010), 94.5 (2009), 103.58
(2008), 117.99 (2007), 116.18 (2006)
Communications ::United States
Telephones - main lines in use:
141 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 2
Telephones - mobile cellular:
286 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 3
Telephone system:
general assessment: a large, technologically advanced, multipurpose
communications system
domestic: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio
relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries every form of
telephone traffic; a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobile
telephone traffic throughout the country
international: country code - 1; multiple ocean cable systems
provide international connectivity; satellite earth stations - 61
Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean), 5 Intersputnik
(Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and Atlantic Ocean
regions) (2000)
Broadcast media:
4 major terrestrial television networks with affiliate stations
throughout the country, plus cable and satellite networks,
independent stations, and a limited public broadcasting sector that
is largely supported by private grants; overall, thousands of TV
stations broadcasting; multiple national radio networks with large
numbers of affiliate stations; while most stations are commercial,
National Public Radio (NPR) has a network of some 600 member
stations; satellite radio available; overall, nearly 15,000 radio
stations operating (2008)
Internet country code:
.us
Internet hosts:
439 million (2010); note - the US Internet total host count includes
the following top level domain host addresses: .us, .com, .edu,
.gov, .mil, .net, and .org
country comparison to the world: 1
Internet users:
245 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 2
Transportation ::United States
Airports:
15,079 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 1
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5,194
over 3,047 m: 189
2,438 to 3,047 m: 235
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,479
914 to 1,523 m: 2,316
under 914 m: 975 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 9,885
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 155
914 to 1,523 m: 1,752
under 914 m: 7,971 (2010)
Heliports:
126 (2010)
Pipelines:
petroleum products 244,620 km; natural gas 548,665 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 226,427 km
country comparison to the world: 1
standard gauge: 226,427 km 1.435-m gauge (2007)
Roadways:
total: 6,506,204 km
country comparison to the world: 1
paved: 4,374,784 km (includes 75,238 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,131,420 km (2008)
Waterways:
41,009 km (19,312 km used for commerce)
country comparison to the world: 4
note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint
Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with Canada (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 418
country comparison to the world: 26
by type: barge carrier 6, bulk carrier 58, cargo 58, carrier 3,
chemical tanker 30, container 87, passenger 18, passenger/cargo 56,
petroleum tanker 45, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 27,
vehicle carrier 27
foreign-owned: 86 (Australia 1, Bermuda 5, Canada 1, Denmark 34,
France 4, Germany 3, Malaysia 2, Norway 10, Singapore 17, Sweden 5,
UK 4)
registered in other countries: 734 (Antigua and Barbuda 6, Australia
2, Bahamas 100, Belgium 2, Bermuda 25, Cambodia 4, Canada 9, Cayman
Islands 54, Comoros 2, Cyprus 7, Georgia 1, Greece 7, Hong Kong 31,
Indonesia 2, Ireland 2, Isle of Man 2, Italy 21, Liberia 39,
Luxembourg 3, Malta 35, Marshall Islands 168, Netherlands 15, Norway
9, Panama 102, Portugal 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines 19, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 33, South Korea 8,
UK 11, unknown 8) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
cargo ports (tonnage): Baton Rouge, Corpus Christi, Houston, Long
Beach, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Plaquemines, Tampa, Texas
City
container ports (TEUs): Los Angeles (7,849,985), Long Beach
(6,350,125), New York/New Jersey (5,265,058), Savannah (2,616,126),
Oakland (2,236,244), Hampton Roads (2,083,278) (2008)
cruise departure ports (passengers): Miami (2,032,000), Port
Everglades (1,277,000), Port Canaveral (1,189,000), Seattle
(430,000), Long Beach (415,000) (2009)
Military ::United States
Military branches:
United States Armed Forces: US Army, US Navy (includes Marine
Corps), US Air Force, US Coast Guard; note - Coast Guard
administered in peacetime by the Department of Homeland Security,
but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (17 years of age with parental consent) for male and
female voluntary service; maximum enlistment age 42 (Army), 27 (Air
Force), 34 (Navy), 28 (Marines); service obligation 8 years,
including 2-5 years active duty (Army), 2 years active (Navy), 4
years active (Air Force, Marines) (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 73,145,586
females age 16-49: 71,880,788 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 60,388,734
females age 16-49: 59,217,809 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,174,260
female: 2,065,595 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.06% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Transnational Issues ::United States
Disputes - international:
the U.S. has intensified domestic security measures and is
collaborating closely with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, to
monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and
commodities across the international borders; abundant rainfall in
recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has
ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements; 1990
Maritime Boundary Agreement in the Bering Sea still awaits Russian
Duma ratification; managed maritime boundary disputes with Canada at
Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and around the
disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock; The Bahamas and US have
not been able to agree on a maritime boundary; US Naval Base at
Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US
abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti claims
US-administered Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in
Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not
recognize the claims of any other states; Marshall Islands claims
Wake Island; Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island among
the islands listed in its 2006 draft constitution
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): the US admitted 62,643 refugees during
FY04/05 including; 10,586 (Somalia); 8,549 (Laos); 6,666 (Russia);
6,479 (Cuba); 3,100 (Haiti); 2,136 (Iran) (2006)
Illicit drugs:
world's largest consumer of cocaine (shipped from Colombia through
Mexico and the Caribbean), Colombian heroin, and Mexican heroin and
marijuana; major consumer of ecstasy and Mexican methamphetamine;
minor consumer of high-quality Southeast Asian heroin; illicit
producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants,
hallucinogens, and methamphetamine; money-laundering center
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Background:
All of the following US Pacific island territories except Midway
Atoll constitute the Pacific Remote Islands National Wildlife Refuge
(NWR) Complex and as such are managed by the Fish and Wildlife
Service of the US Department of the Interior. Midway Atoll NWR has
been included in a Refuge Complex with the Hawaiian Islands NWR and
also designated as part of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National
Monument. These remote refuges are the most widespread collection of
marine- and terrestrial-life protected areas on the planet under a
single country's jurisdiction. They sustain many endemic species
including corals, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, seabirds, water
birds, land birds, insects, and vegetation not found elsewhere.
Baker Island: The US took possession of the island in 1857. Its
guano deposits were mined by US and British companies during the
second half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at
colonization began on this island but was disrupted by World War II
and thereafter abandoned. The island was established as a NWR in
1974.
Howland Island: Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the
uninhabited atoll was officially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US
and British companies mined for guano deposits until about 1890. In
1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization began on this island,
similar to the effort on nearby Baker Island, but was disrupted by
World War II and thereafter abandoned. The famed American aviatrix
Amelia EARHART disappeared while seeking out Howland Island as a
refueling stop during her 1937 round-the-world flight; Earhart
Light, a day beacon near the middle of the west coast, was named in
her memory. The island was established as a NWR in 1974.
