1989 Edition

Climate

tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes

Coastline

1,129 km

1 , 1 26 km excluding islands and coastal indentations

Comparative area

slightly smaller than New Jersey

slightly smaller than Montana

Contiguous zone

6 nm

Continental shelf

200 meters or to depth of exploitation

200 meters or to depth of exploitation

Environment

subject to hurricanes from November to January; includes 332 islands of which approximately 1 10 are inhabited

permanently wet ground covers about 30% of land; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain

Ethnic divisions

homogeneous Scandinavian population

Exclusive fishing zone

12 nm

Extended economic zone

200 nm

Labor force

17,585; largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, and commerce Organized labor NA

Land boundaries

none

2,578 km total; Norway 729 km, Sweden 536 km, USSR 1,313 km

Land use

8% arable land; 5% permanent crops; 3% meadows and pastures; 65% forest and woodland; 19% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

8% arable land; 0% permanent crops; NEGL% meadows and pastures; 76% forest and woodland; 16% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

Language

Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish

Literacy

99%

Maritime claims

(measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)

Nationality

noun — Faroese (sing., pi.); adjective — Faroese

Natural resources

timber, fish, gold, copper; offshore oil potential

timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver

Note

located 2,500 km north of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean

long boundary with USSR; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent

Religion

Evangelical Lutheran

Terrain

mostly mountains of volcanic origin

mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills

Territorial sea

1 2 nm

4 nm

Total area

18,270 km2; land area: 18,270 km2

337,030 km2; land area: 305,470 km2

Birth rate

28 births/ 1,000 population (1990)

13 births/ 1,000 population (1990)

Death rate

6 deaths/ 1 ,000 population (1990)

10 deaths/ 1,000 population (1990)

Ethnic divisions

49% Indian, 46% Fijian, 5% European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and others

Finn, Swede, Lapp, Gypsy, Tatar

Infant mortality rate

22 deaths/ 1,000 live births (1990)

6 deaths/ 1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force

176,000; 60% subsistence agriculture, 40% wage earners (1979)

2,556,000; 33.1% services, 22.9% mining and manufacturing, 13.8% commerce, 10.3% agriculture, forestry, and fishing, 7.2% construction, 7.1% transportation and communications (1989 est.)

Language

English (official); Fijian; Hindustani

93.5% Finnish, 6.3% Swedish (both official); small Lappand Russianspeaking minorities

Life expectancy at birth

66 years male, 70 years female (1990)

7 1 years male, 80 years female (1990)

Literacy

80%

almost 100%

Nationality

noun — Fijian(s); adjective — Fijian

noun — Finn(s); adjective — Finnish

Net migration rate

—7 migrants/ 1 ,000 population (1990)

NEGL migrants/ 1,000 population (1990)

Organized labor

about 45,000 employees belong to some 46 trade unions, which are organized along lines of work and ethnic origin (1983)

80% of labor force

Population

759,567 (July 1990), growth rate 1.5% (1990)

4,977,325 (July 1990), growth rate 0.3% (1990)

Religion

Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu with a Muslim minority

97% Evangelical Lutheran, 1.2% Eastern Orthodox, 1.8% other

Total fertility rate

3.3 children born/ woman (1990)

1.7 children born/ woman (1990)

Administrative divisions

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western

1 2 provinces (la'anit, singular — la'ani); Ahvenanmaa, Ha'me, Keski-Suomi, Kuopio, Kymi, Lappi, Mikkeli, Oulu, Pohjois-Karjala, Turku ja Pori, Uusimaa, Vaasa

Capital

Torshavn

Suva

Helsinki

Communists

insignificant number

some

28,000 registered members; an additional 45,000 persons belong to People's Democratic League

Constitution

Danish

10 October 1970 (suspended 1 October 1987); note — a new constitution was proposed on 23 September 1988 and awaits final approval

17 July 1919

Diplomatic representation

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Counselor (Commercial), Vice Consul, Charge d'Affaires ad interim Abdul H. YUSUF; Chancery at Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; telephone (202) 337-8320; there is a Fijian Consulate in New York; US — Ambassador Leonard ROCHWARGER; Embassy at 31 Loftus Street, Suva (mailing address is P. O. Box 218, Suva); telephone [679] 3 14-466 or 314-069

