1989 Edition

Airports

157 total, 157 usable; 33 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 47 with runways 1,2202,439 m

Branches

Royal New Zealand Navy, New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Air Force

Civil air

about 40 major transport aircraft

Climate

tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands

desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south

Coastline

910 km

none — landlocked

Comparative area

slightly larger than New York State

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Contiguous zone

25 nm security zone (status of claim uncertain)

Continental shelf

not specified

Defense expenditures

2.1% of GDP, or $820 million (1989 est.) North Pacific Ocean

Disputes

territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank

Libya claims about 19,400 km2 in northern Niger; exact locations of the Chad-Niger-Nigeria and Cameroon-ChadNigeria tripoints in Lake Chad have not been determined, so the boundary has not been demarcated and border incidents have resulted; Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger

Environment

subject to destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasional severe hurricanes; deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

recurrent drought and desertification severely affecting marginal agricultural activities; overgrazing; soil erosion

Inland waterways

1,609 km; of little importance to transportation

Land boundaries

1,231 km total; Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km

5,697 km total; Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina 628 km, Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km

Land use

9% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 43% meadows and pastures; 35% forest and woodland; 12% other; including 1% irrigated

3% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 7% meadows and pastures; 2% forest and woodland; 88% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

Maritime claims

none — landlocked

Merchant marine

18 ships (1,000 CRT or over) totaling 190,553 GRT/257,782 DWT; includes 1 cargo, 2 container, 4 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 railcar carrier, 4 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, I liquefied gas, 5 bulk

Military manpower

males 15-49, 872,336; 740,207 fit for military service; 29,532 reach military age (20) annually

Natural resources

gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish

uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates

Note

landlocked

Pipelines

1,000 km natural gas; 160 km refined products; 1 50 km condensate

Ports

Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, Tauranga

Telecommunications

excellent international and domestic systems; 2,1 10,000 telephones; stations 64 AM, 2 FM, 14 TV; submarine cables extend to Australia and Fiji; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations Defense Forces

Terrain

extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes

predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north

Territorial sea

200 nm

Total area

129,494 km2; land area: 120,254km2

1,267,000 km2; land area: 1,266,700km2

Birth rate

40 births/ 1,000 population (1990)

52 births/ 1,000 population (1990)

Death rate

9 deaths/ 1 ,000 population (1990)

1 7 deaths/ 1 ,000 population (1990)

Ethnic divisions

69% mestizo, 1 7% white, 9% black, 5% Indian

56% Hausa; 22% Djerma; 8.5% Fula; 8% Tuareg; 4.3% Beri Beri (Kanouri); 1.2% Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche; about 4,000 French expatriates

Infant mortality rate

68 deaths/ 1,000 live births (1990)

1 3 1 deaths/ 1 ,000 live births (1990)

Labor force

1,086,000; 43% service, 44% agriculture, 13% industry (1986)

2,500,000 wage earners (1982); 90% agriculture, 6% industry and commerce, 4% government; 51% of population of working age (1985)

Language

Spanish (official); Englishand Indian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast

French (official); Hausa, Djerma

Life expectancy at birth

61 years male, 62 years female (1990)

48 years male, 53 years female (1990)

Literacy

88% (1981)

13.9%

Nationality

noun — Nicaraguan(s); adjective— Nicaraguan

noun — Nigerien(s) adjective — Nigerien

Net migration rate

— 3 migrants/ 1 ,000 population (1990)

0 migrants/ 1 ,000 population (1990)

Organized labor

35% of labor force

negligible

Population

3,722,683 (July 1990), growth rate 2.8% (1990)

7,969,309 (July 1990), growth rate 3.6% (1990)

Religion

95% Roman Catholic, 5% Protestant

80% Muslim, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians

Total fertility rate

5.0 children born/ woman (1990)

7.4 children born/ woman (1990)

Administrative divisions

9 administrative regions encompassing 1 7 departments (departamentos, singular — departamento); North, Atlantic Coast, South, Atlantic Coast, Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas

7 departments (departements, singular — departement); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey, Tahoua, Zinder

Capital

Managua

Niamey

Communists

FSLN— 35,000; other Communists— 1 5,000-20,000

no Communist party; some sympathizers in outlawed Sawaba party

Constitution

January 1987

adopted NA December 1989 after 1 5 years of military rule

Diplomatic representation

Charge d'Affaires Leonor Arguello de HUPER; Chancery at 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone (202) 387-4371 or 4372; US— Charge d'Affaires John P. LEONARD; Embassy at Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua (mailing address is APO Miami 34021); telephone [505] (2) 66010 or 66013, 66015 through 66018, 66026, 66027, 66032 through 66034; note — Nicaragua expelled the US Ambassador on 1 1 July 1988, and the US expelled the Nicaraguan Ambassador on 12 July 1988

Ambassador Moumouni Adamou DJERMAKOYE; Chancery at 2204 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 4834224 through 4227; US— Ambassador Carl C. CUNDIFF; Embassy at Avenue des Ambassadeurs, Niamey (mailing address is B. P. 11201, Niamey); telephone [227] 72-26-61 through 64 and 72-26-70