Jarvis Island: First discovered by the British in 1821, the
uninhabited island was annexed by the US in 1858 but abandoned in
1879 after tons of guano had been removed. The UK annexed the island
in 1889 but never carried out plans for further exploitation. The US
occupied and reclaimed the island in 1935. It was abandoned in 1942
during World War II. The island was established as a NWR in 1974.
Johnston Atoll: Both the US and the Kingdom of Hawaii annexed
Johnston Atoll in 1858, but it was the US that mined the guano
deposits until the late 1880s. Johnston and Sand Islands were
designated wildlife refuges in 1926. The US Navy took over the atoll
in 1934. Subsequently, the US Air Force assumed control in 1948. The
site was used for high-altitude nuclear tests in the 1950s and
1960s. Until late in 2000 the atoll was maintained as a storage and
disposal site for chemical weapons. Munitions destruction, cleanup,
and closure of the facility were completed by May 2005. The Fish and
Wildlife Service and the US Air Force are currently discussing
future management options; in the interim, Johnston Atoll and the
three-mile Naval Defensive Sea around it remain under the
jurisdiction and administrative control of the US Air Force.
Kingman Reef: The US annexed the reef in 1922. Its sheltered lagoon
served as a way station for flying boats on Hawaii-to-American Samoa
flights during the late 1930s. There are no terrestrial plants on
the reef, which is frequently awash, but it does support abundant
and diverse marine fauna and flora. In 2001, the waters surrounding
the reef out to 12 nm were designated a US NWR.
Midway Islands: The US took formal possession of the islands in
1867. The laying of the trans-Pacific cable, which passed through
the islands, brought the first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and
1947, Midway was used as a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights.
The US naval victory over a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was
one of the turning points of World War II. The islands continued to
serve as a naval station until closed in 1993. Today the islands are
a NWR and are the site of the world's largest Laysan albatross
colony.
Palmyra Atoll: The Kingdom of Hawaii claimed the atoll in 1862, and
the US included it among the Hawaiian Islands when it annexed the
archipelago in 1898. The Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did not
include Palmyra Atoll, which is now partly privately owned by the
Nature Conservancy with the rest owned by the Federal government and
managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. These organizations are
managing the atoll as a wildlife refuge. The lagoons and surrounding
waters within the 12 nm US territorial seas were transferred to the
US Fish and Wildlife Service and designated as a NWR in January 2001.
Geography ::United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Location:
Oceania
Baker Island: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 1,830 nm (3,389 km)
southwest of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and Australia
Howland Island: island in the North Pacific Ocean 1,815 nm (3,361
km) southwest of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and
Australia
Jarvis Island: island in the South Pacific Ocean 1,305 nm (2,417 km)
south of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and Cook Islands
Johnston Atoll: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 717 nm (1,328 km)
southwest of Honolulu, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the
Marshall Islands
Kingman Reef: reef in the North Pacific Ocean 930 nm (1,722 km)
south of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa
Midway Islands: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 1,260 nm (2,334 km)
northwest of Honolulu near the end of the Hawaiian Archipelago,
about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo
Palmyra Atoll: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 960 nm (1,778 km)
south of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa
Geographic coordinates:
Baker Island: 0 13 N, 176 28 W
Howland Island: 0 48 N, 176 38 W
Jarvis Island: 0 23 S, 160 01 W
Johnston Atoll: 16 45 N, 169 31 W
Kingman Reef: 6 23 N, 162 25 W
Midway Islands: 28 12 N, 177 22 W
Palmyra Atoll: 5 53 N, 162 05 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total - 6,959.41 sq km; emergent land - 22.41 sq km; submerged -
6,937 sq km
country comparison to the world: 238
Baker Island: total - 129.1 sq km; emergent land - 2.1 sq km;
submerged - 127 sq km
Howland Island: total - 138.6 sq km; emergent land - 2.6 sq km;
submerged - 136 sq km
Jarvis Island: total - 152 sq km; emergent land - 5 sq km; submerged
- 147 sq km
Johnston Atoll: total - 276.6 sq km; emergent land - 2.6 sq km;
submerged - 274 sq km
Kingman Reef: total - 1,958.01 sq km; emergent land - 0.01 sq km;
submerged - 1,958 sq km
Midway Islands: total - 2,355.2 sq km; emergent land - 6.2 sq km;
submerged - 2,349 sq km
Palmyra Atoll: total - 1,949.9 sq km; emergent land - 3.9 sq km;
submerged - 1,946 sq km
Area - comparative:
Baker Island: about two and a half times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Howland Island: about three times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Jarvis Island: about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Johnston Atoll: about four and a half times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Kingman Reef: a little more than one and a half times the size of
The Mall in Washington, DC
Midway Islands: about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Palmyra Atoll: about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
Baker Island: 4.8 km
Howland Island: 6.4 km
Jarvis Island: 8 km
Johnston Atoll: 34 km
Kingman Reef: 3 km
Midway Islands: 15 km
Palmyra Atoll: 14.5 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands: equatorial; scant rainfall,
constant wind, burning sun
Johnston Atoll and Kingman Reef: tropical, but generally dry;
consistent northeast trade winds with little seasonal temperature
variation
Midway Islands: subtropical with cool, moist winters (December to
February) and warm, dry summers (May to October); moderated by
prevailing easterly winds; most of the 1,067 mm (42 in) of annual
rainfall occurs during the winter
Palmyra Atoll: equatorial, hot; located within the low pressure area
of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) where the northeast and
southeast trade winds meet, it is extremely wet with between
4,000-5,000 mm (160-200 in) of rainfall each year
Terrain:
low and nearly level sandy coral islands with narrow fringing reefs
that have developed at the top of submerged volcanic mountains,
which in most cases rise steeply from the ocean floor
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Baker Island, unnamed location - 8 m; Howland Island,
unnamed location - 3 m; Jarvis Island, unnamed location - 7 m;
Johnston Atoll, Sand Island - 10 m; Kingman Reef, unnamed location -
less than 2 m; Midway Islands, unnamed location - 13 m; Palmyra
Atoll, unnamed location - 3 m
Natural resources:
terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2008)
Natural hazards:
Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands: the narrow fringing reef
surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Kingman Reef: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of
less than 2 m makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
Midway Islands, Johnston, and Palmyra Atolls: NA
Environment - current issues:
Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, and Johnston Atoll: no natural
fresh water resources
Kingman Reef: none
Midway Islands and Palmyra Atoll: NA
Geography - note:
Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands: scattered vegetation consisting
of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a
nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds,
and marine wildlife; closed to the public
Johnston Atoll: Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands,
which have been expanded by coral dredging; North Island (Akau) and
East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging;
the egg-shaped reef is 34 km in circumference; closed to the public
Kingman Reef: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed
to the public
Midway Islands: a coral atoll managed as a NWR and open to the
public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife
observation and photography
Palmyra Atoll: the high rainfall and resulting lush vegetation make
the environment of this atoll unique among the US Pacific Island
territories; supports a large undisturbed stand of Pisonia beach
forest
People ::United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and
Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and
educators; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service
Johnston Atoll: in previous years, an average of 1,100 US military
and civilian contractor personnel were present; as of May 2005, all
US government personnel had left the island
Midway Islands: approximately 40 people make up the staff of US Fish
and Wildlife Service and their services contractor living at the
atoll
Palmyra Atoll: four to 20 Nature Conservancy, US Fish and Wildlife
staff, and researchers
Government ::United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Baker Island; Howland Island; Jarvis
Island; Johnston Atoll; Kingman Reef; Midway Islands; Palmyra Atoll
Dependency status:
unincorporated territories of the US; administered from Washington,
DC by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the
Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
note on Palmyra Atoll: incorporated Territory of the US; partly
privately owned and partly federally owned; administered from
Washington, DC by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department
of the Interior; the Office of Insular Affairs of the US Department
of the Interior continues to administer nine excluded areas
comprising certain tidal and submerged lands within the 12 nm
territorial sea or within the lagoon
Legal system:
the laws of the US where applicable apply
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territories of the US)
Flag description:
the flag of the US is used
Economy ::United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Economy - overview:
no economic activity
Transportation ::United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Airports:
Baker Island: one abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m covered
with vegetation and unusable
