1984 Edition

Agriculture

main crop — coconuts

commercial — cocoa, coffee, wood, palm oil, rice; main food crops — pineapples, bananas, manioc, peanuts, root crops; imports food

Aid

France $91 million (1978)

Airfields

38 total, 38 usable; 15 with permanent-surface runways, 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 14 with runways 1,2202,439 m

225 total, 200 usable; 13 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m, 4 with runways 2,4403,659 m, 45 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Area

About 4,000 km2 Water

Branches

30-member Territorial Assembly, popularly elected; 5-member Council of Government, elected by Assembly; popular election of two deputies to National Assembly and one senator to Senate in Paris

power centralized in President, elected by universal suffrage for seven-year term; unicameral legislature (93-member National Assembly, including nine members chosen by Omar Bongo) has limited powers; constitution amended in 1979 so that Assembly deputies will serve five-year terms; independent judiciary

Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, 82 Air Force

Budget

$180 million in 1979; ODA and OOF commitments from Western (non-US countries)

Capital

Papeete

Libreville

Civil air

about 6 major transport aircraft

9 major transport aircraft

Coastline

about 2,525 km People

885 km People

Communists

no organized party; probably /' some Communist sympathizers

Elections

every five years, last in May 1982 Political parties and leaders: Tahoeraa Huiraatira (Gaullist), Gaston Flosse; Ai'a Api (New Country Party), Emile Vernaudon; Here Ai'a; la Mana (Socialist)

presidential election last held December 1979, next scheduled for 1986; parliamentary election last held February 1980, next scheduled for 1985; constitutional change separates dates for presidential and parliamentary elections Political parties and leaders: Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) led by President Bongo is only legal party

Electric power

67,000 kW capacity (1981); 235 million kWh produced (1981), 1,516 kWh per capita

280,000 kW capacity (1983); 800 million kWh produced (1983), 870 kWh per capita

Ethnic divisions

78% Polynesian, 12% Chinese, 6% local French, 4% metropolitan French

about 40 Bantu tribes, including 4 major tribal groupings (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke); about 100,000 expatriate Africans and Europeans, including 35,000 French

Exports

$21 million (1977); principal products— coconut products (79%), mother-ofpearl (14%), vanilla (1971)

$2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1982); crude petroleum, wood and wood products, minerals (manganese, uranium concentrates, gold)

Fishing

catch 13,600 metric tons (1979)

GDP

A$931.3 million (1980), US$6,400 per capita (1980)

$3.5 billion (1982), $2,742 per capita; 0.7% annual growth rate (1981)

Government leader

Alain OHREL, High Commissioner and President of the Council of Government, appointed by French Government; Gaston FLOSSE, Vice President of the Council of Government (highest elected official in the territory)

El Hadj Omar BONGO, President

Highways

3,700 km, all types

55,350 km total; 6,750 km paved, 4,150 km gravel, remainder improved earth

Imports

$419 million (1977); principal items — fuels, foodstuffs, equipment

$0.7 billion (f.o.b., 1982); mining, roadbuilding machinery, electrical equipment, transport vehicles, foodstuffs, textiles

Inland waterways

part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of Kenya

Labor force

120,000 salaried (1983); 65% agriculture, 30% industry and commerce, 2.5% services, 2.5% government

Land boundaries

2,422 km Water

Language

French (official); Fang, Myene, Bateke

Legal system

based on French; lower and higher courts French Polynesia (continued) Gabon

based on French civil law system and customary law; constitution adopted 1961; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; legal education at Center of Higher and Legal Studies at Libreville; compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted

Limits of territorial waters

12 nm (fishing 200 nm; exclusive economic zone 200 nm)

Limits of territorial waters (claimed)

100 nm; fishing, 150 nm

Literacy

65%

Major industries

maintenance of French nuclear test base, tourism

petroleum production, sawmills, petroleum refinery, food and beverage processing; mining of increasing importance; major minerals — manganese, uranium, iron (not produced)

Major trade partners

imports — 59% France, 14% US; exports— 86% France

France, US, FRG, and

Member of

Af DB, African Wood Organization, Confi rence of East and Central African States, BDECA (Central African Development Bank), EAMA, EIB (associate), FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCO, ICO, IDA, IDE— Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UDEAC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Economy

Military budget

for fiscal year ending 30 June 1980, $168.6 million; about 8% of central government budget Pacific Ocean Gilbert li

Military manpower

males 15-49, 3,816,000; 2,349,000 fit for military service; no conscription

Monetary conversion rate

127.05 Colonial Francs Pacifique (CFP)=$US1 (February 1984) Communications

National holidays

Renovation Day, 12 March; Independence Day, 17 August; major Islamic and Christian holidays

Nationality

noun — French Polynesian(s); adjective — French Polynesian

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

Official name

Territory of French Polynesia

Gabonese Republic

Organized labor

there are 38,000 members of the national trade union, the Gabonese Trade Union Confederation (COSYGA) Government

Pipelines

refined products, 483 km

Political subdivisions

five districts

nine provinces subdivided into 36 prefectures

Population

159,000 (July 1984), average annual growth rate 2.0%

958,000 (July 1984), average annual growth rate 3.9%

Ports

1 major, 6 minor

1 major (Mombasa)

Railroads

2,040 km 1.000-meter gauge

Religion

mainly Christian; 55% Protestant, 32% Catholic Government

55-75% Christian, less than 1% Muslim, remainder animist

Suffrage

universal adult

universal over age 18

Telecommunications

17,302 telephones (12.9 per 100 popl.); 72,000 radio and 14,000 TV sets; 5 AM, 2 FM, and 6 TV stations; 1 ground satellite station Defense Forces Defense is responsibility of France At/antic Ocean Land 266,024 km2; 75% forest; 15% savanna; 9% urban and waste; less than 1% cultivated

in top group of African systems; consists of radio-relay links, open-wire lines, and radiocommunication stations; 198,300 telephones (1.2 per 100 pop!.); 11 AM, 4 FM, and 4 TV stations; Atlantic and Indian Ocean satellite service from 1 station Defense Forces

Type

overseas territory of France

republic; one-party presidential regime since 1964

Voting strength

(1982 election) Tahoeraa Huiraatira, 13 seats; Ai'a Api, 3 seats; Here Ai'a, 6 seats; la Mana, 3 seats; Independents, 4 seats; Te E'a Api, 1 seat Economy