Elections

President — last held on 25 February 1 990 (next to be held February 1996); results— Violeta Barrios de Chamorro (UNO) 54.7%, Daniel Ortega Saavedra (FSLN) 40.8%, others 4.5%; National Constituent Assembly — last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held February 1996); results— UNO 53.9%, FSLN 40.8%, PSC 1.6%, MUR 1.0%; seats— (92 total) UNO 51, FSLN 39, PSC 1, MUR

President — last held December 1989 (next to be held NA 1996); resultsPresident Ali Saibou was reelected without opposition; National Development Council — last held December 1989 (next to be held NA Niger (continued) Nigeria 1994); results— MNSD is the only party; seats— (150 total) MNSD 150 (indirectly elected)

Executive branch

president, vice president, Cabinet

president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Flag

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El Salvador which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band

three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of India which has a blue, spoked wheel centered in the white band

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

3 August 1 960 (from France)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema) and municipal courts

State Court (Cour d'Etat), Court of Appeal (Cour d'Apel)

Leaders

Chief of State and Head of Government— President-Elect Violeta Barios de CHAMORRO (since 25 February 1990; takes office 25 April 1990); Vice President-elect Virgilio GODOY (since 25 February 1990; takes office 25 April 1990) Political parties and leaders:

Chief of State — President Brig. Gen. Ali SAIBOU (since 14 November 1987); Head of Government — Prime Minister ALIOU MAHAMIDA (since 2 March 1990) Political parties and leaders: only party — National Movement for the Development Society (MNSD), leader NA

Legal system

civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts

based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)

National Development Council

Long-form name

Republic of Nicaragua

Republic of Niger

Member of

CACM, CEMA (observer), FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IDB— InterAmerican Development Bank, I FAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS, ODECA, PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPEB, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

ACP, AfDB, APC, CCC, CEAO, EAMA, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB — Islamic Development Bank, I FAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ITU, Lake Chad Basin Commission, Niger River Commission, NAM, OAU, OCAM, QIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

National holidays

Republic Day, 18 December (1958)

Opposition parties

Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Daniel Ortega; Central American Unionist Party (PUCA), Blanca Rojas; Democratic Conservative Party of Nicaragua (PGDN), Jose Brenes; Liberal Party of National Unity (PLUIN), Eduardo Coronado; Movement of Revolutionary Unity (MUR), Francisco Samper; Social Christian Party (PSC), Erick Ramirez; Revolutionary Workers' Party (PRT), Bonifacio Miranda; Social Conservative Party (PSOC), Fernando Aguerro; Popular Action Movement — Marxist-Leninist (MAPML), Isidro Tellez; Popular Social Christian Party (PPSC), Mauricio Diaz,

Other political or pressure groups

Permanent Congress of Workers (CPT), Confederation of Labor Unification (CUS), Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN-A), Independent General Confederation of Workers (CTG-I), Communist Labor Action and Unity Central (CAUS), Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CST); Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) is an umbrella group of 1 1 different business groups, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Industry, and the Nicaraguan Development Institute (INDE)

Ruling coalition

National Opposition Union (UNO) — 14 party alliance: National Conservative Party (PNC), Silviano Matamoros; Conservative Popular Alliance Party (PAPC), Miriam Arguello; National Conservative Action Party (PANC), Hernaldo Zuniga; National Democratic Confidence Party (PDCN), Augustin Jarquin; Independent Liberal Party (PLI), Virgilio Godoy; Neo-Liberal Party (PALI), Andres Zuniga; Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), Jose Ernesto Somarriba; National Action Party (PAN), F.duardo Rivas; Nicaraguan Socialist Party (PSN), Gustavo Tablada; CommuNicaragua (continued) nist Party of Nicaragua (PCdeN), Eli AItimirano; Popular Social Christian Party (PPSC), Luis Humberto; Nicaraguan Democratic Movement (MDN), Roberto Urroz; Social Democratic Party (PSD), Guillermo Potoy; Central American Integrationist Party (PIAC), Alejandro Perez;

Suffrage

universal at age 16

universal adult at age 18

Type

republic

republic; presidential system in which military officers hold key offices

Agriculture

accounts for 23% of GDP and 44% of work force; cash crops — coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton; food crops — rice, corn, cassava, citrus fruit, beans; variety of animal products — beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy; while normally self-sufficient in food, war-induced shortages now exist

accounts for roughly 40% of GDP and 90% of labor force; cash crops — cowpeas, cotton, peanuts; food crops — millet, sorghum, cassava, rice; livestock— cattle, sheep, goats; self-sufficient in food except in drought years

Aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-82), $290 million; Western (nonUS) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1 970-87), $981 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $3.3 billion

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $349 million; Western (nonUS) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $2.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $504 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $61 million

Budget

revenues $0.9 billion; expenditures $1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $0.15 billion (1987)

revenues $254 million; expenditures $510 million, including capital expenditures of $239 million (1988 est.)