Howland Island: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling
stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia EARHART and Fred
NOONAN; the aviators left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island but
were never seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable
Johnston Atoll: one closed and not maintained
Kingman Reef: lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii
and American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937
and 1938
Midway Islands: 3 - one operational (2,409 m paved); no fuel for
sale except emergencies
Palmyra Atoll: 1 - 1,846 m unpaved runway; privately owned (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, and Kingman Reef: none; offshore
anchorage only
Johnston Atoll: Johnston Island
Midway Islands: Sand Island
Palmyra Atoll: West Lagoon
Military ::United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues ::United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@Uruguay (South America)
Introduction ::Uruguay
Background:
Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military stronghold,
soon took advantage of its natural harbor to become an important
commercial center. Claimed by Argentina but annexed by Brazil in
1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later and secured
its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations
of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century established
widespread political, social, and economic reforms that established
a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement
named the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's
president to cede control of the government to the military in 1973.
By yearend, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued
to expand its hold over the government. Civilian rule was not
restored until 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente Amplio
Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170 years of
political control previously held by the Colorado and Blanco
parties. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the
freest on the continent.
Geography ::Uruguay
Location:
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between
Argentina and Brazil
Geographic coordinates:
33 00 S, 56 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 176,215 sq km
country comparison to the world: 90
land: 175,015 sq km
water: 1,200 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Land boundaries:
total: 1,648 km
border countries: Argentina 580 km, Brazil 1,068 km
Coastline:
660 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or edge of continental margin
Climate:
warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Terrain:
mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m
Natural resources:
arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fish
Land use:
arable land: 7.77%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 91.99% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,100 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
139 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 3.15 cu km/yr (2%/1%/96%)
per capita: 910 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional
violent wind that blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts,
floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather
barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes
from weather fronts
Environment - current issues:
water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate
solid/hazardous waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:
party to: 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: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
second-smallest South American country (after Suriname); most of the
low-lying landscape (three-quarters of the country) is grassland,
ideal for cattle and sheep raising
People ::Uruguay
Population:
3,510,386 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.4% (male 397,942/female 385,253)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 1,115,963/female 1,129,478)
65 years and over: 13.3% (male 187,176/female 278,570) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 33.7 years
male: 32.3 years
female: 35.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.447% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Birth rate:
13.67 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Death rate:
9.06 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Net migration rate:
-0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Urbanization:
urban population: 92% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.037 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 10.99 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 149
male: 12.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.55 years
country comparison to the world: 69
male: 73.3 years
female: 79.92 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.89 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
10,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Nationality:
noun: Uruguayan(s)
adjective: Uruguayan
Ethnic groups:
white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian (practically nonexistent)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 47.1%, non-Catholic Christians 11.1%,
nondenominational 23.2%, Jewish 0.3%, atheist or agnostic 17.2%,
other 1.1% (2006)
Languages:
Spanish (official), Portunol, Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on
the Brazilian frontier)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 97.6%
female: 98.4% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 17 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
2.9% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 154
Government ::Uruguay
Country name:
conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
conventional short form: Uruguay
local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay
local short form: Uruguay
former: Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province
Government type:
constitutional republic
Capital:
name: Montevideo
geographic coordinates: 34 53 S, 56 11 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends
second Sunday in March
Administrative divisions:
19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Artigas,
Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida,
Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera,
Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano, Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres
Independence:
25 August 1825 (from Brazil)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 August (1825)
Constitution:
27 November 1966; effective 15 February 1967; suspended 27 June
1973; revised 26 November 1989 and 7 January 1997
Legal system:
based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jose "Pepe" MUJICA Cordano (since 1 March
2010); Vice President Danilo ASTORI Saragoza (since 1 March 2010);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Jose "Pepe" MUJICA Cordano (since 1
March 2010); Vice President Danilo ASTORI Saragoza (since 1 March
2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with
parliamentary approval
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms (may not serve consecutive
terms); election last held on 29 November 2009 (next to be held in
October 2014)
election results: Jose "Pepe" MUJICA elected president; percent of
vote - Jose "Pepe" MUJICA 54.8%, Luis Alberto LACALLE 45.2%
Legislative branch:
bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of Chamber
of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms; vice president has one vote
in the Senate) and Chamber of Representatives or Camara de
Representantes (99 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held on 25 October 2009 (next
to be held in October 2014); Chamber of Representatives - last held
on 25 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - Frente Amplio 16, Blanco 9, Colorado Party 5;
Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Frente Amplio 50, Blanco 30, Colorado Party 17, Independent
Party 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and elected for
10-year terms by the General Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Broad Front (Frente Amplio) - formerly known as the Progressive
Encounter/Broad Front Coalition or EP-FA [Jorge BROVETTO] (a broad
governing coalition that includes Movement of the Popular
Participation or MPP, New Space Party (Nuevo Espacio) [Rafael
MICHELINI], Progressive Alliance (Alianza Progresista) [Rodolfo NIN
NOVOA], Socialist Party [Eduardo FERNANDEZ and Reinaldo GARGANO],
Communist Party [Eduardo LORIER], Uruguayan Assembly (Asamblea
Uruguay) [Danilo ASTORI], and Vertiente Artiguista [Mariano ARANA]);
Colorado Party (Foro Batllista) [Pedro BORDABERRY and Julio Maria
SANGUINETTI]; National Party or Blanco [Luis Alberto LACALLE and
Jorge LARRANAGA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Architect's Society of Uruguay (professional organization); Chamber
of Uruguayan Industries (manufacturer's association); Chemist and
Pharmaceutical Association (professional organization); PIT/CNT
(powerful federation of Uruguayan Unions - umbrella labor
organization); Rural Association of Uruguay (rancher's association);
Uruguayan Construction League; Uruguayan Network of Political Women
other: Catholic Church; students
International organization participation:
CAN (associate), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH,
MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Alberto GIANELLI Derois
chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316
FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
consulate(s): San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David NELSON
embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
mailing address: APO AA 34035
telephone: [598] (2) 418-7777
FAX: [598] (2) 418-8611
Flag description:
nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating
with blue; a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a
yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May with 16 rays
that alternate between triangular and wavy; the stripes represent
the nine original departments of Uruguay; the sun symbol evokes the
legend of the sun breaking through the clouds on 25 May 1810 as
independence was first declared from Spain (Uruguay subsequently won
its independence from Brazil)
note: the banner was inspired by the national colors of Argentina
and by the design of the US flag
National anthem:
name: "Himno Nacional" (National Anthem of Uruguay)