Ambassador Jukka VALTASAARI; Chancery at 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington DC 20016; telephone (202) 363-2430; there are Finnish Consulates General in Los Angeles and New York, and Consulates in Chicago and Houston; US — Ambassador John G. WEINMANN; Embassy at Itainen Puistotie 14ASF-00140, Helsinki (mailing address is APO New York 09664); telephone [358] (0) 171931

Elections

Parliament — last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held November 1992); results — percent of vote by party NA; seats — (32 total) three-party coalition 21 (People's Party 8, Cooperation Coalition Party 7, Republican Party 6); Social Democrat 7, CPP-PFIP 2, Home Rule 2

none

President — last held 3 1 January1 February and 15 February 1988 (next to be held January 1994); results— Mauno Koivisto 48%, Paavo Vayrynen 20%, Harri Holkeri 18%; Parliament— last held 15-16 March 1987 (next to be held March 1991); results — Social Democratic 24.3%, National Coalition (Conservative) 23.9%, Center-Liberal People's 18.6%, People's Democratic League 9.4%, Rural 6.3%, Swedish People's 5.3%, Democratic Alternative 4.3%, Green League 4.0%, Finnish Christian League 2.6%, Finnish Pensioners 1.2%, Constitutional Rightist 0.1%; seats — (200 total) Social Democratic 56, National Coalition (Conservative) 53, Center-Liberal People's 40, People's Democratic League 16, Swedish People's 13, Rural 9, Finnish Christian League 5; Democratic Alternative 4, Green League 4

Executive branch

Danish monarch, high commissioner, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet (Landsstyri)

president, prime minister, Cabinet

president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of State (Valtioneuvosto)

Flag

white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of St. George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove

white with a blue cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Independence

part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark

10 October 1970 (from UK)

6 December 1917 (from Soviet Union)

Judicial branch

none

Supreme Court

Supreme Court (Korkein Oikeus)

Leaders

Chief of State — Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bent KLINTE (since NA); Head of Government — Prime Minister Jogvan SUNDSTEIN (since 17 January 1989) Political parties and leaders: four-party ruling coalition — People's Party, J6gvan Sundstein; Republican Party, Signer Hansen; Progressive and Fishing Industry Party combined with the Christian People's Party (CPP-PFIP); Home Rule Party, Hilmar Kass; opposition — Social Democratic Party, Atli P. Dam; Cooperation Coalition Party, Pauli Ellefsen; Progress Party

Chief of State — President Ratu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu GANILAU (since 5 December 1987); Head of Government — Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (since 5 December 1987); note — Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara served as prime minister from 10 October 1970 until the 5-11 April 1987 election; after a second coup led by Major General Sitiveni Rabuka on 25 September 1987, Ratu Mara was reappointed as prime minister Political parties and leaders: Alliance, primarily Fijian, Ratu Mara; National Federation, primarily Indian, Siddiq Koya; Western United Front, Fijian, Ratu Osea Gavidi; Fiji Labor Party, Adi Kuini Bavadra; coalition of the National Federation Party and the Fiji Labor Party, Adi Kuini Vuikaba Bavadra

Chief of State — President Mauno KOIVISTO (since 27 January 1982); Head of Government — Prime Minister Harri HOLKERI (since 30 April 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Pertti PAASIO (since NA January 1989) Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party, Pertti Paasio; Center Party, Paavo Vayrynen; People's Democratic League (majority Communist front), Reijo Kakela; National Coalition (Conservative) Party, Ilkka Suominen; Liberal People's Party, KySsti Lallukka; Swedish People's Party, Christoffer Taxell; Rural Party, leader NA

Legal system

Danish

based on British system

civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament (Legting)

the bicameral Parliament, consisting of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives, was dissolved following the coup of 14 May 1987; the proposed constitution of NA September 1988 provides for a bicameral Parliament

unicameral Parliament (Eduskunta)

