1996 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1996 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Description
the flag of the US is used
Location
19 17 N, 166 36 E -- Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands Flag ----
Geography
Area
- comparative area
- about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
- land area
- 6.5 sq km
- total area
- 6.5 sq km
Climate
tropical
Coastline
19.3 km
Environment
- current issues
- NA
- international agreements
- NA
- natural hazards
- occasional typhoons
Geographic coordinates
19 17 N, 166 36 E
Geographic note
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights
International disputes
claimed by the Republic of the Marshall Islands
Irrigated land
0 sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
- arable land
- 0%
- forest and woodland
- 0%
- meadows and pastures
- 0%
- other
- 100%
- permanent crops
- 0%
Location
Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
- exclusive economic zone
- 200 nm
- territorial sea
- 12 nm
Natural resources
none
Terrain
- atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim
- highest point
- unnamed location 6 m
- lowest point
- Pacific Ocean 0 m
People and Society
Birth rate
NA births/1,000 population
Death rate
NA deaths/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate
NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
- female
- NA years
- male
- NA years
- total population
- NA years
Net migration rate
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Population
no indigenous inhabitants; there are 302 US military and contract personnel (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate
0% (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate
NA children born/woman
Government
Capital
none; administered from Washington, DC
Data code
WQ
Flag
the flag of the US is used
Independence
none (territory of the US)
Name of country
- conventional long form
- none
- conventional short form
- Wake Island
Type of government
unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Army and Strategic Defense Command since 1 October 1994
Economy
Economic overview
Economic activity is limited to providing services to US military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Electricity
supplied by US military
Communications
Defense note
defense is the responsibility of the US
Radio broadcast stations
- AM 0, FM NA, shortwave NA
- note
- Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service provided by satellite
Radios
NA
Telephone system
- satellite communications; 1 DSN circuit off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS)
- domestic
- NA
- international
- NA
Telephones
NA
Television broadcast stations
- NA
- note
- Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) television service provided by satellite
Televisions
NA Defense
Transportation
Airports
- total
- 1
- with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m
- 1 (1995 est.)
Merchant marine
none
Ports
none; two offshore anchorages for large ships
Railways
0 km
Transportation note
formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used by US military, some commercial cargo planes, as well as the US Army Space and Strategic Defense Command for missile launches