lyrics/music: Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/Francisco Jose
DEBALI
note: adopted 1848; the anthem is also known as "Orientales, la
Patria o la tumba!" ("Uruguayans, the Fatherland or Death!"); it is
the world's longest national anthem in terms of music (105 bars;
almost five minutes); generally only the first verse and chorus are
sung
Economy ::Uruguay
Economy - overview:
Uruguay's economy is characterized by an export-oriented
agricultural sector, a well-educated work force, and high levels of
social spending. After averaging growth of 5% annually during
1996-98, in 1999-2002 the economy suffered a major downturn,
stemming largely from the spillover effects of the economic problems
of its large neighbors, Argentina and Brazil. In 2001-02, Argentine
citizens made massive withdrawals of dollars deposited in Uruguayan
banks after bank deposits in Argentina were frozen, which led to a
plunge in the Uruguayan peso, a banking crisis, and a sharp economic
contraction. Real GDP fell in four years by nearly 20%, with 2002
the worst year. The unemployment rate rose, inflation surged, and
the burden of external debt doubled. Financial assistance from the
IMF helped stem the damage. Uruguay restructured its external debt
in 2003 without asking creditors to accept a reduction on the
principal. Economic growth for Uruguay resumed, and averaged 8%
annually during the period 2004-08. The 2008-09 global financial
crisis put a brake on Uruguay's vigorous growth, which decelerated
to 2.9% in 2009. Nevertheless, the country managed to avoid a
recession and keep positive growth rates, mainly through higher
public expenditure and investment, and GDP growth exceeded 7% in
2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$47.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
$44.63 billion (2009 est.)
$43.38 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$40.71 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
2.9% (2009 est.)
8.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$13,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
$12,800 (2009 est.)
$12,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.3%
industry: 22.8%
services: 67.9% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.637 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 15%
services: 76% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
7.6% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
27.4% of households (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 34.8% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
45.2 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 41
44.8 (1999)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Public debt:
52.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
60% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
7.1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
20% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 11
20% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15.28% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
12.45% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$3.706 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 103
$2.74 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$14.22 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 91
$11.78 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$10.49 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
$8.888 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 111
$159 million (31 December 2007)
$125.1 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
rice, wheat, soybeans, barley; livestock, beef; fish; forestry
Industries:
food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment,
petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
16.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Electricity - production:
9.265 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Electricity - consumption:
7.14 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Electricity - exports:
996 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
789 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
997 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Oil - consumption:
40,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Oil - exports:
7,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Oil - imports:
52,730 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Natural gas - consumption:
70 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Natural gas - imports:
70 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Current account balance:
-$377 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
$258.8 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$7.413 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
$6.389 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
meat, rice, leather products, wool, fish, dairy products
Exports - partners:
Brazil 21.05%, China 9.45%, Argentina 7.36%, Germany 5.16%, Mexico
4.88%, Netherlands 4.13%, US 3.96% (2009)
Imports:
$8.519 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
$6.664 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
crude petroleum and petroleum products, machinery, chemicals, road
vehicles, paper, plastics
Imports - partners:
Argentina 20.77%, Brazil 17.53%, China 10.23%, US 9.82%, Paraguay
6.87% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$7.407 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
$8.038 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$13.39 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$13.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA (31 December 2010)
$4.19 billion (2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$156 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Exchange rates:
Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar - 20.276 (2010), 22.568 (2009),
20.936 (2008), 23.947 (2007), 24.048 (2006)
Communications ::Uruguay
Telephones - main lines in use:
953,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 81
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.802 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 106
Telephone system:
general assessment: fully digitalized
domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new
nationwide microwave radio relay network; overall fixed-line and
mobile-cellular teledensity is 135 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 598; the UNISOR submarine cable system
provides direct connectivity to Brazil and Argentina; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
mixture of privately-owned and state-run broadcast media; more than
100 commercial radio stations and about 20 television channels
broadcasting; cable TV is available; large number of community radio
and TV stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.uy
Internet hosts:
765,525 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 47
Internet users:
1.405 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 86
Transportation ::Uruguay
Airports:
58 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 82
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 49
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 26 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 226 km; oil 155 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 1,641 km (1,200 km operational)
country comparison to the world: 79
standard gauge: 1,641 km 1.435-m gauge (2010)
Roadways:
total: 77,732 km
country comparison to the world: 63
paved: 7,743 km
unpaved: 69,989 km (2010)
Waterways:
1,600 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 52
Merchant marine:
total: 18
country comparison to the world: 101
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 2, chemical tanker 4, passenger/cargo
7, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 9 (Argentina 2, Denmark 1, Greece 1, Spain 5)
registered in other countries: 1 (Liberia 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Montevideo
Military ::Uruguay
Military branches:
Uruguayan Armed Forces: Uruguayan National Army (Ejercito Nacional
Uruguaya, ENU), Uruguayan National Navy (Armada Nacional del
Uruguay; includes naval air arm, Naval Rifle Corps (Cuerpo de
Fusileros Navales, Fusna), Maritime Prefecture in wartime),
Uruguayan Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya, FAU) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; up to 40 years of
age for specialists; enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the
government has the authority to conscript in emergencies; minimum
6-year education (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 849,358
females age 16-49: 832,774 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 713,223
females age 16-49: 697,197 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 27,631
female: 26,703 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 95
Transnational Issues ::Uruguay
Disputes - international:
in Jan 2007, ICJ provisionally ruled Uruguay may begin construction
of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with
Argentina, while the court examines further whether Argentina has
the legal right to stop such construction with potential
environmental implications to both countries; two uncontested
boundary disputes with Brazil over Isla Brasilera at the tripoint
with Argentina at the confluence of the Quarai/Cuareim and Uruguay
rivers, and, in the 235 square kilometer Invernada River region,
over which tributary represents the legitimate source of the
Quarai/Cuareim River
Illicit drugs:
small-scale transit country for drugs mainly bound for Europe, often
through sea-borne containers; law enforcement corruption; money
laundering because of strict banking secrecy laws; weak border
control along Brazilian frontier; increasing consumption of cocaine
base and synthetic drugs
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Uzbekistan (Central Asia)
Introduction ::Uzbekistan
Background:
Russia conquered the territory of present-day Uzbekistan in the late
19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after the Boshevik
Revolution was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic
established in 1924. During the Soviet era, intensive production of
"white gold" (cotton) and grain led to overuse of agrochemicals and
the depletion of water supplies, which have left the land poisoned
and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half dry. Independent since
1991, the country seeks to gradually lessen its dependence on
agriculture while developing its mineral and petroleum reserves.