Long-form name

none

Republic of Fiji

Republic of Finland

Member of

Nordic Council

ACP, ADB, Colombo Plan, EC (associate), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ISO, ITU, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

ADB, CCC, CEMA (special cooperation agreement), DAC, EC (free trade agreement), EFTA, ESA (associate), FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, ICES, ICO, IDA, IDB— InterAmerican Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, ILZSG, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ITU, IWC — International Wheat Council, Nordic Council, OECD, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WSG

National holiday

Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Independence Day, 10 October (1970)

Independence Day, 6 December (191 7)

Other political or pressure groups

Finnish Communist Party (majority Communist faction), Jarmo Wahlstrom; Finnish Communist Party-Unity (minority faction), Esko-Juhani Tennila; Democratic Alternative (minority Communist front), Kristiina Halkola; Finnish Christian League, Esko Almgren; Constitutional Rightist Party; Finnish Pensioners Party; Green League, Heidi Hautala; Communist Workers Party, Timo Lahdenmaki

Suffrage

universal at age 20

none

universal at age 18

Type

part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark

military coup leader Major General Sitiveni Rabuka formally declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1 987

republic

Agriculture

accounts for 27% of GDP and employs 27% of labor force; principal crops — potatoes and vegetables; livestock — sheep; annual fish catch about 360,000 metric tons

principal cash crop is sugarcane; coconuts, cassava, rice, sweet potatoes, and bananas; small livestock sector includes cattle, pigs, horses, and goats

accounts for 8% of GNP (including forestry); livestock production, especially dairy cattle, predominates; forestry is an important export earner and a secondary occupation for the rural population; main crops — cereals, sugar beets, potatoes; 85% self-sufficient, but short of food and fodder grains; annual fish catch about 160,000 metric tons

Aid

none

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (198087), $677 million

donor — ODA and OOF commitments (1970-87), $1.7 billion

Budget

revenues $176 million; expenditures $176 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY86)

revenues $260 million; expenditures $233 million, including capital expenditures of $47 million (1988)

revenues $28.3 billion; expenditures $28. 1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA billion (1988 est.)

Currency

Danish krone (plural — kroner); 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 are

Fijian dollar (plural — dollars); 1 Fijian dollar (FS) = 100 cents

markka (plural — markkaa); 1 markka (FMk) or Finmark = 100 pennia

Electricity

80,000 kW capacity; 280 million kWh produced, 5,910 kWh per capita (1989)

215,000 kW capacity; 330 million kWh produced, 440 kWh per capita (1989)

13,324,000 kW capacity; 49,330 million kWh produced, 9,940 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates

Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1— 6.560 (January 1990), 7.310 (1989), 6.732 (1988), 6.840 (1987), 8.091 (1986), 10.596 (1985)

Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1— 1.4950 (January 1990), 1.4833 (1989), 1.4303(1988), 1.2439(1987), 1.1329(1986), 1.1536(1985)

markkaa (FMk) per US$1— 4.0022 (January 1990), 4.2912

Exports

$267 million (f.o.b., 1986); commodities— fish and fish products 86%, animal feedstuff's, transport equipment; partners—Denmark 18%, US 14%, FRG, France, UK, Canada

$312 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities— sugar 49%, copra, processed fish, lumber; partners — UK 45%, Australia 21%, US 4.7%

$22.2 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities— timber, paper and pulp, ships, machinery, clothing and footwear; partners—EC 44.2% (UK 13.0%, FRG 10.8%), USSR 14.9%, Sweden 14.1%, US 5.8%

External debt

SNA

S398 million (December 1989 est.)

$5.3 billion (1989)

Fiscal year

1 April-3 1 March

calendar year

GDP

$662 million, per capita $14,000; real growth rate 3% (1989 est.)

$1.32 billion, per capita $1,750; real growth rate 12.5% (1989 est.)

$74.4 billion, per capita $15,000; real growth rate 4.6% (1989 est.)