Currency

c6rdoba (plural — cordobas); 1 cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural — francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Electricity

415,000 kW capacity; 1,340 million kWh produced, 380 kWh per capita (1989)

102,000 kW capacity; 225 million kWh produced, 30 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates

cordobas (C$) per US$1— 65,000 (February 1990) is the free market rate; official rate is 46,000 (February 1990), 270 (1988), 0.103 (1987), 0.097(1986), 0.039(1985)

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1— 287.99 (January 1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26(1985)

Exports

$250 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.); commodities — coffee, cotton, sugar, bananas, seafood, meat, chemicals; partners— CEMA 15%, OECD 75%, others 10%

$371 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.); commodities — uranium 76%, livestock, cowpeas, onions, hides, skins; partners — NA

External debt

$8 billion (year end 1988)

$1.8 billion (December 1989 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

1 October-30 September

GDP

$1.7 billion, per capita $470; real growth rate -5.0% (1989 est.)

$2.4 billion, per capita $330; real growth rate 7.1% (1988 est.)

Imports

$550 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.); commodities — petroleum, food, chemicals, machinery, clothing; partners — CEMA 55%, EC 20%, Latin America 10%, others 10%

$441 million (e.i.f., 1988 est.); commodities — petroleum products, primary materials, machinery, vehicles and parts, electronic equipment, pharmaceuticals, chemical products, cereals, foodstuffs

Industrial production

growth rate —23% (1988 est.)

growth rate 4.7% (1989 est.)

Industries

food processing, chemicals, metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear

cement, brick, rice mills, small cotton gins, oilseed presses, slaughterhouses, and a few other small light industries; uranium production began in 1971

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1 ,700% (1989)

— 1 .4% (1988)

Overview

Government control of the economy historically has been extensive, although the new government has pledged to reduce it. The financial system is directly controlled by the state, which also regulates wholesale purchasing, production, sales, foreign trade, and distribution of most goods. Over 50% of the agricultural and industrial firms are state owned. Sandinista economic policies and the war have produced a severe economic crisis. The foundation of the economy continues to be the export of agricultural commodities, largely coffee and cotton. Farm production fell by roughly 7% in 1989, the fifth successive year of decline. The agricultural sector employs 44% of the work force and accounts for 23% of GDP and 86% of export earnings. Industry, which employs 1 3% of the work force and contributes 26% to GDP, showed a sharp drop of —23% in 1988 and remains below pre-1979 levels. External debt is one of the highest in the world on a per capita basis. In 1989 the annual inflation rate was 1,700%, down from a record 16,000% in 1988. Shortages of basic consumer goods are widespread.

About 90% of the population is engaged in farming and stock rearing, activities which generate almost half of the national income. The economy also depends heavily on exploitation of large uranium deposits. Uranium production grew rapidly in the mid-1970s, but tapered off in the early 1 980s, when world prices declined. France is a major customer, while FRG, Japan, and Spain also make regular purchases. The depressed demand for uranium has contributed to an overall sluggishness in the economy, a severe trade imbalance, and a mounting external debt.

Unemployment rate

25% (1989)

NA%

Airports

261 total, 169 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways; none with Niger runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 12 with runways 1,2202,439 m

31 total, 29 usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,4403,659 m; 11 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Branches

Sandinista Popular Army, Sandinista Navy, Sandinista Air Force/Air Defense, Sandinista People's Militia

Army, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, paramilitary Republican Guard, paramilitary Presidential Guard, paramilitary National Police

Civil air

no major transport aircraft

Defense expenditures

NA 500km

$20.6 million (1988) 300km LAG Bight ol

Highways

25,930 km total; 4,000 km paved (includes all 2,170 km gravel or crushed stone, 5,425 km earth or graded earth, 14,335 km unimproved, 368.5 km of the Pan-American highway)

39,970 km total; 3,170 km bituminous, 10,330 km gravel and laterite, 3,470 km earthen, 23,000 km tracks

Inland waterways

2,220 km, including 2 large lakes

Niger river is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin frontier from mid-December through March

Merchant marine

2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,161 GRT/2,500 DWT Civil air 12 major transport aircraft

Military manpower

males 15-49, 747,144; 459,333 fit for military service; 44,213 reach military age (18) annually

males 15-49, 1 ,656,466; 894,095 fit for military service; 87,478 reach military age (18) annually

Pipelines

crude oil, 56 km

Ports

Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino, Rama

Railroads

373 km 1.067-meter gauge, government owned; majority of system not operating; 3 km 1 .435-meter gauge line at Puerto Cabezas (does not connect with mainline)

Telecommunications

low-capacity radio relay and wire system being expanded; connection into Central American Microwave System; 60,000 telephones; stations— 45 AM, no FM, 7 TV, 3 shortwave; satellite earth stations — 1 Intersputnik and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT Defense Forces

small system of wire, radiocommunications, and radio relay links concentrated in southwestern area; 1 1,900 telephones; stations— 15 AM, 5 FM, 16 TV; satellite earth stations — 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and 4 domestic Defense Forces