Current concerns include terrorism by Islamic militants, economic
stagnation, and the curtailment of human rights and democratization.
Geography ::Uzbekistan
Location:
Central Asia, north of Afghanistan
Geographic coordinates:
41 00 N, 64 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 447,400 sq km
country comparison to the world: 56
land: 425,400 sq km
water: 22,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 6,221 km
border countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km,
Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km
Coastline:
0 km (doubly landlocked); note - Uzbekistan includes the southern
portion of the Aral Sea with a 420 km shoreline
Maritime claims:
none (doubly landlocked)
Climate:
mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid
grassland in east
Terrain:
mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat
intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Syr
Darya (Sirdaryo), and Zarafshon; Fergana Valley in east surrounded
by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sariqamish Kuli -12 m
highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m
Natural resources:
natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead
and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Land use:
arable land: 10.51%
permanent crops: 0.76%
other: 88.73% (2005)
Irrigated land:
42,810 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
72.2 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 58.34 cu km/yr (5%/2%/93%)
per capita: 2,194 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of
chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then
blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to
desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the
heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human
health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contamination
from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals, including
DDT
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlocked
countries in the world
People ::Uzbekistan
Population:
27,865,738 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.1% (male 3,970,386/female 3,787,371)
15-64 years: 67% (male 9,191,439/female 9,309,791)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 576,191/female 770,829) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.2 years
male: 24.7 years
female: 25.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.938% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Birth rate:
17.51 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Death rate:
5.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Net migration rate:
-2.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Urbanization:
urban population: 37% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 22.66 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 91
male: 26.81 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.24 years
country comparison to the world: 124
male: 69.22 years
female: 75.44 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.92 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
16,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Nationality:
noun: Uzbekistani
adjective: Uzbekistani
Ethnic groups:
Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar
1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)
Religions:
Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
Languages:
Uzbek (official) 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.3%
male: 99.6%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
9.4% of GDP (1991)
country comparison to the world: 7
Government ::Uzbekistan
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan
conventional short form: Uzbekistan
local long form: Ozbekiston Respublikasi
local short form: Ozbekiston
former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside
the executive branch
Capital:
name: Tashkent (Toshkent)
geographic coordinates: 41 20 N, 69 18 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomous
republic* (respublika), and 1 city** (shahar); Andijon Viloyati,
Buxoro Viloyati, Farg'ona Viloyati, Jizzax Viloyati, Namangan
Viloyati, Navoiy Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi),
Qoraqalpog'iston Respublikasi [Karakalpakstan Republic]* (Nukus),
Samarqand Viloyati, Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo
Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri [Tashkent City]**, Toshkent
Viloyati [Tashkent province], Xorazm Viloyati (Urganch)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence:
1 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
Constitution:
adopted 8 December 1992
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when
he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet; elected
president of independent Uzbekistan in 1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (since 11
December 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam AZIMOV (since 2
January 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with
approval of the Supreme Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term; previously was a five-year term,
extended by constitutional amendment in 2002); election last held on
23 December 2007 (next to be held in 2014); prime minister,
ministers, and deputy ministers appointed by the president
election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote
- Islom KARIMOV 88.1%, Asliddin RUSTAMOV 3.2%, Dilorom
T0SHMUHAMEDOVA 2.9%, Akmal SAIDOV 2.6%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of an upper house
or Senate (100 seats; 84 members elected by regional governing
councils and 16 appointed by the president; members to serve
five-year terms) and a lower house or Legislative Chamber (150
seats; 135 members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms,
while 15 spots reserved for the new Ecological Movement of
Uzbekistan)
elections: last held on 27 December 2009 and 10 January 2010 (next
to be held in December 2014)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NA; Legislative Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - LDPU 53, NDP 32, National Rebirth Party 31, Adolat
19
note: all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President KARIMOV
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and confirmed
by the Supreme Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Ismoil SAIFNAZAROV];
Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan [Boriy ALIXONOV, chairman];
Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan or LDPU [Muhammadjon
AHMADJONOV]; National Rebirth Party (Milliy Tiklanish) [Ahtam
TURSUNOV]; People's Democratic Party or NDP (formerly Communist
Party) [Latif GULOMOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
there are no significant opposition political parties or pressure
groups operating in Uzbekistan
International organization participation:
ADB, CICA, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM,
OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ilxamdjan NEMATOV
chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 887-5300
FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard B. NORLAND
embassy: 3 Moyqo'rq'on, 5th Block, Yunusobod District, Tashkent
100093
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [998] (71) 120-5450
FAX: [998] (71) 120-6335
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green
separated by red fimbriations with a white crescent moon (closed
side to the hoist) and 12 white stars shifted to the hoist on the
top band; blue is the color of the Turkic peoples and of the sky,
white signifies peace and the striving for purity in thoughts and
deeds, while green represents nature and is the color of Islam; the
red stripes are the vital force of all living organisms that links
good and pure ideas with the eternal sky and with deeds on earth;
the crescent represents Islam and the 12 stars the months and
constellations of the Uzbek calendar
National anthem:
name: "O'zbekiston Respublikasining Davlat Madhiyasi" (National
Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
lyrics/music: Abdulla ARIPOV/Mutal BURHANOV
note: adopted 1992; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan
kept the music of the anthem from its time as a Soviet Republic but
adopted new lyrics
Economy ::Uzbekistan
Economy - overview:
Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country; 11% of the land is
intensely cultivated, in irrigated river valleys. More than 60% of
the population lives in densely populated rural communities. Export
of hydrocarbons, including natural gas and petroleum, provided about
40% of foreign exchange earnings in 2009. Other major export earners
include gold and cotton. Uzbekistan is now the world's
second-largest cotton exporter and fifth largest producer; it has
come under increasing international criticism for the use of child
labor in its annual cotton harvest. Nevertheless, Uzbekistan enjoyed
a bumper cotton crop in 2010 amidst record high prices. Following
independence in September 1991, the government sought to prop up its
Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on
production and prices. While aware of the need to improve the
investment climate, the government still sponsors measures that
often increase, not decrease, its control over business decisions. A
sharp increase in the inequality of income distribution has hurt the
lower ranks of society since independence. In 2003, the government
accepted Article VIII obligations under the IMF, providing for full
currency convertibility. However, strict currency controls and
tightening of borders have lessened the effects of convertibility
and have also led to some shortages that have further stifled
economic activity. The Central Bank often delays or restricts
convertibility, especially for consumer goods. Potential investment
by Russia and China in Uzbekistan's gas and oil industry, as well as
increased cooperation with South Korea in the realm of civil
aviation, may boost growth prospects. However, decreased demand for
natural gas in Europe and Russia in the wake of the global financial
crisis could reduce energy-related revenues in the near term. In
November 2005, Russian President Vladimir PUTIN and Uzbekistan
President KARIMOV signed an "alliance," which included provisions
for economic and business cooperation. Russian businesses have shown
increased interest in Uzbekistan, especially in mining, telecom, and
oil and gas. In 2006, Uzbekistan took steps to rejoin the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Eurasian Economic
Community (EurASEC), which it subsequently left in 2008, both
organizations dominated by Russia. In the past Uzbek authorities had
accused US and other foreign companies operating in Uzbekistan of
violating Uzbek tax laws and have frozen their assets, but no new
expropriations occurred in 2008-09. Instead, the Uzbek Government
has actively courted several major U.S. and international
corporations, offering attractive financing and tax advantages, and
has landed a significant US investment in the automotive industry.