Imports

$363 million (c.i.f., 1986); commodities— machinery and transport equipment 38%, food and livestock 11%, fuels 10%, manufactures 10%, chemicals 5%; partners: Denmark 46%, FRG, Norway, Japan, UK

$454 million (c.i.f., 1988); commodities— food 15%, petroleum products. Fiji (continued) Finland machinery, consumer goods; partners — US 4.8%, NZ, Australia, Japan

$22.0 billion (c.i.f., 1988); commodities— foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, fodder grains; partners— EC 43.5% (FRG 16.9%, UK 6.8%), Sweden 13.3%, USSR 12.1%, US 6.3%

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

growth rate — 1 5% (1988 est.)

growth rate 4.3% (1989)

Industries

fishing, shipbuilding, handicrafts

sugar, copra, tourism, gold, silver, fishing, clothing, lumber, small cottage industries

metal manufacturing and shipbuilding, forestry and wood processing (pulp, paper), copper refining, foodstuffs, textiles, clothing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.0% (1988)

11.8% (1988)

6.5% (1989)

Overview

The Faroese enjoy the high standard of living characteristic of the Danish and other Scandinavian economies. Fishing is the dominant economic activity. It employs over 25% of the labor force, accounts for about 25% of GDP, and contributes over 80% to export revenues. A handicraft industry employs about 20% of the labor force. Because of cool summers agricultural activities are limited to raising sheep and to potato and vegetable cultivation. There is a labor shortage, and immigrant workers accounted for 5% of the work force in 1989. Denmark annually subsidizes the economy, perhaps on the order of 1 5% of GDP.

Fiji's economy is primarily agricultural, with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports are a major source of foreign exchange and sugar processing accounts for one-third of industrial output. Industry, including sugar milling, contributes 10% to GDP. Fiji traditionally earned considerable sums of hard currency from the 250,000 tourists who visited each year. In 1987, however, after two military coups, the economy went into decline. GDP dropped by 7.8% in 1987 and by another 2.5% in 1988; political uncertainly created a drop in tourism, and the worst drought of the century caused sugar production to fall sharply. In contrast, sugar and tourism turned in strong performances in 1989, and the economy rebounded vigorously.

Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free market economy, with per capita output nearly three-fourths the US figure. Its main economic force is the manufacturing sector — principally the wood, metals, and engineering industries. Trade is important, with the export of goods representing about 25% of GNP. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imported raw materials, energy, and some components of manufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic commodities. Economic prospects are generally bright, the main shadow being the increasing pressures on wages and prices.

Unemployment rate

labor shortage

1 1% (1988)

3.4% (1989)

Airports

1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m

26 total, 24 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Branches

integrated ground and naval forces Military manpower males 15-49, 194,433; 107,317 fit for military service; 7,864 reach military age (18) annually

Ciyil air

1 DC3 and 1 light aircraft

Defense expenditures

2.5% of GDP (1988) 300km Gulf of Bothnia V«»»a_/ Kuopio Aland Islands Set retlonil m«p V HELSINKI

Highways

200 km

3,300 km total (1984)— 390 km paved; 1,200 km bituminous-surface treatment; 1,290 km gravel, crushed stone, or stabilized soil surface; 420 unimproved earth

Inland waterways

203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metricton barges

Merchant marine

7 ships (1,000 CRT or over) totaling 17,249 GRT/1 1,887 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 2 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo; note — a subset of the Danish register

9 ships (1,000 CRT or over) totaling 42,872 GRT/49,795 DWT; includes 1 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 container, 2 liquefied gas, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker

Note

defense is the responsibility of Denmark I -"• •» Fiji • - Rotuma South Pacific Ocean Vanua Levu Viti Levu 0'Taveuni I Ceva-i-Ra Srr rreinntl mip \

Ports

Torshavn, Tvoroyri; 8 minor

Lambasa, Lautoka, Savusavu, Suva

Railroads

644 km 0.610-meter narrow gauge, belonging to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation

Telecommunications

good international communications; fair domestic facilities; 27,900 telephones; stations— 1 AM, 3 (10 repeaters) FM, 3 (29 repeaters) TV; 3 coaxial submarine cables Defense Forces

modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio center; important COMPAC cable link between US-Canada and New Zealand-Australia; 53,228 telephones; stations — 7 AM, 1 FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station Defense Forces