Although growth slowed in 2009-10, Uzbekistan has seen few other
effects from the global economic downturn, primarily due to its
relative isolation from the global financial markets.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$86.07 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$79.55 billion (2009 est.)
$73.59 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$37.72 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
8.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
8.1% (2009 est.)
9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
$2,900 (2009 est.)
$2,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 21.2%
industry: 32.3%
services: 46.4% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
16 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 44%
industry: 20%
services: 36% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
1.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
1.1% (2009 est.)
note: officially measured by the Ministry of Labor, plus another 20%
underemployed
Population below poverty line:
26% (2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 29.6% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.8 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 80
44.7 (1998)
Public debt:
9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
9.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
14.1% (2009 est.)
note: official data; based on independent analysis of consumer
prices, inflation reached 38% in 2008
Stock of narrow money:
$4.895 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 90
$3.829 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$7.197 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
$5.648 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$6.482 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
$5.484 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2009)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$715.3 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock
Industries:
textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, gold,
petroleum, natural gas, chemicals
Industrial production growth rate:
8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Electricity - production:
44.8 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Electricity - consumption:
40.1 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Electricity - exports:
11.52 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
11.44 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
70,910 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Oil - consumption:
145,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Oil - exports:
6,104 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Oil - imports:
35,810 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Oil - proved reserves:
594 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Natural gas - production:
67.6 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Natural gas - consumption:
52.6 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Natural gas - exports:
15 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.841 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Current account balance:
$5.588 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$3.595 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$13.13 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$10.74 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
energy products, cotton, gold, mineral fertilizers, ferrous and
non-ferrous metals, textiles, food products, machinery, automobiles
Exports - partners:
Ukraine 29.91%, Russia 13.94%, Turkey 7.53%, Kazakhstan 7.26%,
Bangladesh 6.83%, China 5.69%, South Korea 4.19% (2009)
Imports:
$9.44 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$9.023 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, ferrous and
non-ferrous metals
Imports - partners:
Russia 23.72%, China 20.36%, South Korea 13.03%, Germany 6.09%,
Ukraine 5.39%, Kazakhstan 4.68% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$10.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.236 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$4.053 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar - 1,588.1 (2010), 1,466.7
(2009), 1,317 (2008), 1,263.8 (2007), 1,219.8 (2006)
Communications ::Uzbekistan
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.857 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 60
Telephones - mobile cellular:
16.418 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 45
Telephone system:
general assessment: digital exchanges in large cities but still
antiquated and inadequate in rural areas
domestic: the state-owned telecommunications company, Uzbektelecom,
owner of the fixed line telecommunications system, has used loans
from the Japanese government and the China Development Bank to
upgrade fixed-line services including conversion to digital
exchanges; mobile-cellular services are growing rapidly, with the
subscriber base exceeding 16 million in 2009
international: country code - 998; linked by fiber-optic cable or
microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries
by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch;
after the completion of the Uzbek link to the Trans-Asia-Europe
(TAE) fiber-optic cable, Uzbekistan plans to establish a fiber-optic
connection to Afghanistan (2009)
Broadcast media:
government controls media; 8 state-owned broadcasters - 4 TV and 4
radio - provide service to virtually the entire country; about 20
privately-owned TV stations, overseen by local officials, broadcast
to local markets; privately-owned TV stations are required to lease
transmitters from the government-owned Republic TV and Radio
Industry Corporation and are prohibited from broadcasting live;
about 15 privately-owned radio broadcasters; programming content
includes news updates, music, call-in talk shows, and other
entertainment in a half-Russian, half-Uzbek format mandated for
private radio (2007)
Internet country code:
.uz
Internet hosts:
47,718 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 89
Internet users:
4.689 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 50
Transportation ::Uzbekistan
Airports:
54 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 87
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 33
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 4 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 21
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 19 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 9,706 km; oil 868 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 3,645 km
country comparison to the world: 47
broad gauge: 3,645 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 86,496 km
country comparison to the world: 56
paved: 75,511 km
unpaved: 10,985 km (2000)
Waterways:
1,100 km (2009)
country comparison to the world: 63
Ports and terminals:
Termiz (Amu Darya)
Military ::Uzbekistan
Military branches:
Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 1-year conscript
service obligation; moving toward a professional military, but
conscription will continue; the military cannot accommodate everyone
who wishes to enlist, and competition for entrance into the military
is similar to the competition for admission to universities (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,776,645
females age 16-49: 7,783,901 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,456,675
females age 16-49: 6,658,475 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 306,743
female: 299,264 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.5% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 33
Transnational Issues ::Uzbekistan
Disputes - international:
prolonged drought and cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and
Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river
states; field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan
commenced in 2004; border delimitation of 130 km of border with
Kyrgyzstan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other
areas
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 39,202 (Tajikistan); 1,060
(Afghanistan)
IDPs: 3,400 (forced population transfers by government from villages
near Tajikistan border) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Uzbekistan is a source country for women and
girls trafficked to Kazakhstan, Russia, Middle East, and Asia for
the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; men are trafficked to
Kazakhstan and Russia for purposes of forced labor in the
construction, cotton, and tobacco industries; men and women are also
trafficked internally for the purposes of domestic servitude, forced
labor in the agricultural and construction industries, and for
commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Uzbekistan is on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
combat severe forms of trafficking in 2007; the government did not
amend its criminal code to increase penalties for convicted
traffickers; in March 2008, Uzbekistan adopted ILO Conventions on
minimum age of employment and on the elimination of the worst forms
of child labor and is working with the ILO on implementation; the
government also demonstrated its increasing commitment to combat
trafficking in March 2008 by adopting a comprehensive
anti-trafficking law; Uzbekistan has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP
Protocol (2008)
Illicit drugs:
transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a
lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation
of cannabis and small amounts of opium poppy for domestic
consumption; poppy cultivation almost wiped out by government crop
eradication program; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals
bound for Afghanistan
page last updated on January 24, 2011
======================================================================
@Vanuatu (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Vanuatu
Background:
Multiple waves of colonizers, each speaking a distinct language,
migrated to the New Hebrides in the millennia preceding European
exploration in the 18th century. This settlement pattern accounts
for the complex linguistic diversity found on the archipelago to
this day. The British and French, who settled the New Hebrides in
the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium,
which administered the islands until independence in 1980, when the
new name of Vanuatu was adopted.
Geography ::Vanuatu
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates:
16 00 S, 167 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 12,189 sq km
country comparison to the world: 163
land: 12,189 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
2,528 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
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; moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October;
moderate rainfall from November to April; may be affected by
cyclones from December to April
Terrain:
mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Natural resources:
manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Land use:
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 6.97%
other: 91.39% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanic eruption
on Aoba (Ambae) island began on 27 November 2005, volcanism also
causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis
volcanism: Vanuatu experiences significant volcanic activity, with
many volcanoes erupting in recent years; Yasur (elev. 361 m, 1,184
ft), one of the world's most active volcanoes, has experienced
continuous activity in recent centuries; other historically active
volcanoes include, Aoba, Ambrym, Epi, Gaua, Kuwae, Lopevi,
Suretamatai, and Traitor's Head
Environment - current issues:
most of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of
potable water; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands;
several of the islands have active volcanoes
People ::Vanuatu
Population:
221,552 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.7% (male 34,263/female 32,833)
15-64 years: 65.3% (male 72,670/female 69,970)
65 years and over: 4% (male 4,516/female 4,267) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.6 years
male: 24.5 years
female: 24.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.359% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Birth rate:
21.08 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Death rate:
7.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 102
Urbanization:
urban population: 25% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 48.17 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 54
male: 50.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 45.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.33 years
country comparison to the world: 169
male: 62.7 years
female: 66.04 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.43 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Ethnic groups:
Ni-Vanuatu 98.5%, other 1.5% (1999 Census)
Religions:
Presbyterian 31.4%, Anglican 13.4%, Roman Catholic 13.1%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, other Christian 13.8%, indigenous
beliefs 5.6% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 9.6%, none 1%,
unspecified 1.3% (1999 Census)
Languages:
local languages (more than 100) 72.6%, pidgin (known as Bislama or
Bichelama) 23.1%, English (official) 1.9%, French (official) 1.4%,
other 0.3%, unspecified 0.7% (1999 Census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74%
male: NA
female: NA (1999 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
6.9% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 24
Government ::Vanuatu
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
conventional short form: Vanuatu
local long form: Ripablik blong Vanuatu
local short form: Vanuatu
former: New Hebrides
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
name: Port-Vila (on Efate)
geographic coordinates: 17 44 S, 168 19 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba
Independence:
30 July 1980 (from France and the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Constitution:
30 July 1980
Legal system:
unified system being created from former dual French and British
systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Iolu Johnson ABBIL (since 3 September 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Sato KILMAN (since 2 December
2010); note - Edward NATAPEI loses office in a no confidence vote on
2 December 2010
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,
responsible to parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected for a five-year term by an electoral
college consisting of parliament and the presidents of the regional
councils; election for president last held on 2 September 2009 (next
to be held in 2014); following legislative elections, the leader of
the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime
minister by parliament from among its members; election for prime
minister last held on 22 September 2008 (next to be held following
general elections in 2012)
election results: Iolu Johnson ABBIL elected president, with 41
votes out of 58, on the third ballot on 2 September 2009
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 2 September 2008 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VP
11, NUP 8, UMP 7, VRP 7, PPP 4, GC 2, MPP 1, NA 1, NAG 1, PAP 1,
Shepherds Alliance 1, VFFP 1, VLP 1, VNP 1, VPRFP 1, and independent
4; note - political party associations are fluid
note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture
and language
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president after
consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the
opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on
the advice of the Judicial Service Commission)
Political parties and leaders:
Greens Confederation or GC [Moana CARCASSES]; Jon Frum Movement or
JF [Song KEASPAI]; Melanesian Progressive Party or MPP [Barak SOPE];
Nagriamel movement or NAG [Havo MOLI]; Namangi Aute or NA [Paul
TELUKLUK]; National United Party or NUP [Ham LINI]; People's Action
Party or PAP [Peter VUTA]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Sato
KILMAN]; Shepherds Alliance Party [leader NA]; Union of Moderate
Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]; Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land Party) or VP
[Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu Family First Party or VFFP [Eta RORI];
Vanuatu Labor Party or VLP [Joshua KALSAKAU]; Vanuatu National Party
or VNP [Issac HAMARILIU]; Vanuatu Republican Farmers Party or VPRFP
[Jean RAVOU]; Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP [Maxime Carlot KORMAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, IOC, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF,
OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US; it does, however, have a
Permanent Mission to the UN
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the US ambassador to
Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black
isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a
black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two
points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle);
centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed
namele fern fronds, all in yellow; red represents the blood of boars
and men, green the richness of the islands, and black the ni-Vanuatu
people; the yellow Y-shape - which reflects the pattern of the
islands in the Pacific Ocean - symbolizes the light of the Gospel
spreading through the islands; the boar's tusk is a symbol of
prosperity frequently worn as a pendant on the islands; the fern
fronds represent peace
National anthem:
name: "Yumi, Yumi, Yumi" (We, We, We)
lyrics/music: Francois Vincent AYSSAV
note: adopted 1980, the anthem is written in Bislama, a Creole
language that mixes Pidgin English and French
Economy ::Vanuatu
Economy - overview:
This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale
agriculture, which provides a living for about two-thirds of the
population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with
nearly 197,000 visitors in 2008, are other mainstays of the economy.
Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum
deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market.
Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is
hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports,
vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main
markets and between constituent islands. In response to foreign
concerns, the government has promised to tighten regulation of its
offshore financial center. In mid-2002, the government stepped up
efforts to boost tourism through improved air connections, resort
development, and cruise ship facilities. Agriculture, especially
livestock farming, is a second target for growth. Australia and New
Zealand are the main suppliers of tourists and foreign aid.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.216 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
$1.168 billion (2009 est.)
$1.126 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$721 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
3.8% (2009 est.)
6.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
$5,300 (2009 est.)
$5,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 12%
services: 62% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
115,900 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 181
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 65%
industry: 5%
services: 30% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
1.7% (1999)
country comparison to the world: 9
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Central bank discount rate:
6% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 77
6% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.5% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
5.29% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$229.2 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 171
$177.7 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$614.2 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 169
$531.6 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$274 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
$229.5 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, fruits, vegetables;
beef; fish
Industries:
food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Electricity - production:
42 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Electricity - consumption:
39.06 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Oil - imports:
654 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Current account balance:
-$60 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Exports:
$40 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 200
Exports - commodities:
copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee
Exports - partners:
Thailand 53.15%, Japan 12.22%, Poland 11.78% (2009)
Imports:
$156 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 203
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels
Imports - partners:
Japan 17.3%, Australia 13.46%, China 12.26%, Singapore 12%, NZ
6.88%, Poland 6.61%, France 5.86%, Fiji 5.52% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$40.54 million (2003)
country comparison to the world: 133
Debt - external:
$81.2 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 181
Exchange rates:
vatu (VUV) per US dollar - 97.93 (2009), NA (2007), 111.93 (2006),
NA (2005), 111.79 (2004), 122.19 (2003)
Communications ::Vanuatu
Telephones - main lines in use:
7,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 206
Telephones - mobile cellular:
126,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 181
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 678; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast media:
1 state-owned television station; multi-channel pay TV is available;
state-owned Radio Vanuatu operates 2 radio stations; 2
privately-owned radio broadcasters; programming from multiple
international broadcasters is accessible (2008)
Internet country code:
.vu
Internet hosts:
1,347 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 164
Internet users:
17,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 196
Transportation ::Vanuatu
Airports:
31 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 114
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 28
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 23 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 1,070 km
country comparison to the world: 183
paved: 256 km
unpaved: 814 km (1999)
Merchant marine:
total: 72
country comparison to the world: 60
by type: bulk carrier 35, cargo 5, container 1, liquefied gas 2,
passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 26, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 70 (Australia 2, Belgium 1, Canada 5, Greece 4, Japan
44, Monaco 1, Norway 1, Poland 7, Russia 1, UAE 1, Ukraine 3) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Forari Bay, Luganville (Santo, Espiritu Santo), Port-Vila
Military ::Vanuatu
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), Vanuatu
Mobile Force (VMF; includes Police Maritime Wing (PMW)) (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 61,178 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 42,450
females age 16-49: 43,894 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,346
female: 2,249 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues ::Vanuatu
Disputes - international:
Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu
and France
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Venezuela (South America)
Introduction ::Venezuela
Background:
Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse
of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada,
which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th
century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military
strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social
reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since
1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president since 1999, seeks to implement his
"21st Century Socialism," which purports to alleviate social ills
while at the same time attacking capitalist globalization and
existing democratic institutions. Current concerns include: a
weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a
politicized military, drug-related violence along the Colombian
border, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price
fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are
endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.
Geography ::Venezuela
Location:
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 66 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 912,050 sq km
country comparison to the world: 33
land: 882,050 sq km
water: 30,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 4,993 km
border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
Coastline:
2,800 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 15 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain:
Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains
(llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Bolivar 5,007 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals,
hydropower, diamonds
Land use:
arable land: 2.85%
permanent crops: 0.88%
other: 96.27% (2005)
Irrigated land:
5,750 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
1,233.2 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 8.37 cu km/yr (6%/7%/47%)
per capita: 313 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of
Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and
industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat
to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations
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:: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
on major sea and air routes linking North and South America; Angel
Falls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall
People ::Venezuela
Population:
27,223,228 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.5% (male 4,157,194/female 4,022,595)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 8,480,872/female 8,754,620)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 620,657/female 778,905) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.8 years
male: 25.1 years
female: 26.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.515% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Birth rate:
20.29 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Death rate:
5.14 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Urbanization:
urban population: 93% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 21.07 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 96
male: 24.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.77 years
country comparison to the world: 109
male: 70.69 years
female: 77 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.45 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.7%; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
110,000 (1999 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,100 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Venezuelan(s)
adjective: Venezuelan
Ethnic groups:
Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous
people
Religions:
nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
Languages:
Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 93.3%
female: 92.7% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 15 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.7% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 122
Government ::Venezuela
Country name:
conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
conventional short form: Venezuela
local long form: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela
local short form: Venezuela
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
name: Caracas
geographic coordinates: 10 30 N, 66 56 W
time difference: UTC-4.5 (half an hour ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 capital district*
(distrito capital), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia
federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar,
Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales (Federal
Dependencies)**, Distrito Capital (Capital District)*, Falcon,
Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa,
Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulia
note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled
island groups with a total of 72 individual islands
Independence:
5 July 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Constitution:
30 December 1999
Legal system:
open, adversarial court system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999);
Executive Vice President Elias JAUA Milano (since 26 January 2010);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February
1999); Executive Vice President Elias JAUA Milano (since 26 January
2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(eligible for unlimited reelection); election last held on 3
December 2006 (next to be held in December 2012)
note: in 1999, a National Constituent Assembly drafted a new
constitution that increased the presidential term to six years; an
election was subsequently held on 30 July 2000 under the terms of
this constitution; in 2009, a national referendum approved the
elimination of term limits on all elected officials, including the
presidency
election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent of
vote - Hugo CHAVEZ Frias 62.9%, Manuel ROSALES 36.9%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (165 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; three
seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela)
elections: last held on 26 September 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - pro-government 48.9%,
opposition coalition 47.9%, other 3.2%; seats by party -
pro-government 98, opposition 65, other 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (32
magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single
12-year term)
Political parties and leaders:
A New Time or UNT [Omar BARBOZA]; Brave People's Alliance or ABP
[Oscar PEREZ]; Christian Democrats or COPEI [Luis Ignacio PLANAS];
Communist Party of Venezuela or PCV [Oscar FIGUERA]; Democratic
Action or AD [Henry RAMOS Allup]; Fatherland for All or PPT [Jose
ALBORNOZ]; For Social Democracy or PODEMOS [Ramon MARTINEZ]; Justice
First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Felipe
MUJICA]; United Socialist Party of Venezuela or PSUV [Hugo CHAVEZ];
Venezuela Project or PV [Henrique SALAS Romer]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOS groups;
Venezuelan Confederation of Workers